Here are some illustrations and stories that can help communicate spiritual truth. Be creative. You can come up with some of your own!
I can say that I know that there are people in Africa, but it is different to say I know someone personally who lives in Africa. It is like that with God. Many admit that God exists, but they may not actually know Him personally.
A bird flew into a building. It frantically looked for a way to get out. It kept flying against the windows and finally dropped dead. In the same way, those who try to save themselves, instead of turning to Christ for help, will die in their sin.
At a construction site a lot was about to be bulldozed. The operator of the bulldozer noticed that there was a large anthill that he was going to run over. He stopped advancing and got down on the ground and yelled and pounded, but the ants just could not understand. He thought, “If only I could become an ant, then I could let them know the danger they are in.” Jesus became a man to help us understand that we are on the road to destruction and that He is the way of salvation.
Look for a flower that is alive and growing. Ask, “Is this flower alive?” Then pick it and ask, “Does it still look the same right now? Is it alive or is it actually dying?” Explain that once it was disconnected from the root it began the process of dying. In a day or two it will be obviously dead. It is that way with people today. They are alive physically, but spiritually they are dead in their sin, disconnected from God and need salvation in Jesus.
If I give you a gift for your birthday, do you need to pay me something for it? No. You just need to say thank you and accept it. Jesus died on the cross to save us. All we can do is say thank you and accept Him. We cannot try to earn it by doing good works.
There is a man on a rope 5 stories up in the air. He walks across, and then turns and says, “How many think I can do this holding a box?” Everyone cheers and so he takes the box and walks across the rope. Then he says, “How many of you think I can walk across this rope holding one of you in my arms?” Everyone cheers. “Yes, we believe you can do it.” He looks down and says, “OK, who wants to be first?” The one who is willing to go up and go across in his arms really believes. Have you truly trusted in Jesus to save you?