12 Essenal Skills for Great Preaching / / / Wayne McDill 2006 B&H Used by i i i Permission
Natural
Analogies
The purpose of this exercise is to develop skill
at devising specic natural analogies for
illustrang sermon ideas.
Text: Philippians 1:12-18 (ESV)
•
Make sure sermon ideas are clear and well
worded
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Plant to balance support for your sermon ideas.
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Explore the common arenas of human
experience.
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Go beyond your own limited personal experience.
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Distinguish between analogies and examples.
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Present analogies in a vivid and imaginative way.
This assignment involves the devising of illustrations for supporting sermon ideas through a process of exploring
natural analogies. Complete the exercise with the following steps:
1. Write the division statement you are to illustrate. You may use the sermon idea for exploring analogies for
the introduction and conclusion.
Facing persecutions bring confidence and boldness from the Lord (v. 14).
2. Circle the word or two in your statement that can be used to identify the generic idea in nontheological terms.
Persecutions Boldness
3. Brainstorm the arenas of life listed below for analogies that are natural expressions of your theological idea.
Write as many as you can. Do not evaluate them now or second-guess your ideas.
o Family-spouse, children
o Business-jobs, loss of employment,
success, ethical choices
