Pitfalls of Using Examples in Teaching and Preaching

While examples are a common and often effective tool in teaching and preaching, their use carries several potential pitfalls that can hinder clear communication and even mislead an audience. The very nature of an example, which is to illustrate one subject by another, can lead to misinterpretation if not handled carefully ^[1].

One significant pitfall is the risk of causing offense or misunderstanding. The New Testament uses the Greek word skandalon for "offence," which refers to a stumbling block or cause for falling ^[2]. While some offenses are unavoidable, such as those taken by the wicked at Christ's low station or the righteousness of faith ^[2], teachers and preachers are cautioned against creating unnecessary stumbling blocks ^[2]. An ill-chosen example, particularly one that touches on sensitive cultural, personal, or theological issues, can inadvertently alienate listeners or distract them from the core message. For instance, Christ himself was a cause of offense to many, including those who took offense at his crucifixion or the necessity of inward purity ^[2]. While Christ's example was perfect ^[3], human examples are fallible and can be misconstrued.

Another danger lies in the potential for examples to become the focus rather than the point they are meant to illustrate. Jesus often spoke in parables, which are a form of extended example or comparison ^[1]. However, he noted that he spoke in parables "because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand" ^[5]. This suggests that even divinely inspired examples can be misunderstood or fail to convey their intended meaning to all listeners. If an example is too complex, too obscure, or too engaging in its own right, the audience may remember the story but miss the spiritual truth it was meant to convey. Matthew Henry notes that Christ's doctrine was not intended merely to amuse with divine mysteries or entertain with mercies, but to engage and quicken listeners to Christian duties ^[10]. An example that merely entertains without prompting spiritual application falls short of this goal.

Furthermore, relying too heavily on examples can lead to a "multitude of words" without a corresponding depth of understanding, akin to a "fool's speech" ^[7]. This can happen when a preacher uses numerous anecdotes or illustrations to fill time, rather than to precisely illuminate a specific point. Such an approach can dilute the message, making it difficult for the audience to discern the main argument or application. The Apostle Paul, for example, urged believers to "press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works" ^[9], implying a need to move beyond elementary instruction, which might include an over-reliance on simple examples.

There is also a risk that examples can be used to flatter or manipulate an audience. The Bible warns against flattery, noting that saints and ministers should not use it, though the wicked often do ^[4]. While not every example is flattery, an example chosen primarily to elicit a positive emotional response from the audience, rather than to convey truth, can border on manipulation. False prophets and teachers are noted for using flattery ^[4], and a preacher who prioritizes audience approval over faithful exposition might unconsciously select examples that cater to popular sentiment rather than challenging listeners with biblical truth. Micah condemns those who "walks about in a spirit of deception and lies, saying 'I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,' then he would be a preacher for this people!" ^[6]. This highlights the danger of preaching what is pleasing rather than what is true.

Finally, examples can inadvertently promote partiality or reinforce biases. Proverbs warns that "to show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread" ^[8]. If examples consistently draw from a narrow demographic or cultural experience, they can unintentionally exclude or alienate segments of the audience. This can lead to a perception that the message is not for everyone, or that certain experiences are more valued than others. The goal of preaching is often to apply universal truths, and examples should serve to broaden understanding rather than narrow it.

Sources

Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Offence — Occasions of, must arrive -- Mt 18:7. Occasions of, forbidden -- 1Co 10:32; 2Co 6:3. Persecution, a cause of, to mere professors -- Mt 13:21; 24:10; 26:31. The wicked take, at The low station of Christ. -- Isa 53:1-3; Mt 13:54-57. Christ, as the corner-stone. -- Isa 8:14; Ro 9:33; 1Pe 2:8. Christ, as the bread of life. -- Joh 6:58-61. Christ crucified. -- 1Co 1:23; Ga 5:11. The righteousness of faith. -- Ro 9:32. The necessity of inward purity. -- Mt 15:11,12. Blessedness of not taking, at Christ -- Mt 11:6. Saints warned against taking -- Joh 16:1. Saints ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Flattery — Saints should not used -- Job 32:21,22. Ministers should not use -- 1Th 2:5. The wicked use, to Others. -- Ps 5:9; 12:2. Themselves. -- Ps 36:2. Hypocrites use, to God. -- Ps 78:36. Those in authority. -- Da 11:34. False prophets and teachers use -- Eze 12:24; Ro 16:18. Wisdom, a preservative against -- Pr 4:5. Worldly advantage obtained by -- Da 11:21,22. Seldom gains respect -- Pr 28:23. Avoid those given to -- Pr 20:19. Danger of -- Pr 7:21-23; 20:5. Punishment of -- Job 17:5; Ps 12:3. Exemplified Woman of Tekoah. -- 2Sa 14:17,20. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:2-6”
Matthew “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand. -- Matthew 13:13”
Micah “Micah 2:11 (LEB) — If a man walks about in a spirit of deception and lies, saying “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” then he would be a preacher for this people!”
Ecclesiastes “For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words. -- Ecclesiastes 5:3”
Proverbs “To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread. -- Proverbs 28:21”
Hebrews “Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, -- Hebrews 6:1”
Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 16:1: We mistake if we imagine that the design of Christ's doctrine and holy religion was either to amuse us with notions of divine mysteries or to entertain us with notions of divine mercies. No, the divine revelation of both these in the gospel is intended to engage and quicken us to the practice of Christian duties, and, as much as any one thing, to the duty of beneficence and doing good to those who stand in need of any thing that either we have or can do for them. This our Saviour is here pressing us to, by reminding us that we are but stewards of the manifold grace ”

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