Illustrations are useful. Personal ones should be kept minimal - pastors are not there to bare their souls as though the pulpit was some kind of confessional. Also, not there to go on and on about what great sinners they are - (although they are of course) - all these things detract from God's glory. As with all parts of worship, whether formal or informal, the less of 'me' there is, the better.

Personally, I find that if I use something personal I can become over-emotional. And that doesn't do anyone any good - we're not there to manipulate people's emotions.

J

__________________
Jonathan Hunt

Preaching Elder
Cheltenham Evangelical Free Church (Confessionally Based)
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.
-- Thomas Elsworth