Giving Glory to God in Preacher's Personal Examples

Preachers can give glory to God rather than themselves in their use of personal examples by ensuring that their stories and anecdotes ultimately point to God's character and work. Paul writes in Romans 8:28 that "all things work together for good to them that love God," which reminds us that even personal experiences are meant to showcase God's sovereignty and goodness. When preachers use personal examples, they should do so in a way that highlights God's intervention, mercy, and grace, rather than their own accomplishments or strengths. This means being mindful of the language and tone used, avoiding self-promotion and instead emphasizing how God has worked in and through their lives.

By doing so, preachers can help their listeners see the greatness of God and the power of the gospel, rather than merely the preacher's own personality or experiences. This approach also helps to guard against the danger of pride and self-exaltation, which can easily creep into a preacher's use of personal examples. Instead, the focus should be on how God has worked in the preacher's life, and how that same God can work in the lives of their listeners.

In this way, preachers can use their personal examples in a way that is both authentic and God-glorifying, pointing their listeners to the one who is the true hero of the story: Jesus Christ. By keeping the focus on God's work and character, preachers can help their listeners to see the beauty and majesty of God, and to be drawn to Him in worship and adoration. This is the ultimate goal of preaching, and one that can be achieved when preachers use their personal examples in a way that gives glory to God alone.