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The word illustrate means “to cast light upon something.” When used regarding preaching, it refers to those elements in a sermon which by analogy, in a general sense, allow the hearer to grasp more precisely the meaning the preacher intends. Illustrations never stand alone. A story or figure of speech does not become an illustration until it is used to clarify the idea being communicated. The idea is the master in this process, while the illustration is merely a servant.

Although every preacher has heard about the value of illustrations and is aware of books consisting of illustrative material, relatively little has been written on the rationale and process of illustrating. Most material of this nature will be found in books on the general topic of preaching or homiletics.

The purposes and advantages of sermon illustrations are more numerous than is usually thought. Ian Macpherson mentions no less than 17, although his list is somewhat repetitive.” Following are some general functions of illustrations in sermons:
  1. They can be used to clarify main points, subpoints, applications, and even 
   introductions and conclusions.
  2. They help make abstract truth become concrete by making it visual.
  3. They add variety to sermons, which can be drawn from every arena of life.
  4. They vary the pace of a sermon by giving listeners needed psychological
   breaks, thus aiding their attention span.
  5. They impress the truth on the mind of the hearer.
  6. They help persuasion because they are a form of inductive reasoning.
  7. They make repetition possible without a sense of redundancy.
  8. They attract attention.
  9. They can bring a sense of relevancy to messages.
10. They help build bridges with a variety of audience members.
11. They help memory.
12. They can touch the hearer on both an intellectual and an emotional level.

When we hear the term illustration, we often think immediately of some kind of story that has a moral. This is only one of many kinds of illustrative material. Consider the following:
  1. Single words or phrases (visual language)
  2. Short figures of speech, such as similes or metaphors
  3. Analogies and parables
  4. Allegories
  5. Fables, myths, and legends
  6. Biographical incidents
  7. Personal experiences
  8. Testimonies
  9. Anecdotes-short stories, often with humor, not necessarily true. (They should not be        
passed off as true if they are not.)
10. Quotations-quips, prose, and poetry. (Poetry should be used sparingly with most congregations. Poems that are brief and plain communicate better than complicated ones.)
11. Statistics
12. Hymns
13. Current events
14. Visual aids and object lessons

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The podcast is a ministry of Dr. Alan Carr and The Sermon Notebook (http://www.sermonnotebook.org)