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Home›Traditions›Pentecostal

Pentecostal Illustrations

The immediate, experiential work of the Holy Spirit and the expectation of spiritual gifts.

Key question: “How does this text reveal the present-day work and power of the Holy Spirit?”

25,762 sermon illustrations through the Pentecostal lens

Movie Analogy

Frozen: Perfect Love Casts Out Fear (1 John 4:18)

In Frozen, Elsa lives in terror of her own power. She isolates herself, hides her gift, nearly destroys her kingdom with fear-driven ice. Only Anna's sacrificial love—dying to save her sister—breaks the curse.

1 John 4:18Universalfear

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love

Short93 words

Movie Analogy

Forrest Gump: Running the Race Set Before Us (Hebrews 12:1-2)

"Run, Forrest, run!" Jenny's cry saves Forrest from bullies—and becomes the pattern of his life. He runs through childhood braces, through Vietnam, across America.

Hebrews 12:1-2Universalperseverancesimplicity

101 words

Movie Analogy

127 Hours: Pity Anyone Who Falls Alone (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

In 127 Hours, Aron Ralston is trapped alone in a canyon, arm pinned by a boulder. For five days he faces death in isolation. The film flashes to memories of community he took for granted—family, friends, a woman he loved carelessly.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10Universalisolationcommunity

Short98 words

Movie Analogy

The Blind Side: Go and Do Likewise (Luke 10:25-37)

In The Blind Side, Leigh Anne Tuohy sees a large Black teenager walking alone in the rain. She could drive past—most would. Instead, she stops. "Do you have a place to stay tonight?" Michael Oher becomes family. "Go and do...

Luke 10:25-37Universalneighborcompassion

Short94 words

Movie Analogy

Rudy: Run and Not Grow Weary (Isaiah 40:31)

In Rudy, Daniel Ruettiger has no athletic gifts—too small, too slow, not smart enough for Notre Dame. But he has something else: he refuses to quit. After years of rejection, he dresses for one game, gets in for one play, makes one tackle.

Isaiah 40:31Universalperseverancewaiting

Short91 words

Movie Analogy

The Secret Garden: Washing of Rebirth and Renewal (Titus 3:5)

In The Secret Garden, Mary Lennox arrives at Misselthwaite Manor bitter, unloved, and unloving. She discovers a hidden garden, dead from neglect. As she tends it back to life, she herself is transformed—her sour disposition softened, her cousin healed, the manor restored.

Titus 3:5Universalrebirthrenewal

Short94 words

Movie Analogy

Mad Max Fury Road: Panting for Living Water (Psalm 42:1-2)

In Mad Max: Fury Road, water is controlled by a tyrant. The thirsty masses beg for drops while Immortan Joe hoards abundance. Furiosa steals his wives and his water truck, seeking a mythical Green Place. As the deer pants for...

Psalm 42:1-2Universalthirstlonging

Short94 words

Movie Analogy

Patch Adams: I Came for the Sick (Mark 2:17)

In Patch Adams, Hunter Adams rejects sterile, detached medicine. He clowns in children's cancer wards, learns patients' names, treats people instead of diseases. The medical establishment calls him unprofessional. But his patients heal—sometimes in body, always in spirit. "It is...

Mark 2:17Universalsickhealing

Short92 words

Movie Analogy

The Avengers: Many Members, One Body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

In The Avengers, a god, a super-soldier, a genius billionaire, a rage monster, and two spies must work together—or the world ends. Each has unique gifts; none can succeed alone.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27Universalbodyunity

Short90 words

Movie Analogy

Avatar: The Image of the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15-20)

In Avatar, Jake Sully connects to his Na'vi body through neural link—seeing through different eyes, feeling with different skin. The invisible becomes visible; the foreign becomes intimate. Christ is the image of the invisible God. In Christ, the unseeable God...

Colossians 1:15-20Universalincarnationimage

Short87 words

Movie Analogy

The Princess Bride: The Full Armor (Ephesians 6:10-18)

In The Princess Bride, Westley faces multiple trials: The Cliffs of Insanity, the swordsman Inigo, the giant Fezzik, the fire swamp. Each requires different equipment—climbing skills, sword mastery, wrestling, fire survival.

Ephesians 6:10-18Universalarmorspiritual warfare

Short93 words

Movie Analogy

The Bourne Identity: The Old Has Gone (2 Corinthians 5:17)

In The Bourne Identity, Jason Bourne wakes with no memory of who he was—only skills and instincts. As his past resurfaces, he must choose: become the assassin he was, or become someone new. He chooses new.

2 Corinthians 5:17Universalidentitynew creation

Short96 words

Movie Analogy

War of the Worlds: God Our Refuge in Trouble (Psalm 46:1-3)

In War of the Worlds, Ray Ferrier tries to protect his children from alien invasion. Everything fails—cars, phones, the military. Civilization collapses in hours. But Ray keeps his children alive through every catastrophe. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1-3Universalrefugeprotection

Short92 words

Movie Analogy

The Intern: Whatever You Do, Do It Well (Colossians 3:23)

In The Intern, 70-year-old Ben Whittaker becomes an intern at an online fashion company. He could rest on retirement, but he wants to contribute. He brings old-school work ethic to a startup culture—ironing his handkerchief, arriving early, paying attention.

Colossians 3:23Universalworkintegrity

Short90 words

Movie Analogy

300: The Shield Wall of Faith (Ephesians 6:10-18)

In 300, King Leonidas and his Spartans face impossible odds against Xerxes' million-man army. They have no numerical advantage—only superior training, unbreakable formation, and shields that protect their brothers. "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist...

Ephesians 6:10-18Universalfaithcommunity

Short92 words

Movie Analogy

Oceans Eleven: Every Member Essential (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

In Oceans Eleven, Danny Ocean assembles eleven specialists—pickpocket, acrobat, hacker, demolitions expert—to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. No individual could do it; together, they're unstoppable. Each person's specific gift is essential.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27Universalgiftsdiversity

Short86 words

Historical

The Prudent Man Deals with Knowledge; The Fool Displays His Folly

THE WISE MAN "He dealeth with knowledge." This declaration implies two critical truths.

Proverbs 13:16Universalthe contrast between wisdom and follyknowledge as divine foundation

Joseph S. Exell

231 words

Historical

The Slothful Man's Lion: Courage Against Worldly Compromise

The coward's shame lies not in what he speaks, but in what he leaves unsaid—his refusal to act.

Proverbs 26:13Universalspiritual courage vs. worldly compromiseinternal struggle with passions

Joseph S. Exell

215 words

Historical

False Balances in Life's Providences and Spiritual Worth

Some possess remarkable skill in dwelling exclusively upon dark things: black aspects, wintry phases, deprivations, bereavements, losses.

Proverbs 20:23Universalspiritual perception vs material obsessiondivine providence

Joseph S. Exell

238 words

Historical

Paul's Return to Jerusalem: Transformed by Grace

He returned from spiritual captivity as Ezra had returned from bodily captivity, and to his renewed mind all things appeared new.

Galatians 1:18Universaltransformation through gracereconciliation of former adversaries

Joseph S. Exell

217 words

Historical

Pleasure-Seeking as the Root of Poverty

Exell's commentary on Proverbs 20:17, the love of pleasure stands as "the secret of the failure of nine-tenths of our unsuccessful young men." The wise man identifies pleasure—particularly when pursued as *hedone* (self-gratification)—as fundamentally opposed to material and spiritual prosperity.

Proverbs 20:17Universalconsequences of self-indulgencecharacter formation through choices

Joseph S. Exell

210 words

Movie Analogy

The Shining: A Light the Darkness Cannot Overcome (Matthew 5:14-16)

In The Shining, the Overlook Hotel's evil threatens to consume Danny and his mother. But Danny has "the shine"—a psychic gift that calls for help across miles. His light is literally his salvation.

Matthew 5:14-16Universallightdarkness

Short98 words

Historical

The Stranger-Guest Knocking at the Door of the Heart

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.—The Guest of the heart. I. THE STRANGER-GUEST WANTING TO COME IN. When a stranger comes to your door, it matters greatly whether he be mean or great. Who is this Visitor? He...

Revelation 1:20Universaldivine invitationhuman choice

Joseph S. Exell

219 words

LensLines™

Colossians 1:11-20 — Universal (pastoral)

Colossians 1:11-20 107:1-9, 43 is a steady hand on the shoulder: God is near, and you are not alone in obedience.

Colossians 1:11-20UniversalChrist's SupremacyRedemption

Short21 words