I gave this lecture on March 4, 2023.
Illustrations
INTRODUCTION You may have heard the proverb, “Clothes make the man.” The idea behind this saying can be traced as far back as Homer (c. 800 bc), and Erasmus (c. ad 1500) used a Latin phrase, “Vestis virum facit,” which was likely an older, classical maxim. Obviously, it observes that people often judge a person by the quality of his/her clothing. The saying is the opposite of the proverbial warning, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Mark Twain—who famously wore stylish, all-white suits in his later years—skewered the idea, writing, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
SPS In terms of public speaking, we can tweak the old adage to say, “Illustrations make the speech.” Illustrations are the clothes of your message that make it both enjoyable and memorable. You may speak the truth, give the facts, and relate helpful information—but without illustrations of one kind or another, your message will probably fall flat and be quickly forgotten. This is why the manual has an “Add Color” speech.
Illustrations most often come in the form of stories or anecdotes that engage the audience’s attention. Facts, statistics, and even words of wisdom need something to help them engage the mind, to create a mental picture that your listeners can associate with the more important bit of knowledge you are trying to impart to them. Stories are great because, if structured well, not only excite interest, but also trigger anticipation. People keep listening because they want to know how the story ends, which brings satisfaction. If you as a speaker put all the pieces together properly with an engaging illustration, your hearers will remember it.
The greatest storyteller in history was Jesus Christ. He hardly ever imparted truth without some sort of illustration. He loved parables, colorful imagery, turns of phrase, engaging “Where’s He going with this?” expositions, and tour de force sayings. He was the quintessential Master of Rhetoric who could hold an audience for hours because He spoke so vividly, using illustrations from life and nature that were familiar to His audience—and from them, He distilled spiritual truth that they would remember.
Illustrations are the vehicle by which we, as public speakers, not only inject precious knowledge and understanding into others’ minds but also provide a hook by which it sticks in their minds.
Mark 10:23-27 I chose this almost at random. I could have flipped to any page in the gospels and found a handful of such illustrations. Now, whether this is actually a camel or a rope going through a needle’s eye (some believe it refers to a short, narrow entrance to Jerusalem called “the Eye of the Needle”), Jesus’ illustration makes sense. A huge camel will not fit through the tiny aperture of a needle—nor can one squeeze through an opening only as large as a man-size doorway. The point is well taken: The rich man will have to relinquish his trust in riches before he can enter God’s Kingdom.
Notice that He did not have to tell a long, involved story. He put the image into His listeners’ minds with just a few words (25). Then, He used the illustration to teach that God can easily do the impossible. He can change selfish man’s very nature! In fact, God can accomplish far more than money can.
One of the best sermonettes I ever heard was given in the Pasadena Auditorium AM church about 35 years ago. The man spoke about a particular train steam engine. He described how it looked, some technical specs, how it was the standard of its day, and its strength. He spoke about its longtime engineer’s love for it and how he could get the most out of it. The speaker turned to only one scripture, Philippians 2:12-13. His point: Stay on track, and God will make sure you reach His Kingdom. My dad praised the man during the announcements for his remarkable use of one clear illustration to make his point.
CONCLUSION So, when you are contemplating a speech, do not think about just your point and supporting facts. You need to give equal time to your illustrations. Finding that perfect illustration may be the difference between a flat snoozer of a speech and an engaging, enjoyable, memorable one.