In Chapter Four of J. Warner Wallace's book Forensic Faith, he provides five principles for convincing communication:
1. Pick a jury insightfully
2. Instruct your jury evidentially
3. Make an opening statement enthusiastically
4. Present the evidence powerfully
5. Make a closing argument persuasively
Part of the fifth principle includes summarizing your evidence visually.
I employed this principle recently while attempting to illustrate the connection between two passages in the New Testament on the topic of faith.
I used Ephesians 6:16 where faith is symbolized by a shield that can be used to extinguish the arrows of the evil one-
Ephesians 6:16 (CSB)
In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
When considering what makes up the "shield of faith," I believe you can find this in 2 Peter 1:3-7. Verses 8-12 explain the impact and importance of maintaining your shield-
2 Peter 1:3-12 (CSB)
3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
12 Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have.
As Wallace points out in Forensic Faith1, you do not have to be a trained illustrator to create a simple diagram to help someone understand what is being presented. In my illustration below, I was able to draw a simple sketch that consists of multiple layers that make up the qualities needed to supplement one's faith or shield. At the center, I strategically placed the quality of love, which is the most important of all (see 1 Corinthians 13:13).
1- Forensic Faith, pg. 191
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