Bible Study Preparation:
Illustrations
Wednesday Evening Bible Study
February 2, 2000
Introduction:
We’ve talked about the importance of who you are as a teacher. We’ve talked about the proper approach to interpreting the Scriptures – looking at the historical and cultural background, and learning to understand what the language is saying. This is called the "Grammatical – Historical Approach". Tonight we’ll talk about Illustrations and putting it all together
Homework review
Assignment #1
Finding out background information on the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. What did you find? If you were to put the books into a chronological order, what would it be?
Assignment: #2
On Isaiah 45 – What words did you do a word study on? What did you find?
Illustrations
Illustrations have been called the "windows" in a message. They help bring extra light onto the points you are trying to make.
Another person has said that the goal of the teacher is to "get the cookies off the top shelf so others can reach them". That’s what a good illustration will do. A good illustration will take a theological truth or a practical application and help it sink home into the heart of the listener.
An illustration will take a truth and walk the listener around the truth to examine it from different angles. It’s like taking a flat, two dimensional truth, and making it three dimensional.
I hate to say it, but as hard as you will work on your profound, theological Bible Studies, the thing that most people will remember will be the stories you tell.
Illustrations do not come easy for me. It’s often one of the most difficult parts of preparing a message for me. It’s something you have to work hard at to be effective. For a typical Sunday morning message, I may take an hour or two just working on illustrations.
Biblical examples of Illustrating
David and Nathan
(2Sam. 12)David was in sin. Nathan the prophet showed up and told David a story about a rich man who stole and then barbecued the only lamb of his neighbor. David heard the story and was so drawn into it that he blurted out his judgment on the wicked rich man. Then Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man". Perfect use of illustration.
Jesus and the parables
One of Jesus’ favorite ways of teaching the people was through stories.
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10). The Prodigal Son (Luke 15).
Making your point
1. State the lesson.
You need to know what you’re trying to communicate first.
Before you ever get to the place of illustration, you need to understand the passage and have your "lesson" defined. That’s what we’ve looked at so far, understanding the history, culture, and meaning of the language. As you do this work first, you will see the "lessons" pop out at you.
I usually try to put the "lesson" into a short phrase.
I do this so that people who are taking notes will lock onto the phrase and have something short and concise to write down. I will often repeat the lesson several times as I’m talking about the point to help it sink in.
2. Support the lesson.
I will usually draw from other Scriptures to support the point.
Don’t beat it to death. A common problem among young teachers is to find twenty five verses that will all say the same thing and then make everybody turn to each and every Scripture. Share one or two of the most important ones. If it makes you feel better, footnote the other references.
Sometimes I make folks turn to the supporting passage, other times I just read it myself. If I feel this is a passage that people need to see with their own eyes, and give them a chance to underline it or book mark it, I will make them turn to it.
3. Illustrate the lesson.
Don’t tell stories for the sake of telling stories. It’s tempting, but try to stay away from it!
If you are going to tell a story, make sure it is appropriate to the passage.
At the end of the story, if the connection isn’t ABSOLUTELY clear with your point, then make it clear.
Look at the "Examples of Illustrations" paper.
Sources of Illustrations
The Bible
The best source of illustrations is the Bible. Use the stories of the Bible to bring out the truths in your text.
What story in the Bible might you tell to illustrate the following lessons –
Fleeing temptation.
(Joseph and Potiphar’s wife)
Don’t fulfill God’s plans in a fleshly manner
(Abraham and Hagar)
God’s presence in tough times (from Is. 43:2)
(Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego)
Real life
Jesus often taught using illustrations from real life that everyone could relate to. They lived in an agricultural society, and so Jesus talked a lot about farming and shepherding.
Use current events from the news, things from science. In Isaiah 44, I talked about the abortion issue and found some news articles to bring the issue current.
Personal experiences
Share examples from your own life.
From Is. 43:19 – my field trip to San Juan Capistrano
Be careful that you don’t make yourself out to be the perfect person. Some people love to tell stories about how they have always done everything correct. Yuck!
Also be careful that you don’t only talk about your failures either.
Stories
If you are going to tell a "true story", be sure it is a "true story". The world is ABOUNDING in hoaxes and "urban myths" these days. The Internet has only made it worse.
It’s okay to tell a fictional story as long as you make it clear that it is a fictional story.
There are lots of books of illustrations. Internet/e-mail stories. Exerts from good books.
Homework Assignment
Study Isaiah 46 – do whatever work you need to until you find a lesson. State the lesson. Support the lesson with Scripture. Illustrate it.
Next Week: Using the Computer
Online Bible
Word Processor
Internet
Other Bible software helps: Bible Illustrator, Master’s Library, Bible Atlas