Michael Dissmore

commented on May 28, 2012

I agree. It's funny, my wife does the same thing. I'll share an illustration and she'll later tell me about something in our lives that would have driven the point home much better. I'm trying to remember her as a resource during my sermon preparation time. I think that many of us avoid using the personal story because we recognize that it's not about us. We don't want to use our own stories as the basis for His story. The fact is, people love to hear how human the speaker is, and know that he or she can relate to their own struggles and failures. I find that humorous stories about my embarrassing moments are more effective than boasting about my achievements. Too much about yourself, or repeating the same story too many times, will cause your audience to drift away. Everything in balance!

Stanley Florence

commented on May 28, 2012

I know it works Jesus was a story teller,parable, apostle Paul was also.When people can feel your experience thru scriptural word from the BIBLE.Your passion with the holy spirit will aloud them to lesson to open up their hearts to what the word has to say.

Mh Constantine

commented on May 28, 2012

I would just add that sometimes it is better to tell a personal story in the third person rather than identifying it with yourself. We know a pastor whose son has denied the faith and become an avowed atheist. He shares that chapter of his life in the third person,not to protect his reputation, but to protect his son from the exposure. Same is true for sharing anything with sexual overtones that happened between you and your wife. It might be better to put that in third person narrative. Thanks for the good thoughts Brandon.

John E Miller

commented on May 29, 2012

In preaching we must be very careful to make it our priority to lift up Jesus. "He must increase, but I must decrease."