Using illustrations well
Whether preaching a sermon, teaching a children’s class or leading a Bible study for teens, using a powerful illustration can really drive home the point. Jesus often used illustrations in His teaching. Illustrations help the audience connect the Word of God with everyday life.
When using illustrations, we need to make sure our illustrations actually reinforce the point we are trying to make. Too often speakers tell interesting stories or share funny jokes, but the listeners are confused about how the illustration connects to the text. While this might be entertaining, it distracts from the Word instead of enhancing the Word. We need to make sure the illustration actually goes with the point we are trying to make instead of being a mental side trip that might distract some in the audience.
“When using illustrations, we need to make sure our illustrations actually reinforce the point we are trying to make. ”
In my opinion, the best illustrations come from our own real-life experiences because it feels much more authentic than just reading a story we found in a book. When using stories from our own lives, we must remember to keep the story short so we can focus on the point we are trying to make. It’s also important as we retell stories from our own lives to convey that God is the hero of the story, not self. Personal stories, especially about our failures and weaknesses, resonate with people who are struggling to connect with God in a personal way and show people that God works through our lives even in our imperfections.
We must also make sure our illustrations are not so out-of-date that the audience cannot follow them. Not long ago I was preaching to a group of college students and referenced a Pinto (the automobile, not the bean) in an illustration. I could tell from the looks on their faces they had no idea what a Pinto was.
Fortunately, a younger preacher was also in the room. He realized the point I was trying to make and called out from the back of the room, "He means a Mini-Cooper, not a Pinto." Suddenly I saw the lights go on in the students' eyes and the illustration made sense to them all. Thank God for younger preachers to help us middle-aged guys stay current!
A good illustration can really drive the point home. When planning your illustrations remember these key things:
The illustration must actually reinforce the central concept of what you are trying to say.
The illustration sounds more authentic if it is our own story, but make sure to keep the story concise instead of getting lost in the details.
The illustration should be current enough to actually make sense to the audience.
When we remember these things, illustrations make our teaching much more effective.
Dr. Terry W. Dorsett serves as the executive director of the Baptist Convention of New England.