Preaching Illustrations From Church History

Ron Prosise

Preaching Illustrations from Church History

Published by Kress Biblical Resources

PO Box 132228

The Woodlands, TX 77393

Copyright © 2016 Ron Prosise

All royalties from this books go toward training preachers at The Master’s Seminary.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Scripture quotations from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.” (www.Lockman.org)

Alphabet characters from the book, The Picture Alphabet, for the Instruction and Amusement of Boys and Girls by H. S. Otley, 1830

ISBN 978-1-934952-23-8

Cover design: Cherith Festa

Text design: Greg Wright (DiamondPointMedia.com)

2016—First Edition

To my beloved Donna, God’s marvelous blessing and the joy of my life.

“Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens.”

(Song 2:2)

Contents

Introduction

Guidelines For Using Historical Illustrations

Illustrations

Biographical Index

Introduction

Years ago John MacArthur preached a sermon entitled, A Passion for the Lost. As he will often do, MacArthur used an account from church history to illustrate his point, which was the importance of believers having a fervent concern for unbelievers. Referencing a book by Cortland Myers1, he began his message with this account of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, one of Scotland’s greatest preachers from the nineteenth century:

Everywhere he stepped, Scotland shook. Moreover, he opened his mouth, and a Spiritual force swept in every direction. Thousands followed him to the feet of Christ.

A traveler was eager to see where M’Cheyne had preached, and he went to the Scottish town and found the Church. And an old gray-haired sexton agreed to take him through the Church. And as he led the way in the M’Cheyne study, he said, “Sit in that chair.” And the traveler hesitated a moment and then sat in the chair. On the table before him was an open Bible, and the sexton said, “Drop your head in that book and weep. That’s what our minister always did before he preached,” said the old man. He then led the visitor into the pulpit before the open Bible. “Stand there,” he said, “and drop your head on your hands, and let the tears flow. That’s the way our minister always did before he began to preach.2

I have heard many sermons on evangelism, but this illustration of M’Cheyne’s passion for the lost immediately seized my attention and ignited my imagination. It helped me to not only better understand but also motivate me in seeking to ...