Sermon Illustrations: What is Appropriate?

Brother Mindset!

I've been preaching for over 15 years and its rare---I mean, rare, that I use a movie line for illustration.

Any kind of song beside Christian---it totally out of the question.

I read books----no novels---non-fiction---a lot of WW2 history---quotes from Generals and Presidents(except the one that says, "It all depends on how you define . . .!"

Read newspapers and magizines---if you go to the hospital for a church members surgery and you're waiting there in the waiting area---brouse the magizines---write things down!

On and on we can go---but generally---you know where you can get the best illustrations??? From your own life!! Sure beats what Helly---I mean, Hollywood can produce!

Hang in there!

Blackbird

 

My dear brother, an illustration is used as a fishhook in fishing. It helps to grab hold of the point you are making, and make it stick. In this sense, anything can be used. Including a secular song, line from a moving picture, or quote from an atheist.

I have created an illustration from a children's story, from life events. An illustration should never be used to demonstrate how clever the preacher is, but to illumine the sermon topic.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I remember that Jesus taught using parables - perhaps our greatest support for the use of illustrations.

 

That is very true that Jesus himself used parables to point out object lessions. I think however that the biggest tool anyone preaching a sermon is the Bible. Taking it down into parts and explaining the verses to where anyone can understand. The problem with using movies and other tools, is those are not made from your prospective (in this case being the one who is doing the sermon) and while they might get the point across, there is always or almost always something that you don't agree with and you would spend more time explaining why something they saw was incorrect and less on the lesson you were trying to get across.

Just a thought

Good LUCK!

 

Go to the Baptist top 1000 pages, there are many web pages offering sermon outlines and illustrations. there is probably more material available there than you will ever use.

 

Anything within appropriate taste.