Theology Thursday: The God who illustrates: Using illustrations in preaching

The heart of Lane’s argument depends on the nature of God’s communication:

God often reveals aspects of himself and his work through careful argument, such as in the detailed reasoning in Romans 1–11 or Hebrews. However, God does not limit his revelation to argument. Indeed, the vast bulk of God’s revelation is not in this style. Nor do the Scriptures suggest that argument is a ‘higher’ order of revelation than other forms, though, of course, it is sometimes used to interpret and clarify them, just as other forms are used to clarify it.

‘God is love’ – a proposition. That love is demonstrated materially and in relationship. ‘This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.’ In other words, the incarnation shows, demonstrates and illustrates God’s love. Moreover, God’s love is evidenced in the creation and in the whole Biblical story.

This story is itself made up of hundreds of stories, miracles, parables, songs, poems, proverbs, dreams and visions. All these genres communicate truth using illustration. The Psalms and Proverbs are full of illustrations. The prophets are replete with illustration. Each of the parables is an illustration. Miracles usually have an illustrative component. Apocalyptic writing is mostly illustration. Interestingly, even those parts of the Bible which may not appear at first to be illustrative, such as the accounts of Israel’s history and its leaders, or the design of the tabernacle, or the law, are often seasoned with illustrative language and are later described as illustrative.

Preaching that focuses too much on the conceptual is therefore unrepresentative of the Biblical testament. It could even be effectively communicating an alternative perspective, such as asceticism or Gnosticism. God is not just a God of rational thinking. He makes and delights in things. He calls and delights in his chosen people. He relates. He demonstrates. He illustrates, through image and story.

Illustrations, then, are far more substantial than mere props or aids to argument. In the Scriptures, they are the means to further a relationship and help it mature. Often they are integral to the outworking of that relationship, such as the plagues in Egypt or the signs in the early church. Sometimes they bring greater understanding of a larger truth, such as the miracles in John. Other times, they communicate in their own context while also functioning as part of a larger truth, as in typology. They can even be the very essence of what they illustrate, as in the case of the incarnation.

Lane then explores how illustrations benefit communication:

• Illustrations Convey Truth through Experience
• Illustrations Use a Wide Range of Referents
• Understanding Illustrations Helps us Understand the Bible
• Illustrations Aid Identification, Application and Engagement
• Illustrations Involve All the Senses

Lane describes how to illustrate well, before concluding:

As preachers seek to be both faithful to the Scriptures and helpful to their congregations, it can sometimes feel overwhelming, even discouraging, given the high standards we set ourselves and the many factors involved in the task. Yet God promises to equip and mature us. Just as he is gloriously rich and wonderfully sophisticated, yet accessible to a child, so the use of illustration in preaching is both wonderfully sophisticated and accessible.

One way forward to grow in your use of illustrations in preaching might be to take this article in sections and discuss it with a small group of colleagues. A prayerful humility and willingness to be used and taught by him will reap a harvest, beyond our imagining.

The article contains much food for thought, so do get hold of this edition of Churchman to read the full text.

Lane, Adrian. ‘The God who Illustrates: Using Illustrations in Preaching.’ Churchman 128/4 (2014): 319–334