Keller asked: “What captures the imagination? Raising your voice does not make a sermon more gripping!” Then he pointed to the incredible images which Jonathan Edwards employed in his sermons. I started thinking about the images I remember from my reading of Edwards’ sermons: spiders, trees, rivers, even a piece of dung in the light of the sun (which sends forth a stink but reflects no light)! These images certainly made an impression and made the truth real.

I think of at least three categories of images which preachers can employ in their sermons:

1. Illustrative Images – These images consist of analogies, and they serve well in place of illustrative stories about Abraham Lincoln, Carrie Underwood, or Condoleeza Rice. For example, Edwards draws an analogy between a wicked man who hears the Word of God and a piece of dung in the light of the sun. Another preacher might liken repentance to a U-turn. Some images need only a brief mention to form in the minds of listeners. Others will require a few sentences in order to form the complete picture.

2. Application Images – Here a preacher paints a picture of what obedience to a truth will look like when fleshed-out in a believer’s life. Usually, providing two or three images will mean that every listener can relate to at least one. So describe what obedience will look like for a single mom with two children, to a 65-year old widower, and to surgeon whose career is just beginning to blossom.

3. Textual Images – These images picture actual details in the text. It means describing details in a biblical narrative such as biblical character like Jael or a city like Jericho. It also means developing the images in biblical poetry like the sun rising in its strength or like God’s goodness and loyal love pursing His people.