The word of God is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12), “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for gaining in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16), and “sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:10). Vital, penetrating, and sweet as the word is, however, these intrinsic qualities of the word are no guarantee that our preaching will bear the same. It is entirely possible, nay, all too common for sermons that check all the technical boxes to be dull and lifeless discourses.

One of the primary reasons I believe reformed preaching often is (and not unfairly) characterized as stale and doctrinaire is because many within our ranks have sworn off the use of illustrations in their preaching. This often stems from one of three reasons. 

First, many admit that illustrations do not come naturally to them. While some preachers can paint word-picture Mona Lisas in their preaching, their best efforts render mere stick figures. There is only one Spurgeon, and they are not him.

Second, others argue that illustrations distract from and dilute the pure proclamation of God’s word. Having witnessed too many silver-tongued orators use illustrations and anecdotes to make much of themselves instead of Christ, these men swing the pendulum in the opposite direction and become illustrative teetotalers. Absence is better than excess. 

Third, others believe illustrations are somehow beneath them and those to whom they preach. “We’re a well-educated, biblically-literate congregation. My people read Calvin, Vos, and Bavinck. They don’t need illustrations to help them understand the truth.” To my ears, such an explanation translates roughly to, “Illustrations are for baby Christians who need milk, not meat. We have no more use for them.” 

I am sure there are other reasons, but these three are the basic reasons under which virtually all others fall: Illustrations are challenging, they’re dangerous, and they’re elementary.

In response, here are three reasons why preachers should use illustrations in their preaching, and without an ounce of apology. 

First, good illustrations are the products of deep thought. Ask any professional athlete how they attained the level of skill and success they enjoy, and they will tell you that it took a whole lot more than simply being a “natural.” It took work. It required effort and time.Though it may appear to be the case, neither Spurgeon, Thomas Watson, or Jeremiah Burroughs exited the womb with their golden illustrations pre-loaded. Their metaphors, similes, analogies, and word pictures were the fruit of years of deliberate and occasional meditation.¹ They were careful students of God’s word and God’s world. Though, as with athletes, there may be some preachers who are more naturally imaginative than others, this does not exempt those who are not from doing the hard of work stopping, pondering, and connecting the dots between the truth of Scripture and the ordinary experience of their hearers. 

There is more to sermon preparation than thumbing through lexicons, poring over stacks of commentaries, and hammering out a full manuscript by Friday. Set aside sufficient time in your weekly schedule to put down your books, step away from the computer, and go for a walk to chew on all the information you’ve consumed. With time and intentionality like that, I expect that illustrations will begin to flow freely.

Second, illustrations, rightly used, do not eclipse but shed greater light upon the truth of God. Though it is woefully true that illustrations are often used to “warm up the crowd,” soften a hard truth of Scripture, or showcase the preacher’s dynamic speaking skills, the simple exercise of comparing this to that need not be viewed as underhanded, cunning, or tampering with God’s word (2 Cor. 4:2). So long as the theme of the text before us is the end our illustration, preachers should feel tremendous freedom in availing ourselves of the innumerable facets of creation and providence that proclaim the excellencies of our God and King. The inspired writers of Scripture did, and so should we. 

What is more, illustrations have a way of making the truth sticky. Pictures stick with us in a way that abstract concepts do not. Think back to the time when you first wrestled with penal substitutionary atonement, the hypostatic union, the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, or the problem of evil—what was it that helped you to scale the ladder of abstraction and internalize these weighty doctrines? Probably an illustration, whether drawn from Scripture itself (e.g. Gen. 50:20; Rom. 9:21-24) or from writers throughout church history. And even if you can’t recall a particular illustration that produced that “Aha” moment, my guess is that you use illustrations to explain these concepts to others. Use what works.

Third, illustrations were not beneath our Lord Jesus and so they are not beneath you either. 

Dr. Neil Stewart of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina recounted a time when a former ruling elder ribbed him for using too many illustrations in his preaching. “Son, you use too many illustrations in your sermons. Do you know how many illustrations Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones used when he preached?” To which Dr. Stewart responded with the answer the man was looking for, “None,” but then added, “Sir, do you know how many sermons the Lord Jesus preached without using illustrations? As much as I love the Good Doctor, I think I’ll stay with Jesus on this one.”²

Consider the Sermon on the Mount. Believers are likened to salt and light, to a city on a hill, and a lamp placed on a lampstand that illumines the whole house. We’re told to gouge out our eyes and cut off our hands if it means avoiding occasions of temptation. And we behold the birds of the air, neither sowing nor gathering into barns, and the lilies of the field, clothed more splendidly than Solomon, to remind us that God cares for and will provide for us more than all of these.

Even Jesus’ parables, which in the case of the reprobate were a means of hardening their hearts (Matt. 13:13-15), were the means whereby he revealed to His elect the mysterious nature of the kingdom of God. Deep theology, meaty doctrine, communicated in blue-collar, agricultural terms. Christ’s mastery over his subject matter was not diminished by his use of verbal pictures—it was put on full display. To illustrate well is to know well. And with such perfect knowledge, it’s no wonder that Jesus’ illustrations were powerful then and now.

Jesus never turned his nose up at the opportunity to offer a good illustration, and nor should you. Remember, the people to whom we preach are not monolithic. They are men and women, boys and girls, PhDs and GEDs, haves and have-nots. Preach like Jesus did. Preach to them all. Preach that they might hear and see the good news.