Preaching is a weekly discipline that requires both endurance and precision. While expositing God’s Word is the most rewarding aspect of pastoral ministry, it is a marathon rather than a sprint. To sustain the listener’s engagement over the long haul, sermon illustrations are essential for adding color and clarity to the biblical message.
Illustrations are not the primary focus of a message; the core remains the faithful exposition of the text. Think of the scripture as the meat and illustrations as the seasoning. While no one wants a meal consisting only of spices, meat without flavoring can be bland. Effective sermons use these elements to provide both substance and flavor.
Illustrations help listeners grasp complex theological concepts by grounding abstract truths in relatable imagery. Without them, a sermon can feel like a technical assembly manual—functional, yet difficult to follow and enjoy. By using well-placed examples, you ensure your congregation remains connected to the heart of the teaching.
Where do I get my sermon illustrations? I have five primary sources.
Real life. About half of my sermons include a personal illustration, preferably a recent one. It’s good for your guests and new members to hear a little about who you are and what’s happening in your world. Additionally, your members are more likely to relate to you if you open up about your own life.
History. I utilize historical examples in about every other sermon, typically in the middle of my sermon. These illustrations help teach church history, historical theology, and local history. More importantly, history can connect generations. An example from the 1960s can unite Boomers and Gen Z. An example from the 1940s can connect Millennials and Builders. I intentionally pull from different eras of history in order to relate to different generations.
Current News. Everyone is watching it, so you have to go there. Otherwise, you’ll appear out-of-touch and detached. At times, I’ll address significant occurrences from the prior week. But be careful here. Not every news story is worthy of sermon time. In our era of 24/7 sensational news, it can be hard to discern the actual newsworthy events from selections made by media conglomerates that sell news. Everything is BREAKING NEWS, according to them.
Pop culture. Don’t dismiss this one. While the latest fad, gadget, or hit music may not appeal to you, they do apply to the younger generations. It’s popular in the culture for a reason. I’m not advocating you take on every one of the latest fashions. I certainly don’t. However, I want to remain knowledgeable about the current culture. If I can’t speak their language, why would they listen to me? If you can’t, why would they listen to you?
Biblical examples. Often, the best illustrations are found in the Bible. Biblical illustrations help your listeners connect the dots between stories in the Bible, between the Old Testament and the New Testament, between the law and the gospel, and between the many different genres of Scripture.
What about jokes? I tell them, but sparingly. I’ll let you know if I land one. Most often, mine fall flat. In reality, few pastors can pull off comedic relief in sermons. And I don’t recommend anyone ending on a joke. I’ve never heard a sermon in which it worked.
It’s one thing to tell people the truth. It’s another thing to illustrate it for them. The truth is essential, but helping people connect to the truth is also necessary.
This article originally appeared on ChurchAnswers.com and is reposted here by permission.