Value of Chalk-Talk Illustrations

How the use of chalk illustrations enhance your presentations.

By JEAN C. MEYER, Bible Instructor, Alabama-Mississippi Conference

Confucius once said, "One seeing is worth a thousand tellings." Or we might put it in a modern version and say, "One pic­ture is worth a thousand words." This is very true. The sense of sight is the quickest and easiest of the routes to the mind. Psychologists agree that eighty-five per cent of all that is learned is learned visually. Twenty per cent more comes through the sense of sight than through all the other senses combined.

Drawing with chalk, plain or colored, is one appealing way to take advantage of this sense of sight. The Bible instructor will find many uses for chalk illustrations in her work. One of the most effective ways is that of illustrating the words of a hymn as it is sung in the evan­gelistic meeting. This will deeply impress the words of the song upon the people's hearts. The picture should always be suited to the words, as the song will have little or no signifi­cance if the picture fails to catch the harmony and charm of the words and music. Nothing will have been gained, and a good opportunity to teach others of Christ and His love will have been lost if the picture Merely attracts the at­tention of the people and causes them to admire one's artistic ability.

Because the illustration of hymns can be used to great advantage with the appeals given by the evangelist, both song and picture should be selected in harmony with the subject that has been given and in accordance with the general thought of the appeal. Such a drawing will make a deeper impression than any slide or stereopticon picture that could be flashed on the screen during the appeal.

If the evangelist is holding a series of meet­ings in a place where he cannot use his slides, a series of prepared charts will be an excellent substitute. In illustrating Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 with chalk it is best to have the figures drawn ahead of time rather than as the evangelist is speaking.

Chalk illustrations used during the song serv­ice before the meeting starts may be a means of encouraging early and prompt attendance. A few words of caution may be in order regarding the use of chalk illustrations in the evangelistic meeting. Do not overdo. Illustrations should be used with care and rather sparingly if they are to attain their maximum teaching benefit by providing variety, emphasis, and stimulation.

Aside from the public meetings, the Bible instructor will find many uses for chalk illus­trations in her own work as she goes from home to home. For example, in giving studies on the millennium or the study on the 2300-day proph­ecy, colored chalk or black charcoal may be used on white paper to illustrate the points.

Frequently the Bible instructor has to run competition with the children in a home. If she can tell a Bible story and perhaps illustrate it as she talks, she will find no trouble in keep­ing the children quiet. In order to hear a story later, they will gladly be quiet during the study the mother is having. As the mother sees that the worker is interested in her children, she will feel at ease and will profit much more from the study.

Bible instructors are often called upon to help take charge of the juniors during the camp meeting session. Nothing will help more to gain the attention, respect, and love of the chil­dren than the ability to illustrate the stories graphically and thus indelibly impress spiritual lessons upon the hearts of the juniors.

Not all Bible instructors should or could use chalk illustrations. We all have individual differences and abilities. However, there are some who should use this God-given talent to tell "the old, old story" again and again with every appeal possible. Let it always be used in such a way that it will draw both young and old closer to God. Our work is not to enter­tain, but to lead men and women, boys and girls, to a deeper, closer, personal realization of God's love for them.


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By JEAN C. MEYER, Bible Instructor, Alabama-Mississippi Conference

July 1943

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