Illustrations, Eloquence, and Humor in Preaching
A Lecture on Sermon Illustrations, Eloquence, and Humor in the Pulpit
Scripture
Sermon Description
The preacher must freely preach the word of God in a way that is natural, yet prepared. In this sermon titled “Illustrations, Eloquence, and Humour,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the preacher’s need for freedom in the pulpit. On one hand, some preachers are bound to a manuscript and never make eye contact with his people. On the other, the preacher is unprepared and forgets what he intended to say. He argues for a well-prepared outline. Additionally, as the man prepares his sermon, he must consider the use of illustrations. Many preachers focus heavily on stories as their sermon becomes nothing more than an exegesis of their own illustrations. The illustration in a sermon must never be an end to itself. They must be used carefully and minimally, only to illustrate the truth of Scripture. Dr. Lloyd-Jones continues his lecture with thoughts on eloquence and humor. While the apostle Paul was eloquent, eloquence was never his goal. We should be wary of preachers who are more concerned with how something is said rather than what is said. The same applies to humor. A humorous individual will certainly, and naturally, use humor in the pulpit. But this should never become the goal in preaching.
Sermon Breakdown
- Opening prayer. Asking for God's guidance and blessing.
- Transitioning from discussing the dangers of written sermons to extemporary preaching. Extemporary preaching has less dangers but still requires adequate preparation. The main danger is inadequate preparation leading to an empty sermon.
- To prepare an extemporary sermon, work out main points into subpoints and write them down. This provides more freedom than a fully written sermon while still being prepared. Some preachers write out the introduction and conclusion but preach the main body extemporaneously.
- Reading or memorizing a sermon is not ideal. It limits contact with the congregation and freedom of the Spirit. Extemporary preaching with good preparation is ideal. It provides maximum freedom and contact.
- Learning to preach extemporaneously takes practice and time. Do not be discouraged if it does not come naturally at first. Experiment with different methods to find what works for you.
- The use of illustrations and stories should be sparse and careful. They should illustrate the truth, not draw attention to themselves. Collecting illustrations as an end in itself is wrong. The truth should be preeminent.
- Be careful with facts and do not spiritualize illustrations. Use illustrations to illustrate spiritual principles, not as spiritual truths themselves.
- Imagination in preaching can be helpful to create interest but should not run away from the truth. Do not let imagination or eloquence become the focus rather than the message.
- Eloquence should never be contrived but should flow naturally from the grandeur of the truth. Do not aim to be eloquent but allow it to happen when gripped by the truth.
- Humor should only be used sparingly and naturally. It should not detract from the seriousness of the message or the preacher's concern for souls.
- The length of a sermon depends on the preacher, subject matter, and congregation. There are no strict rules but sermons should not be too short or too long. Short sermons may not convey enough truth and long sermons may lose the congregation. Let the truth determine the length.
Sermon Q&A
What Did Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About Sermon Preparation?
What are the main differences between written sermons and extemporary preaching according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, written sermons involve preparing the entire message word-for-word beforehand, while extemporary preaching involves preparing a detailed skeleton or outline but not the exact wording. The key differences he highlights include:
- Written sermons can provide more precision and accuracy but may limit freedom and spontaneity
- Extemporary preaching allows for greater freedom and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit's guidance
- Written sermons might create a barrier between the preacher and congregation
- Extemporary preaching requires thorough preparation of points and subpoints to avoid inadequate content
As Lloyd-Jones states: "The great thing is freedom. I cannot overemphasize this. It is of the very essence of the act of preaching, this freedom in your own mind and spirit, and being free to the influences of the spirit upon you."
What dangers does Lloyd-Jones warn about regarding sermon illustrations?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns about several dangers regarding sermon illustrations:
- Making illustrations an end in themselves rather than servants of the truth
- Collecting and categorizing illustrations mechanically (he calls this "prostitution")
- Using too many illustrations which interrupts the flow and tension of the sermon
- Failing to verify facts in illustrations, which undermines credibility
- Catering to the carnality of listeners who come just to hear stories
Lloyd-Jones says: "The illustration is meant to illustrate truth, not to show itself, not to manifest itself, not to call attention to itself. It's a means of leading people to see the truth that you are enunciating and proclaiming to them still more clearly."
How does Lloyd-Jones view the role of imagination in preaching?
Lloyd-Jones sees imagination as a God-given gift that can be valuable in preaching but must be carefully managed:
- Benefits: It creates interest and makes the message lively
- Dangers: Imagination can run away with the preacher, crossing a line where it draws attention to itself
- Warning: When imagination becomes the main influence rather than the truth itself, it becomes problematic
He illustrates this with examples of George Whitefield and other preachers whose vivid imaginations sometimes overtook their message. Lloyd-Jones advises: "We are here to make sure that everything that we may have by way of gifts are always subordinate to the truth." He suggests preachers know when they're "taking a delight in the thing itself rather than in what it's meant to illustrate," and at that point, they should stop.
What is Lloyd-Jones' perspective on the length of sermons?
Lloyd-Jones rejects rigid rules about sermon length, believing several factors should determine it:
- The preacher himself (some can hold attention longer than others)
- The subject matter (some topics require more time)
- The congregation's capacity (though this shouldn't be the primary consideration)
He states that ten minutes is "obviously inadequate" for dealing with any significant theme, but also criticizes those who feel they "haven't preached unless you preached for an hour."
Lloyd-Jones warns against a "vicious circle" where preachers make sermons increasingly shorter to avoid offending people, eventually making them so brief that "they're saying virtually nothing" and people stop coming altogether. His conclusion: "Let the truth, the message, dictate the amount of time."
How does Lloyd-Jones suggest preachers transition from written to extemporary preaching?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers practical advice for transitioning from fully written sermons to extemporary preaching:
- Start by alternating - write one sermon fully, deliver another extemporaneously
- Try writing just the introduction and conclusion fully, with notes for the middle
- Make notes from your fully written sermon rather than memorizing it
- Gradually increase your freedom while maintaining thorough preparation
He encourages patience in this process: "Don't be discouraged. If you find that first that you can't preach without writing out your sermon fully, write it out fully. But try and experiment in the way I've indicated... And don't be impatient with yourself."
Lloyd-Jones warns against discouragement after difficult experiences: "Don't be downcast if you happen to have a very bad service and say, 'I'll never go again into the pulpit without a fully written sermon and the manuscript there by my side.' That's the devil, I believe. Don't listen to him."
Sermons: Preaching and Preachers
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.