In Preaching Articles: "Hard Heart"

5 Questions A Pastor Should Ask Every Year

By Josh Reich on Jan 26, 2021

As leaders, we can sometimes stand in the way of change. Instead, let's take a hard look at our lives and ask these five questions to grow as leaders.

Tags: Preaching

Not Every Exhortation Is Necessary

By Peter Mead on May 9, 2024

It is important to discern when an exhortation needs to be given, and when the listener is already aware of their need for growth and working hard by faith to become more like Christ.

Tags: teaching, exhortation, Preaching Help, effective preaching, Effective Teaching, Know your audience, preaching, Teaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Close Your Sermon Powerfully: A Surprising Secret

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Feb 3, 2020

Sherman Cox points to one critical area frequently left untouched by preachers--resulting in untouched hearts of listeners.

Scripture: Romans 6:1-4

Tags: Preaching

Three Probing Questions Every Pastor Should Ask Himself

By Charles Stone on Sep 14, 2023

Take a few moments and ask yourself these questions to see what God reveals about your heart and motives.

Tags: motives, Faithfulness, identity, Identity in Christ

When You Feel Hopeless As A Leader

By Josh Reich on Jun 14, 2023

At some point as a leader, you will feel hopeless. As a pastor it will more than likely happen after the weekend. It is hard to keep hope alive all the time as a leader.

Tags: Preaching, leaders, preaching

Why Authentic Preaching Could Be A Trap

By Maurilio Amorim on May 15, 2020

Maurillo Amorim: "I hope we are not creating a culture that encourages people to be authentic about their sins but excuses them from doing the hard work of making things right."

Tags: Preaching, preaching

5 Filters For A Funeral Sermon

By Chris Surber on Feb 7, 2022

I’ve preached a lot of funerals. Along the way I’ve learned some lessons from others and I’ve learned some lessons the hard way.

Tags: Funerals Christian, preaching Christ, Funerals, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Make Your Sermons More Memorable: 6 Tips From Neuroscience

By Charles Stone on Jul 29, 2020

Dr. Charles Stone draws from the study of the human brain and suggests how we can impact the human heart.

Tags: Preaching

7 Things Pastors Wish Church Members Knew About Their Children

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 10, 2024

Should Pastors' children behave differently than regular kids? Thom Rainer speaks from the heart in this powerful post.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

You Can Love Ministry And Miss Jesus

By Marshall Segal on Dec 20, 2021

What captivates your heart more: what God does through you, or what he has done for you?

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:4-5, Philippians 3:7-8, Philippians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Luke 10:3, Matthew 10:7-8, Luke 10:17-20, Colossians 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Jesus, priorities, loving God, Christian Priorities

Live And Die By The Numbers

By Lance Witt on Apr 11, 2023

But numbers become a problem in the heart of a pastor when they move from being a point of celebration to becoming the driver of our motivation.

Scripture: Acts 2:47

Tags: motivation, Church Growth, success in ministry, intimacy with Christ

Get Alone With God

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 22, 2022

As Jonathan Edwards expresses, and Scripture exemplifies, one aspect of a Christ-enamored heart is a gnawing ache to get alone with him.

Scripture: Mark 1:35, Matthew 4:1, Psalm 63:5-6, Hebrews 10:25, Luke 4:42, Matthew 14:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Solitude, Alone with God, soul care, intimacy with Christ

7 Biblical Helps For Preaching On Divorce And Remarriage

By Kevin Deyoung on Sep 4, 2025

Kevin DeYoung: "The hard thing is to take a few biblical principles about marriage, divorce and remarriage and then try to apply them prayerfully and wisely to a thousand different situations."

Scripture: Mark 10:1-12, Isaiah 37:1-20

Tags: Preaching, Divorce, Principles, Remarriage, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Keep Learning To Lead: Five Practical Lessons

By Gavin Ortlund on Apr 29, 2022

Leadership is hard. I rank it up there with pain, parenting, and preaching as one of those things in life that we never fully master, but only hope to keep learning over a lifetime.

Scripture: John 13:15-16, John 16:12

Tags: Teamwork, Leadership General, servant leadership, Jesus' leadership

Three Key Components Of A Solid Sermon

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 13, 2020

My audience matters so much to the heart of God, that He sent His only son Jesus to die on the cross for their redemption.

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

Tags: Preaching, preaching