The Journal on Preaching & Ministry: November 2024, The Windows on the WORD by The Jenkins Institute

THE WINDOWS ON THE WORD

JEFF & DALE JENKINS

HOW TO GLEAN ILLUSTRATIONS FROM YOUR READING

CHUCK MONAN

ILLUSTRATING THE TEXT OF SCRIPTURE BY EMPLOYING THE TEXT

From the Editors

There’s a reason why illustrations are used and useful People remember them Re-preach an old sermon that was effective and someone will come up to you and let you know they remembers, probably not the sermon, but the illustration.

It used to bug us that after all the digging and study folks would remember the sermon via the illustrations that were in it. But, what do most remember of the Master Teachers lessons? …a certain man had two sons a man feel among thieves …there were ten virgins …the kingdom of Heaven is like… you are the salt the light …a sower went forth to sow

And, apparently Jesus didn’t mind, in fact the All-Knowing embraced it “With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable” (Mark 4:33-34).

Of course we would be wise to learn from the Wisest and to learn how to effectively imitate Him

We pray that this issue of The Journal blesses and aids you. Not only have some of our authors produced extremely useful and instructive articles, interspaced in this edition are some excellent and favorite of illustrations. Enjoy.

In His Service,

Why Preach A Parable

BY PAUL SHERO

HE never taught without a parable...

n Jesus’ day many people could not read. This is why the scribes had such power. That is why scripture was read aloud. It is also the reason, I believe, that Jesus told so many parables. He never taught without a parable “All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable” (Matthew 13:34). Parables were not just stories they were earthly stories with

heavenly meaning. They take something we know or recognize to reveal or illustrate something we do not know or recognize.

There are many lessons we have learned first-hand because we have life experiences to draw from. We are careful around hot stoves maybe because we touched a hot stove once and learned a lesson. We can actually learn the same lesson without being burned If I see you burn yourself with a hot pan maybe, I don’t have to burn myself. Maybe I can hear about your experience and learn the lesson of the hot stove without the burn.

So Jesus, when he wanted us to know about the kingdom of God, something we had never seen or experienced, would use a simile. In most cases this was a parable. He would say, “the kingdom of Heaven is like” Then he would tell us his parable What he told us is the truth, whether the man actually found a treasure. The parable or figure of speech is what some call truthful fiction.

Think of two rails running side by side One is our experiences in this world The other is the revealed word of God. To bring our experiences in compliance with God we have to bring the two together. Some sermons start with the word of God, a particular scripture. Then we show how it helps us in our situation move to God. Parables start with the world we know and then point us to God

So while people are drawn into a story about a selfish son and a loving father we are actually learning about a loving God who is ready to forgive. The parables recorded in the Bible can be preached in the same way the historical stories are presented. I believe we should try to be better story tellers. The story reveals the truth – think of a flashlight. It is not your contact lens you lost in the dark parking lot. But, that focused beam of light can help you find it. The story can be like that; it focuses our thought. Helps us identify the truth we are looking for. With the flashlight we can distinguish the pull tabs from the contacts. There are a lot of lies being told but with the right story in the right way you can help people see the truth and actually want the truth

There is another reason to lift up the story. We, as a world, are in a time of change. Reading is losing favor. Most people get their information from screens not books. If you wrote a bestseller about some historical event and then a movie was made of your book, more people would see your movie on the first day than would ever read your book. We should take the matter of story seriously.

Stories are powerful In the Dark Ages when most people could not read they learned the story of God from pictures and stained glass in church building windows. They heard the will of God in plays and puppet shows. When the printing press was invented it became possible to produce books anyone could afford. Many people became literate Today smart phones and internet make it possible to go for days without reading very much, if anything. This is producing a generation of non-readers.

So what can we do? Remember, faith comes by hearing Our job is the same; go and tell. Our tools change. Black boards and overhead projectors are not as popular as they once were. But stories never go out of style.

Before the Civil War most Americans managed to stay out of the arguments concerning slavery. But, when the novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” came out, well, that story captured the hearts and minds of the people. They could never stay neutral again It did not matter if Uncle Tom was an actual man The story was telling a truth and once you see something you cannot unsee it.

Once I listened to my daughter telling the story of the young prophet and the old prophet This young prophet was told by God to go and curse an alter to a false god. He was also told to go and return home without any detours. “Come straight home when you are finished,” she said in her best God voice. “Don’t stop to eat. Don’t go see anyone. Come straight home,” she said to the big-eyed children. Then she told about the old prophet who said, “God told me to tell you to come to my house to eat. But he lied!” she said. And my five-year-old granddaughter said in horror, “Uh oh!”

Stories work No argument They move to the front of the line in our thinking Actually, when you remembered the story of the old prophet and the young prophet you probably shuddered. And you might have smiled when you heard little Ashley say, “Uh oh!” Stories are powerful.

Satan fills the air with lies. Our stories are full of grace and truth. We must find ways of doing a better job telling them. When you tell the story well everyone listens. Then it’s up to them, because we have done our job.

Everyone loves a story. When you preach a Bible story you will have a listening audience who will pay attention and remember what you have said scripturally. We know narratives, stories, are biblical because Jesus did it. So how do you build and deliver a narrative sermon?

1. Pick your story carefully.

a Not all stories are equal We should never be trivial when we are preaching I believe the story should display an important truth from God. Start with the truth you want to impart. Then look for the story that illustrates it

b. Ask yourself what do I want people to learn? What promises are shown? What warnings are given? What commandments are made? And how does this story help me convey this truth? Think parables. They weren’t just interesting stories they were stories with a purpose Think purpose

2 Look for details in the story that help you Some stories or characters have a lot of details. Moses, Elijah, David or Peter will give you more than you could possibly use in one sermon

3 Zero in on the one thing you want the listeners to take away from your story Make sure your goal and God’s goal are the same.

4. As you develop this story move toward the goal, or purpose, you have selected. Is there some temptation you want them to avoid? Is there some action you want them to take; like repentance?

ALSO BY PAUL SHERO

5 Flesh out the story There are details that are not mentioned in scripture Tread carefully. This is holy ground.

a Read the story in every reference For example, II Samuel, 1 Chronicles or Matthew and Luke. List the details you find. Look for obscure references in other scripture. For example, Simon of Cyrene had two sons Rufus and Alexander Why were these names important? Maybe they were well known to some of those reading Mark’s account (Mark 15:21) since Mark’s Gospel is important to the Romans. In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome he sends a command to, “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well” (Romans 16:13). See how this could deepen the story?

b. Look for details and look for what the scripture may be saying without saying it. The Father of the Prodigal ordered shoes for his son. Can we assume he was bare-footed? The woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and kissed his feet; can we assume she was on the floor? Look for details. Look for what is out of place and what may be obvious. Fill in the spaces. But warning, tread carefully! It is possible for these little inventions to steal the story. I would suggest you pray a lot at this point.

c Assumptions made reverently are valuable Since we know that Philip and the Eunuch went down into the water and came up out of the water, that eunuch was immersed. Look for details that show the humanity of the characters Even though they lived a long time ago they were people like us.

6. Look for the hook that makes this story come home. A, “so what” moment. Why tell this story? What can be said to move the listeners to action

7 I like to tell the story in the first-person This increases the power of the story

a. When Jesus told the man who had the legion of demons to, “go home and tell what God had done for him” the fact that it was his own story it had even more power We can’t be him but you can tell the story from his viewpoint. You are not saying, “he said”. You are saying, “I Said” or “I thought” This is harder to do but powerful in its effect

b. You must if you try this, be careful.

You must explain what you are doing

You must invite your audience to imagine they are listening to your character. You must stay in the character throughout the presentation

c. I do not wear costumes; this is not a play it is a sermon. It is rewarding and difficult, but I think worthwhile. I make sure there is a definite time the character speaks and when he is through.

2. If you are looking for applause get a part in a play. If you want praise from men, you need to do something else. But if you humbly want the truth of God to get into people’s heart. If you can disappear and let the character speak. God can use you and you can help people receive truth.

One last thought. I do not use this method often. Like any method of preaching topical, expository, PowerPoint they can and will get old. I do use this method often when I give chapel talks to our children in our Christian school Before I started this they were my toughest audience. Then I moved on to adult audiences. I have found they really listen. I mean lean forward and listen That seems good to me

W H Y A R E I L L U S T R A T I O N S N E C E S A R Y , J E F F & D A L E

Illustrations inform and instruct. Our goal as gospel heralds is to teach people the ways of God. The use of illustration recognizes that people more readily grab hold of pictures and images than propositions. However, the purpose of a picture or an image is to shed light on the proposition or principle that behind the picture. People remember illustrations!

Illustrations can help the preacher connect and identify with his people Good communicators learn how to touch the souls of people and take hold of their hearts This personal touch seems to be a natural component of good illustrations You and your audience come together as you weigh the issues of real life that touch each of us

3 Illustrations allow for “commercial breaks ” The mind naturally shifts gears when listening to a story The need for intense concentration is lessened, and listeners are allowed to catch their “listening breath ” A commercial break

Illustrations motivate and convince Illustrations do more than clarify; they also can motivate. Scripture teaches us that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27). The combination of engaging exposition with excellent illustrations can convict and convince souls of biblical truths. They help to capture and regain attention. It’s natural, the mind begins to wander after extensive and lengthy discourse. Good illustrations help bring people back to the message.

Illustrations help people see the relevance of the Text for TODAY The Bible is relevant We do not have to make it relevant But, making it relevant and showing it to be relevant are two different things “Does God’s Word say anything to me for what I am facing today?” The answer is a clear “yes ” Good illustrations are the window to see this clearly.

Illustrations create interest. The experience and stories of others fascinate people. A good illustration pulls the potential napper back to the message.

Some Do’s & Dont’s

Illustration Dont’s

(1) Don’t let the illustrations drive the sermon. 10-15 minute illustration to introduce the sermon will be heard but distract from God’s Words.

(2) Don’t use someone else’s illustration as if it happened to you.

(3) Don’t use illustrations they are not believable. B.E. 25,000 students in China. Illustrations that can’t be verified.

(4) Don’t use too many illustrations in the same sermon.

(5) Don’t use illustrations in a way that makes the message about you. We are not the hero of the sermon.

ILLUSTRATION DO’s

(1) Use Bible illustrations.

(2) Use real life illustrations

(3) Read to find illustrations

(4) Give proper credit when using someone else’s illustrations

(5) Use illustrations that are memorable. Do not worry that people remember your illustrations - that probably just means they are working, effective (we remember STRONGLY Jesus’ illustrations.

FROM HAPPY HIATT VIA BILL WATKINS: THE TRAVELING SHOE SALESMAN

Maybe you’ve heard this story before. It’s probably worn out and dated Despite that, I’m reminded how important the concept is almost every week in ministry

The story is that two shoe salesmen traveled to a terribly remote areas in an attempt to sell shoes

The first sent a message home: “Situation hopeless! Nobody wears shoes here!”

The second had the same experience, but sent a different message: “Great news! Unlimited sales potential! Nobody has shoes, yet.”

My experience is that most of us have hearts like the first shoe salesman. We respond to cultural challenges and problems in our world by saying, “It’s hopeless. Nobody’s interested in religion anymore. Everybody’s selfish. Have you seen the internet lately?”

But the gospel tells a different story. Every addict you meet, every person living a lifestyle you feel is wrong is just one more person showing you how desperately they need Jesus. They just might not know it yet.

God has not given us a Spirit of fear – but of power, of love, and of self-control.

SERMON PLANNING RETREATS

To apply for admission or learn more contaact us at TJI@TJI LIFE and ask

BY CHUCK MONAN

How to Glean Illustrations from Your Reading

Have you ever used those books of illustrations for preachers?

We won’t ask for a show of hands I did, too Used to wear them out

Nothing wrong with that. There are some relevant, inspirational anecdotes in them that can really connect. But it goes without saying that the well will run dry sooner or later if that is all you’ve got.

A strategy that will have a much longer shelf life is to find your own illustrations from your reading.

Now this presumes that you’re actually reading If you aren’t, why not? Reading is not optional for preachers; it’s indispensable

My father in law was Dr Stafford North who told me when I started preaching, “If you quit studying, you’re dead ” Four decades later, I understand what he meant

Here are a few suggestions that will assist you in the unending quest to gather illustrative material

1. Prepare your sermons with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other Our audience lives in the current era. The preacher should follow the advice of Karl Barth here and use the Bible to illustrate current events. The Word of

Read widely from history and biographies. So much of preaching involves explaining and interpreting the past. If you don’t know it, how well will you be able to pull that off? So many ideas are rushing through my head right now Crossing the Rubicon the Maginot Line We shall never surrender! They will never forget what they did here Alexander the Great besieging the island of Tyre The Kid Stays In the Picture I have become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds etc etc Fact is nearly always more interesting than fiction, and when you read a lot, you will never run short of quotes, stories, and fascinating examples of people doing remarkable things

How to Glean Illustrations from Your Reading,

2 Become familiar with science. While most preachers have little background in the sciences, there are all kinds of great resources to glean truths about God’s wondrous creation that build faith in the Creator. One such book is Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything It is telling that Bryson, an agnostic who merely wanted to be conversant about the truths of science, wrote a book that provides an arsenal of illustrations that point back to design and the Designer This is but one of many places to turn

Prepare your sermons with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other Our audience lives in the current era The preacher should follow the advice of Karl Barth here and use the Bible to illustrate current events. The Word of God is living and active, and has much to say about today’s world. As human nature hasn’t changed, it has a lot to say about that, too. Newspapers overflow with examples of people who think they are smarter than God. Use those to show the utter folly of such thinking.

3. Use the Bible to illustrate the Bible Dr Howard Norton was a master at this I lost track of the number of times listening to him teach and preach where he explained one biblical truth by employing another biblical truth or story We all are familiar with how the apostle Paul did this It still works effectively today, and bolsters biblical literacy

These are just a few ideas. Read widely. Look for stories, quotes, and interesting tidbits people need to know. You will be amazed at the connection between reading and good preaching. They are inseparable. And don’t be intimidated; you can do this. Guaranteed.

And the Lord will bless you as you give him your best.

KEEPING YOUR EYES STRAIGHT AHEAD

Tommy Haynes

Luke 9:62 “Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

I grew up on a farm. My Dad worked shift work at a manufacturing plant and needed me to plow our field and get ready to plant corn. I was a bit of a daydreamer, and would watch a hawk in the sky, or a cayote running across the field. When I looked back, the row was as crooked as could be. I would have to plow the row again. Daddy taught us to find a point on the fence, or a tree, and keep our eyes on it until we reached the end of the row.

If we take our eyes off the goal, we live a crooked life. If we look back and not ahead, we won’t end up where we are supposed to be. Paul writes: “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14) Let us keep our eyes fixed on the goal and plow a straight row for the Lord!

Illustrating the Text of Scripture by Employing the Text

It has been common in churches of Christ to say that the Bible teaches by command, example, and inference: telling us things explicitly, exemplifying them in actions, and leading us thoughtfully to conclude them on our own This is not a distinctive “pattern theology” applicable only to Biblical teaching, but is how all literature, and even oral instruction, necessarily teaches. In the Bible, the three methods almost always work together. Even the simplest of commands is made clearer and more memorable by example, and we are challenged to think through how to put it into practice in our own lives.

Consider the famous story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. A lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus prompts the lawyer to answer his own question, and the lawyer gives the right answer, stating the simple foundational principles of loving God and our neighbor. When that does not satisfy the lawyer, Jesus gives an example of someone demonstrating love, even though the chosen example is a member of a group that is both theologically mistaken and socially estranged from the people of God. Even a Samaritan knows how a good person ought to act. At the end, Jesus explicitly challenges the lawyer (and us) to think through why the lawyer was questioning what to do when he knew the right answer all along. The story is famous because it teaches so well.

Because the basic nature of good and evil does not change over time and is so important to our happiness in this life and the next, the Bible provides a rich

treasury of teaching that works together to reinforce what God knows we need to learn. The Bible returns again and again to the same questions about what it means to be a good person because those questions always present themselves in every time and place, and because our resistance to simple truth, even when we know the answer all along, is often so difficult to overcome.

It is surely legitimate to use examples from our own experience or literature outside the Bible to illustrate truths that are certainly present and obviously demonstrating themselves in our own time and throughout history. Still, what .

Illustrating the Text of Scripture by Employing the Text, Continued

the Bible provides is a ready supply of examples that we can know will “work”: after all, that is the obvious purpose of Biblical narrative. As Paul says concerning the Israelites in the wilderness, “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did” (1 Cor 10:6)

Consider the story of Naaman in Second Kings 5 A rich and powerful military commander suffers from the incurable disease of leprosy. With the innocence of childhood, a little Israelite girl whom he has carried off into slavery wishes his healing: “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would heal him of his leprosy” (2 Kgs 5:3) In desperation, Naaman seeks healing from the enemy and goes to Elisha. Elisha doesn’t even greet Naaman, but sends word through a servant, commanding Naaman to “wash in the Jordan seven times …. and be healed” (2 Kgs. 5:10). In anger at an answer he regards as foolish and insulting, Naaman storms off But his servants are wiser than their master. Like the little girl at the start of the story, wishing their master’s healing, they persuade him to obey the simple, easy command. He washes seven times and is healed.

What a story! We learn a deeper understanding of why we must “become like children” to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:3; Mk 10:15; Lk 18:17) We learn that, even in slavery, love is not resentful (1 Cor. 13:5). We see that God’s “commandments are not burdensome,” that he does not ask of us what we cannot do (1 John 5:3) Above all, we learn the lesson of humility in our dealings with both God and man, and how difficult to accept that lesson can be

The story of Naaman has often and very fittingly been used to illustrate the proper response to God’s command to be baptized. It serves as a fine illustration in that context because the story gets at the reason why people would refuse to do something simple and easy that Jesus both clearly commanded and did himself. Human beings, even when desperate and with no other place to turn, sometimes preserve their pride at the cost of their peace and healing. And it doesn’t have to be that way Even a child knows better

Many other examples suggest themselves The faith of Abraham, the folly of Lot, Saul’s tragic disobedience, David’s courage against enemies and his acceptance of terrible guilt, all have application to illustrate the conflict between good and evil that is present when confronting every question of moral decision

In a more specific and limited way, how better to illustrate Paul’s teaching in his letters than by reference to his life, both as recorded in Acts and as referenced in those same letters? Even the letters themselves serve as examples, providing specific answers to specific questions faced by the early church, but more generally illustrating how the church in any age should address the questions that inevitably arise, and how a teacher, like Paul, can show the right balance of correction and encouragement

Illustrations only work if they legitimately illustrate God’s commands are clear enough, and the Biblical record of human response to God’s commands is rich enough, so that we do not have to stretch to draw doubtful lessons Circumcision exemplifies God’s choice that it is best for his people sometimes to have a physical sign, such as baptism and communion in the New Testament, that they belong to God; it does not teach that infants should be baptized.

Illustrations work more persuasively the more they are integrated into the whole of Biblical teaching Jesus uses repeated agricultural parables to teach the lessons of spiritual growth and causation. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son is a powerful example of faith, but his life as a whole teaches us more.

Biblical teaching cannot be done without illustrating Jesus Himself is the supreme Illustration: God became Man, so that we might better understand who He is and who we ought to be

ILLUSTRATION, Austin Johnson

Poor, blind Marie! The preacher who had recently come to their town spoke of the Lord Jesus who had opened the eyes of the blind people He met. What longings rose in her heart! How she wished that she might see, not just for the joy of looking at the lovely blue sky or the faces of her dear family, but because she longed to be able to read about Him, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Marie’s great desire stirred Mr Cameron’s heart He hoped that he could help her After making inquiries he found a Christian man who had a class for a few blind people. He taught them to read Braille and to do handiwork by which they could earn a little money

Mr Cameron arranged that Marie should attend the class for an hour or so each day. He also gave her a Bible in Braille, the letters of which are raised high so that the blind can feel them with their fingertips

What joy filled Marie’s heart as she set out for her first lesson! With her precious Bible under her arm and her hand in her younger brother’s, she walked the few blocks to the gentleman’s house But great was her disappointment! Marie’s family was poor. In order to help earn a little money, Marie had been taught basket weaving which many blind people can do quite cleverly She had worked several years at this. The skin on her finger tips had become so hard that she could not feel the raised letters in the Braille Bible

However, one day as she sat working, cutting the ends off the straw she was using, she had an idea. “Why not cut the hard skin off my fingers,” she thought, “then new soft skin would grow in its place ”

She really did this in spite of the pain it gave her. But it did not help. There was still not enough feeling in her fingers, and anyway she had to keep on weaving baskets Day after day she wept as she worked Then came a new thoug ht.

“Though I cannot see, God has opened the eyes of my soul,” she whispered “Should I not praise and thank Him for this?”

Feeling more cheerful now, she began to think about her Bible.

“Since I cannot use it, ought I not let someone else have it Perhaps there is another blind person with softer fingers who will be able then to learn to read.”

Holding the Book close to her she knelt and prayed.

“Oh, precious Lord Jesus, Thou who lovest the poor and openeth the eyes of the blind, I thank Thee that Thou hast not hid Thyself from a poor blind girl. As I cannot read Thy heavenly words, I ask that Thou wilt whisper them in my heart continually, so that my mind may not be as dark as my eyes I can hear Thy blessed Word and Thou knowest that I love Thee.”

Then Marie opened the Bible and put it to her lips to kiss the page And what a joyous surprise! Her tender lips could plainly feel the high printed letters With a cry of delight she followed the lines down the whole page. It was all easy and plain. Her lips could read.

A year later Mr. Cameron visited Marie again. The little home was just the same, but Marie’s face shone with heavenly joy She sat on an old chair with a basket at her feet, reading her dear Bible. For her darkness was gone.

“Is it not nice to kiss the lovely words while I am reading them?” she said in a voice full of happiness How good the Lord had been to her! He had heard her prayer and filled her heart with gladness.

Oh that we all would value the Scriptures as she did! You have your natural eyesight You can read these words easily But have the eyes of your soul been opened, for we are all born spiritually blind? Through His Word and by His Spirit, God would open our eyes to see that we are sinners and that the only way to have those sins forgiven is believing in Jesus as your savior and obeying His Word. Satan, the god of this world, has blinded the minds of them that don’t believe, and he tries to keep them that way until it is too late when they die and wake up in eternal darkness lost forever “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” Jn 9:25.

Good Illustration or Gimmick, by Jerrie Barber

A preacher was criticized for dressing in first-century clothes and quoting passages from the apostle Peter Some said it was just a gimmick and shouldn’t have been done I’m confused. Is it a gimmick at regular worship but not a gimmick at Vacation Bible School? Who made that rule? Why do we dress in costumes at VBS? Should we stop dressing in costumes at VBS, or could the reasons we do it be good reasons to do it occasionally in regular services?

Is quoting the Bible wrong? Is quoting the Bible a gimmick in a suit and tie? Is quoting the Bible a gimmick if you take off your coat? At what point in a wardrobe change does quoting the Bible become a gimmick?

I’ve had people tell me PowerPoint is a gimmick. Should I refuse to use that during worship? I know of a congregation where people left because they used PowerPoint. Is that issue worth leaving brethren and going to a church that uses a blackboard?

At one church, we were constructing a new building with large beams. Before they were installed, several men helped me bring one of the large beams, about twenty feet long, into the auditorium where we worshipped. I preached from Matthew 7:1-5 on removing the beam from our eye before we try to pick a piece of sawdust from our brother’s eye. I had a piece of sawdust glued to a 4” x 6” card for the contrast Was that a gimmick or a good illustration? I preached that sermon in 1976, and I still have people telling me they remember the sermon and the points I made

Could you have a closing prayer before he starts and not count it as a part of worship, and everybody is OK?

When the Cornerstone Bank in Waco, Nebraska, was robbed of some $6,000 in November of 2012, the bank employees were able to give the police a fairly good description of the teenage girl who pulled off the crime and the car in which she escaped. As it turned out, the investigators didn’t really need those descriptions, because the thief recorded a YouTube video titled “Chick bank robber” boasting of her criminal prowess.

Fanning out the cash in front of the camera, 19-year-old Hannah Sabata held up a sign that read, “I just stole a car and robbed a bank. Now I’m rich, I can pay off my college financial aid, and tomorrow I’m going for a shopping spree ” Later she held up another sign which said, “I told my mom today was the best day of my life... she just thinks I met a new boy.” Hannah’s brief criminal career ended later that week when police took her into custody.

The number of people who have gotten into trouble because of something they said goes far beyond boasting criminals. Lies, gossip, criticism, and slander can damage not just those about whom they are spoken but the speaker as well. The words that come from our mouths reveal the condition of our hearts and minds Jesus said, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).

We should exercise great care in our speech, knowing the power of our words. Though there is a time when we should speak, more often the problem comes from speaking too much instead of speaking too little. Let wisdom guide every conversation. And remember, OUR WORDS ARE POWERFUL!

Keeping Your Eyes Straight Ahead

AN ILLUSTRATION FROM TOMMY HAYNES

Luke 9:62 “Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

I grew up on a farm. My Dad worked shift work at a manufacturing plant and needed me to plow our field and get ready to plant corn. I was a bit of a daydreamer and would watch a hawk in the sky or a coyote running across the field. When I looked back, the row was as crooked as could be. I would have to plow the row again. Daddy taught us to find a point on the fence or a tree and keep our eyes on it until we reached the end of the row.

If we take our eyes off the goal, we live a crooked life. If we look back and not ahead, we won’t end up where we are supposed to be. Paul writes: “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Let us keep our eyes fixed on the goal and plow a straight row for the Lord!

Making Your Illustration More Memorable - How Slide Decks Can Help Understanding Through Engagement

BY CRAIG EVANS

Preach the word! Wow, what a command given by the Apostle Paul. We preach the word because there is power in the word of God God’s word can bring faith to those who hear! But is preaching simply the reading of God’s word aloud?

Nehemiah and Ezra are heroes of faith who set out not just to rebuild the wall around God’s city but to rebuild the people who are to inhabit Jerusalem. Through the process of rebuilding the wall, God’s word was found Nehemiah 8 contains an incredible scene where all the people who could understand were assembled, and God’s word would be read. As Ezra delivered a six-hour sermon, he did more than read God’s word:

Nehemiah 8:5 “Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 The Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.”

God’s word was explained, made clear, and given meaning so all could understand. How is that done? Explanations, clarity, and meaning are done by illustrating the text in a way people can understand

As we preach, do we also seek to explain, clarify, and give meaning so people can understand? Do we illustrate our sermons to aid in understanding? Jesus did Jesus used parables as illustrations and may have even used visuals to help people understand In the sermon on the mount, when Jesus refers to the birds of the air or flowers in the field, isn’t it possible that birds were flying and flowers were in the meadows surrounding the people listening to Jesus?

Slide Decks are a tool that allows us to illustrate God’s word to lead to a deeper understanding Slide Decks serve as visual aids to support your presentation. They help to organize information, enhance understanding, and engage your audience. A well-crafted deck presentation can make complex concepts more digestible, reinforce key points, and create a memorable experience for your listeners.

Here are some things to remember when creating Slide Decks:

1) Prepare a good sermon. Slide Decks are an aid to presenting a good sermon, not a substitute for it. A Slide Deck will not replace prayer, meditation, and Bible study.

2) Slide Decks are for engaging the listener through illustration, not simply by sharing information.

3) Slide Decks should rely on images over words. Some only use a Slide Deck to share their sermon outline Again, think engagement and illustration over information. Find images that illustrate the sermon.

4) Use high-quality images. Stay away from pixilated images or clip art and look for High-definition pics It is suggested the best resolution for the images is 1920 x 1080 pixels at 72 DPI (dots per inch). A simple check for this is to take your presentation to full screen, and if the image isn’t clear, do not use it Free uality images can be found at sites like UnSplash, Canva, Freepik, Pexals, and Pixabay.

JOURNAL

(CONTINUED) Use images that illustrate and tell stories A pic of a dirty sheep in the woods can illustrate Jesus searching for a lost sheep, or Jesus reaching into the water can illustrate His salvation, someone waving a white flag can illustrate our need for surrender, or a hand reaching from water can illustrate our need for saving These kinds of images engage the congregation visually, intellectually, and emotionally

6) Use your Imagination and AI. When thinking of your illustrations, imaging what it would look like in a picture, and use AI to create that image.

7) Use Multiple Images in a Story When sharing an illustration in a story as the story changes use a differing image to sign-post the change It will help the congregation to stay engaged

8) Save Powerful Images. If you see an image that engages you, realize it may engage others. Save and name the image to be used later for a sermon.

9) Choose your words carefully Since engaging Slide Decks have more images than words, we must choose our words carefully. A word may communicate better than a sentence, or a sentence better than a paragraph.

10) A Slide Deck should not be an eye test Font size, colors, and styles should be easily readable Words should pop off the page, and that will happen when we choose the right size, the right color, and a font that is easy to read One way to check this is to make your Slide Deck full screen and back up 17 feet. If you can read it clearly at 17 feet, most of the congregation should see it clearly. I try to not use a font size under 40. Also make sure to embed your fonts so they will remain the same from computer to computer

11) Slide Decks are to be engaging, not distracting Animations within the slide and transitions between slides can be distracting. Only use animations or wild transitions if they foster engagement or illustrate the point. A transition of a soft fade is an acceptable default.

12) Technical difficulties are distractions Be able to ditch the Slide Deck and preach without it if there are difficulties

13) Use caution with videos. While videos may be powerful, they also contain the greatest potential for distractions. Sometimes the distraction could be a technical difficulty, but also the content may offend a congregant in a myriad of ways Test the system before you present it before the congregation and ask others to preview the video to help determine if it could potentially be problematic When in doubt, don’t use it.

14) To include scripture or not. This is a personal choice. I include all the scripture in my Slide Deck. It allows our guests who may not be familiar with the Bible to read; it allows members who may be holding children and unable to hold their Bibles to read; it allows those who are hard of hearing to read God’s word; and it allows all of us to read from the same translation When projecting scriptures, the Slide Decks can be a great tool to assist us in giving the sense as we preach God’s word.

15) A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Sometimes the best thing we can do is let people There can never be a substitute for adequate time in prayer and Bible study, but a good Slide Deck can help others to engage better with God’s word and lead to greater understanding and faith May we strive to engage our congregation each week, like Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites, as we teach God’s word and give clarity and meaning through illustration and application.

An Illustration from Tyler Alverson

This is an illustration that was originally written by an author named Becky Thompson. This is my favorite illustration because it illustrates so well the importance of prayer, God’s care for His people, and how we should deal with the anxieties that we feel. I hope that you and the congregation that you serve finds it to be as encouraging as I do – TA

Me: Okay, God, here's the thing I have questions I'm scared. I'm trying not to be, but I am.

God: I know Want to talk about it?

Me: Do we need to? I mean, you already know.

God: Let's talk about it anyway We've done this before Me: I know, I just feel like I should be bigger or stronger or something by now

God: *waiting patiently, unhurried, undistracted, never annoyed

Me: Okay. So, I'm afraid I'll do everything I can to protect my family and it won't be enough I'm afraid of someone I love dying. I'm afraid the world won't go back to what it was before I'm afraid my life is always going to feel a little bit unsettled.

God: Anything else?

Me: EVERYTHING ELSE.

God: Remember how your son woke up the other night and came running down the hall to your bedroom?

Me: Yes.

God: You were still awake, so when you heard him running, you started calling out to him before he even got to you... remember? Do you remember what you called out to him?

BY SHAWN GARCIA PHOTOGRAPHY BY HELENE PAQUET

Me: I said, "You're okay! You're okay! You're okay! I'm here."

God: Why did you call to him? Why didn't you just wait for him to get to your room?

Me: Because I wanted him to know that I was awake, and I heard him, and he didn't have to be afraid until he reached the end of the dark hallway

God: Exactly. I hear you, my child. I hear your thoughts racing like feet down the dark hallway There's another side to all of this. I'm there already. I've seen the end of it. And I want you to know right here as you walk through it all, you're okay. I haven't gone to sleep, and I won't.

Me: *crying Can we sit together awhile? Can we just sit here a minute before I go back to facing it all?

God: There's nothing I'd love more

How to Choose and Use BIG Visuals

BY KIRK BROTHERS

Introduction

I will confess that I am a visual learner. My family and I, for example, have enjoyed the Chosen television series on the life of Jesus I may not always agree with the director’s rendition of the story, but the visuals give me a piece of mental wood to whittle on as I try to reflect on the event and to wrestle with how to apply it to my life. Many of us teach to the way we learn. Thus, because visuals help me, I like to use them to help others (while also recognizing that other people learn differently). I have used a variety of visuals since I preached my first sermon nearly fifty years ago: a wedding dress covered in ketchup and mustard, upside down tables and chairs, and even an aluminum fishing boat (several of these were used on a large stage at a youth gathering). In this article I will briefly highlight some visuals in Scripture and then share some tips for choosing and using big visuals

Visuals in Scripture

The use of visuals or object lessons is quite normal in Scripture. The story of Jesus using a small child as a visual may jump into your mind as you read this article (Matt 18:1-6). Many of the rituals and events in the Old Testament are visuals, object lessons, and memory devices for God’s sermons. This was necessary for both understanding and memory Remember that the Israelites did not have personal copies of the law of Moses. How then did they remember and understand? In part, through visuals. God did not need to be visible in a fiery pillar to go with Israel, but He gave a visual representation to send a message to the people and to assist them in their travels (Exodus 13:21-22). God frequently commanded the Israelites to pile up stones at a special sight to remind them of His deliverance (Joshua 4:1-7). The Hebrew writer says that the Tabernacle is a copy (a visual model) of the heavenly Tabernacle (Hebrews 8:1-6) The cross itself is a visual display of God’s message of love (Romans 5:8).

Choosing Visuals

I have used numerous objects as visuals in my sermons (I mentioned a few examples above). I also frequently use pictures, and sometimes videos, in my lessons (I am more apt to use video in workshop or Bible class than in a Sunday morning sermon). When choosing a visual, ask yourself several key questions:

• What is its purpose?

• Is it Appropriate?

• Is it Visible?

• Is it Distracting?

• Can it be Controlled?

accomplish to assist your audience: memory, understanding, motivation, etc. The visual needs a purpose.

Is it appropriate?

Answering this question involves wrestling with whether the visual actually connects appropriately with the text or topic you are discussing You also need to consider whether the visual is something that a Christian should be using in the setting you are using it in Will it cause people to feel uncomfortable enough to stop listening to your message or to question your morals? Why, for example, would we want to use a picture or clip from an R-rated movie? Let me add that my family uses filtering software to edit the inappropriate parts out of movies I try to make a point to tell my audience this fact any time I make a movie reference in a sermon We also need to wrestle with whether the visual is legal. Just because you can get a picture off the web from a google search, does not mean it is legal to use. Know the laws related to the use of pictures and videos in PowerPoints. I often use pictures or videos that I find on sights like unsplash.com, 123RF.com, or wingclips.com, or canva.com (they come with display rights).

Is it Visible, Distracting, Controlled?

It is critical to think about whether the audience can see your visual First of all, if you are using a picture or video in your PowerPoint, make sure the quality is such that it is clear when you blow it up on the large screen If it is an object that you are using as a visual, is it big enough to be seen by the full audience? Sometimes you can solve this problem by walking to different parts of the auditorium and showing the object to different parts of the audience At times, I will use an object but will also have a picture of it on the screen to make sure everyone can see it There are occasions in which there might be value in passing around an object for the audience to view but you must be careful. You will need to balance the value of adding another sensory connection (touch) with the danger of distraction. You can end up in a situation where the audience is so focused on the object that they are no longer listening to the message from God’s word.

I have found that if I use a video in a sermon, especially on a Sunday morning, leaving the sound on creates a distraction for people If I just have a video playing, maybe of some bees in front of one of my hives, and talk while it is playing in the background, no one has every had a problem with it Yet, adding the sound can frequently bother people (though they usually don’t care if it is in a Wednesday night Bible class) Just remember the purpose is to assist people in understanding God’s word If a visual is distracting or causes them to stop listening, it has defeated its purpose Also, we need to think about whether we can control the visual Having a puppy on stage at a youth rally can be effective (not sure I would do it in a congregational auditorium) but generally speaking puppies do not know how to behave You can quickly lose control and they can become a distraction instead of an assistance I am not saying to never use an animal, just be aware of the dangers associated with it and plan accordingly.

Using Visuals

Test the Visual

It is often a good idea to allow some time to test the visual in the room it will be used in You need to make sure all pictures and video can be seen clearly from anywhere in the auditorium If you plan to use sound, you need to check it ahead of time I send my PowerPoint by email before arriving, so it is already loaded when I get there (make sure you know if they use 4:3 or 16:9 ratio). I also ask the one of the elders to look at the video to make sure there is nothing that makes them feel uncomfortable. If you plan to use an object or something handheld, think about where you plan to place it. Do not put it in a location that might cause you or someone else to trip (give the song leader a heads-up). Consider whether you want the visual to be seen before you refer to it or whether you want to reveal it only when needed. Also, think through anything that could go wrong with the use of the visual

While traveling to speak a few years ago, I stopped at a Honeybee supply place near one of the locations They ended up having a small 5-frame nucleus beehive at a great price I purchased it but was not going to be home for two days I decided to use it as a visual in both the lessons I would be sharing during that trip The lid was nailed down and there was a screen mesh stapled across the entrance so the bees could not exit I carefully looked at the layout to make sure I could have a small fan blowing on them, so they did not overheat I needed to make sure that the box was visible and on a stable surface I did not want any risk of it falling over I also had to make sure that no small children could get access to it. The chances of a bee stinging through the mesh were extremely small, but I did not want to take any chances. I have also used a 40-pound chimney stone as a visual. I had to think about how I was going to get it on the stage and how I was going to ensure that it did not fall on anyone. My points are to think ahead, arrive early, and test the visual.

Speak to the Audience

One danger with visuals is that we talk to the visual and not to the audience This is common with PowerPoints but can happen with objects as well Remember to look at your audience and never turn your back to them Find out ahead of time if they have a “cheater screen” that allows you to see your PowerPoint slides

Leverage Surprise and Mystery

You can create curiosity by displaying a visual at the beginning of a lesson and allowing your audience to wonder what is up. The key is to think through whether their curiosity might cause them to focus on the object and not on your lesson. You also need to make sure that you do not “give away” the significance of the visual until the perfect moment. Hiding a visual and revealing it at just the right moment can catch the audience by surprise and enhance the power of the visual. I knew one preacher who frequently used visuals and would keep them in a paper bag until ready for them. It created a curiosity about what was in his bag each week.

Use then Move

We have already noted that two dangers of visuals are that they can become distractions that keep the audience from focusing on the message and, related to that, you can lose control of the object if it is a moving object (windup, electrical, animal, etc ) One thing that can help with this is to display the visual while you are making your point and then hiding it or having someone take it away after you use it

Conclusion

I once used my girl's large pet tarantula as an illustration. I took her out of the cage and held her in my hand (she was a great spider). She illustrated the point I was making, but I was a nervous wreck. I was not nervous because I thought she would hurt anyone but because I was concerned that the crowd might spook her and she would jump and hurt herself I would have left her in the cage if I had to do it over The point of this story is that visuals can be powerful, but you need to weigh all that might happen as you consider the visuals you will use and how you will use them

Wayne Gretzky holds an astounding 61 NHL records These records span several categories, including regular season, playoffs, and All-Star games. Some of these records are considered nearly unbreakable due to the sheer dominance he displayed throughout his career

Here’s a breakdown of some of his most notable records:

Regular Season Records:

Most career points: 2,857

Most career goals: 894

Most career assists: 1,963

Most points in a single season: 215 (1985-86)

Most goals in a single season: 92 (1981-82)

Most assists in a single season: 163 (1985-86)

Wayne Gretzky is also the only player ever to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame immediately after retiring, bypassing the standard three-year waiting period There’s a well-known, light-hearted story about Gretzky visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame that shows even legends can be corrected! To disguise himself during the visit, Gretzky was wearing a hat and sunglasses While touring the Hall with his nine-year-old son, Gretzky came across a display and casually picked up a hockey stick to demonstrate some moves As the story goes, one of the young employees, unaware that he was in the presence of "The Great One,” politely corrected Gretzky on how he was holding the stick. The employee told him to choke up on the stick Imagine this, a kid teaching the greatest hockey player ever in the world.

The employee, trying to be helpful, gave a brief explanation on how to properly grip the stick for better control, not realizing that he was advising the man who holds nearly every major NHL scoring record And the goal record! Gretzky, known for his humility, reportedly just smiled and graciously accepted the advice, not revealing his identity to the employee.

This playful moment became a humorous anecdote, showing that even the greatest players can be treated like everyone else in this world It’s also a reminder that no matter how famous you are, there’s always someone who wants to give you some advice even if you happen to be the greatest hockey player of all time!

Source Video: https://www.tiktok.com/@br openice/video/730188561305 2103979?lang=en

An Illustration from Ty Rhymes

I grew up in North Louisiana, and I cherish that for many reasons. I explained to my wife just the other day that it truly is “Sportsman’s Paradise,” just as our motto suggests.

One of the best things about Louisiana, in my opinion, is the food selection that is best served right here cajun country. Dishes like boudin, gumbo, jambalaya, and my favorite… boiled crawfish. In fact, every good family gathering may have included all of those at once. To me, there is nothing like a good crawfish boil.

You get a big sack of live crawfish and pour them into one of those small, blue, plastic kiddie pools and let them crawl around until it’s time to put them in the pot for cooking. As many times as I have been around hundreds of boiled crawfish, I have never seen any single one of them climb out of the swimming pool and escape. The reason is quite interesting. As soon as one tries to climb the wall of the pool, another crawfish will grab him and pull him back in.

BY SHAWN GARCIA PHOTOGRAPHY BY HELENE PAQUET

Of course the opposite of a crawfish would be a Christian, one who lifts others up. So, are you more like a crawfish or a Christian?

Using Object Lessons It’s In The Bag!

If you know me, I love a good object lesson I have used them for over 40 years in my ministry. One thing I have learned is that they are effective for all ages With younger children it’s the visual that is seen that shows the story of the Bible. They retain the story With teens it is a combination of the visual and the text that brings a better understanding. We might call it the “aha” moment for them.

With those that are older it helps to show the scripture in another way.

“What ‘s In the Bag” is a series of object lessons that I have used over the years. It varies from the easiest lessons to speak about the love of Jesus to some of the more difficult lessons.

Object lessons do not have to be difficult, fancy or complicated.

When I began The Garage Bible Study twenty four years ago most of the lessons came from the work done on a car or a mower or the tools in the garage These items helped me to show the scriptures in some ways that helped others to understand