Embracing Anecdotes: The Power of Storytelling in Preaching
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It is pretty generally admitted that sermons may wisely be adorned with a fair share of illustrations, but anecdotes used to that end are still regarded by the prudes of the pulpit with the measure of suspicion. They will come down low enough to quote an emblem; they will deign to use poetic imagery, but they cannot stoop to tell a simple homely story. [00:11:45]
Affectation of intellectual superiority and love of rhetorical splendor have prevented many from setting forth gospel truth in the easiest imaginable manner, namely by analogies drawn from common events. Because they could not condescend to men of low estate, they have refrained from repeating incidents which would have accurately explained their meaning. [00:18:00]
Dignity is a most poor and despicable consideration unless it be the dignity of turning many to righteousness, and yet divines who have had scarcely enough of real dignity to save themselves from contempt have swollen huge's high Olympus through the affectation of it. [00:27:12]
It ought never to be forgotten that the great God himself, when he would instruct men, employs histories and biographies. Our Bible contains doctrines, promises, and precepts, but these are not left alone. The whole book is vivified and illustrated by marvelous records of things said and done by God and by men. [00:51:12]
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the great teacher of teachers, did not disdain the use of anecdotes. To my mind, it seems clear that certain of his parables were facts and consequently anecdotes. May not the story of the prodigal son have been a literal truth? Were there not actual instances of an enemy sowing tears among the wheat? [00:58:39]
What he did we need not be ashamed to do, that we may do it with all wisdom and prudence. Let us seek the guidance of the divine spirit which rested upon him so continually. I shall make up this present address by quoting the examples of great preachers beginning with the era of the Reformation. [01:07:12]
Examples are more powerful than precepts; hence I quote them. First, let me mention that grand old preacher Hugh Latimer, the most English of all our divines and one whose influence over our land was undoubtedly most powerful. Southey says Latimer more than any other man promoted the Reformation by his preaching. [01:12:00]
If you have read any of his sermons, you must have been struck with the number of his quaint stories, seasoned with a homely humor which smacks of that Leicester farmhouse wherein he was brought up by his father, who did yeoman's service, and a mother who milked thirty kine. [01:19:12]
The common people heard him gladly, and his lively anecdotes accounted for much of their eager attention. A few of these narratives one could hardly repeat, for the taste of our age has happily improved in delicacy, but others are more admirable and instructive. Here are three of them. [01:24:48]
The Bible itself is rich with stories and parables, illustrating that God uses narratives to teach and inspire. Jesus' parables are prime examples of how stories can convey deep spiritual lessons. [01:30:00]
The illustrious George Whitefield stands with Wesley at the head of that noble army who led the revival of the last century. It is not at this present any part of my plan to speak of his matchless eloquence, unquenchable earnestness, and incessant labor, but it is quite according to the run of my lecture to remind you of his own saying. [01:50:24]
Our esteemed brother has a lively, telling style, and he thinks it wise frequently to fasten a nail with the hammer of anecdote. Here are four or five extracts from the little book entitled "Arrows and Anecdotes" by D.L. Moody. [01:59:12]
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Affectation of intellectual superiority and love of rhetorical splendor have prevented many from setting forth gospel truth in the easiest imaginable manner, namely by analogies drawn from common events. Because they could not condescend to men of low estate, they have refrained from repeating incidents which would have accurately explained their meaning. [00:18:00]
Dignity is a most poor and despicable consideration unless it be the dignity of turning many to righteousness, and yet divines who have had scarcely enough of real dignity to save themselves from contempt have swollen huge's high Olympus through the affectation of it. [00:27:12]
It ought never to be forgotten that the great God himself, when he would instruct men, employs histories and biographies. Our Bible contains doctrines, promises, and precepts, but these are not left alone. The whole book is vivified and illustrated by marvelous records of things said and done by God and by men. [00:51:12]
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the great teacher of teachers, did not disdain the use of anecdotes. To my mind, it seems clear that certain of his parables were facts and consequently anecdotes. May not the story of the prodigal son have been a literal truth? Were there not actual instances of an enemy sowing tears among the wheat? [00:58:39]
What he did we need not be ashamed to do, that we may do it with all wisdom and prudence. Let us seek the guidance of the divine spirit which rested upon him so continually. I shall make up this present address by quoting the examples of great preachers beginning with the era of the Reformation. [01:07:12]
Examples are more powerful than precepts; hence I quote them. First, let me mention that grand old preacher Hugh Latimer, the most English of all our divines and one whose influence over our land was undoubtedly most powerful. Southey says Latimer more than any other man promoted the Reformation by his preaching. [01:12:00]
If you have read any of his sermons, you must have been struck with the number of his quaint stories, seasoned with a homely humor which smacks of that Leicester farmhouse wherein he was brought up by his father, who did yeoman's service, and a mother who milked thirty kine. [01:19:12]
The common people heard him gladly, and his lively anecdotes accounted for much of their eager attention. A few of these narratives one could hardly repeat, for the taste of our age has happily improved in delicacy, but others are more admirable and instructive. Here are three of them. [01:24:48]
The Bible itself is rich with stories and parables, illustrating that God uses narratives to teach and inspire. Jesus' parables are prime examples of how stories can convey deep spiritual lessons. [01:30:00]
The illustrious George Whitefield stands with Wesley at the head of that noble army who led the revival of the last century. It is not at this present any part of my plan to speak of his matchless eloquence, unquenchable earnestness, and incessant labor, but it is quite according to the run of my lecture to remind you of his own saying. [01:50:24]
Our esteemed brother has a lively, telling style, and he thinks it wise frequently to fasten a nail with the hammer of anecdote. Here are four or five extracts from the little book entitled "Arrows and Anecdotes" by D.L. Moody. [01:59:12]
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