Illustrating Well

Preaching Sermons that Connect

Jim L. Wilson

Illustrating Well: Preaching Sermons that Connect

Copyright 2022 Jim L. Wilson

Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225

LexhamPress.com

All rights reserved. You may use brief quotations from this resource in presentations, articles, and books. For all other uses, please write Lexham Press for permission. Email us at permissions@lexhampress.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Christian Standard Bible, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are from the New American Standard Bible ®, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Print ISBN 9781683595892

Digital ISBN 9781683595908

Library of Congress Control Number 2021947099

Lexham Editorial Team: Elliot Ritzema, Andrew Sheffield, Allisyn Ma, Jessi Strong, Mandi Newell

Cover Design: Owen Craft, Brittany Schrock

I dedicate this book to two colleagues,

Rodger Russell

and

Jim Sandell.

Both have worked with me for over a decade

in providing fresh sermon illustrations

to preachers around the world

at FreshMinistry.org.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Jeff Iorg

Introduction

Section 1

Using Sermon Illustrations Effectively

1 Four Metaphors for Sermon Illustrations

2 Four Characteristics of Effective Sermon Illustrations

3 Illustration Location and Sermon Structure

Section 2

Using a Variety of Illustration Types Well

4 Personal Illustrations

5 Fresh Illustrations

6 Biblical Illustrations

7 Hypothetical and Historical Illustrations

8 Classic Illustrations, Fictional Illustrations, and Object Lessons

Conclusion: Four Encouraging Words

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

Gateway Seminary

Thank you to the Board of Trustees of Gateway Seminary, President Jeff Iorg, and Academic Dean Michael Martin for the half-sabbatical leave to write this book.

Research Team

Thank you to Derick Wilson, my research assistant, for the hours he spent poring over books, journal articles, blogs, and sermons to bring pertinent quotes and examples to my attention.

Thank you to Doctor of Ministry candidates Leotra West and Joseph Douthitt, who conducted some preliminary research for this book as part of an independent study.

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About Illustrating Well: Preaching Sermons that Connect

Communicate well by illustrating well

Preachers face all kinds of obstacles on Sunday mornings. A sermon that employs interesting and appropriate illustrations can help break through barriers and convey truth in a fresh way. In Illustrating Well, Jim L. Wilson provides pastors with the tools to effectively use sermon illustrations to help them communicate the Bible’s teachings. To reach the hearts and minds of their congregations, preachers must do more than explain the truth; they must demonstrate how the truth relates to real life. Every sermon should be theologically rich and thoroughly biblical, but a good illustration can take what might be an abstract concept and turn it into a concrete reality for the listener.

In Illustrating Well, preachers will discover what makes for a compelling illustration as well as the benefits and potential pitfalls of particular types of illustrations.

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Table of Contents