Preaching
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Good Illustrations
Christ’s figures and illustrations help make the truth plain—
Christ has the right and power to lay all human agencies and influences
under tribute in His work for humanity. He uses human instrumental-
ities, and He does not destroy the individuality of His servants. He
puts the Holy Spirit upon them, and shuts them in with Himself, and
they have the mind of Christ, and become co-workers with Him. He
presents before their minds figures and illustrations with which they
are familiar, to make plain the truth He wishes them to communi-
cate, and the Holy Spirit assists them in the use of these figures and
illustrations.—BE Aug. 19, 1895.
Jesus’ Illustrations
Christ’s illustrations won attention, used imagination, and re-
peated His lessons—His messages of mercy were varied to suit His
audience. He knew “how to speak a word in season to him that is
weary;” for grace was poured upon His lips, that He might convey to
men in the most attractive way the treasures of truth. He had tact to
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meet the prejudiced minds, and surprise them with illustrations that
won their attention. Through the imagination He reached the heart.
His illustrations were taken from the things of daily life, and although
they were simple, they had in them a wonderful depth of meaning.
The birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the seed, the shepherd and
the sheep,—with these objects Christ illustrated immortal truth; and
ever afterward, when His hearers chanced to see these things of nature,
they recalled His words. Christ’s illustrations constantly repeated His
lessons.—
The Desire of Ages, 254
.
Christ gathered illustrations from the customs and experi-
ences of daily life—Christ never flattered men; He never spoke that
which would exalt their fancies and imaginations, or praised them
for their clever inventions. But those who were deep, unprejudiced
thinkers received His words, and found that it put their wisdom to the
stretch to comprehend the spiritual truths which He revealed in the
simplest language. The so-called great men of the world are generally
the most ignorant in regard to what constitutes true religion, and it is
fitting to address to them the most simple language, for the eloquence