In Preaching Articles: "hardened heart"

Check Your Church's Outreach Heartbeat

By Kevin Harney on Mar 17, 2025

If your church is struggling to invest in reaching your community and the world, ask yourself this question: Are we a church that is on fire with a passion for God?

Scripture: Revelation 2:1

Tags: Faith, Heart, Growth, Health

Have Mercy On Me: Four Glimpses Into The Heart Of God

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 8, 2022

God has made the world to turn again and again on fresh revelations of his mercy.

Scripture: Exodus 34:6-7, Exodus 33:19, Luke 1:78, Ephesians 2:3, 2 Chronicles 30:9, Romans 9:22-23, 2 Samuel 24:13-14, Psalm 51:1, Lamentations 4:10, Isaiah 30:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: David, Mercy, Moses, God's Character

5 Questions Before You Preach

By Joel Mayward on Sep 7, 2019

You've done the prep, you've put in the time. These five questions will finish the job.

Scripture: John 16:20-23, Ephesians 5:6-14

Tags: Speak, Heart, Preaching, points, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Deliver Me From Distraction

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 28, 2022

Since the fall of man, people have had trouble staying focused, but we live today in an age of unprecedented distraction. Since you’re already reading this on some electronic device, I don’t need to elaborate.

Scripture: Romans 8:28, Romans 12:6, Romans 8:1, Luke 12:48, Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 6:13, Romans 8:20-23, Luke 10:41-42, Psalm 27:4, Ephesians 5:16, Ephesians 5:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Heart, Humility, distractions, idolatry, Distraction  (view more)  (view less)

That Crying Baby Just Might Reveal Your Heart, Preacher

By Jeremy Smith on Nov 12, 2019

The way you handle distractions may indicate how you see your role in the pulpit.

Tags: Heart, Preaching, Preacher, performer, Distraction, Crying baby  (view more)  (view less)

The Top 3 Inner Battles Of A Leader

By Dan Reiland on Aug 6, 2022

Leaders who are fully engaged in their mission fight battles. There is no way to avoid battles if you want to make progress consistently. New territory is never easy, and it always comes at a price. Life never grants a free ride, and leaders don’t receive a “get out of jail free” card when it comes to solving serious problems. The good news is that we don’t fight alone.

Tags: leadership, Discouragement, DIVIDED HEART, Distraction, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

If Jesus Gave A Ted Talk Principle 6—engage The Heart (Emotion)

By Charles Stone on Nov 17, 2021

Engage the heart is the sixth instalment of an 8 part series on how neuroscience can improve your preaching.

Scripture: John 11:35, Luke 10:21

Tags: Preaching, pastor, sermon, Pastor, Sermon, neuroscience, preaching, sermonprep  (view more)  (view less)

More Tough Skin And Tender Hearts: How To Prepare For Conversations On Ethnic Harmony

By Philip Holmes on Mar 14, 2022

Humility and love that produces tough skin and tender hearts are essential as we have these conversations.

Scripture: James 1:19, Matthew 11:29, Philippians 2:3

Tags: racism, Unity in Christ, Conversations

How To Stop Flirting With Sin

By Chad Ashby on Nov 14, 2022

Brothers and sisters, “As long as it is called ‘today,’ [be sure] that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin!” (Hebrews 3:13)

Scripture: Judges 16:1-31, Matthew 5:29, Judges 16:4-5, Matthew 7:13, 1 John 3:8, Hebrews 3:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: God's Grace, Personal Growth, Know the Truth, Discipline, Abide in Christ, personal holiness, fighting ungodliness, fighting sin  (view more)  (view less)

Preparing Hearts For Lent: Sermon Series & Resources To Deepen Your Congregation’s Journey

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 27, 2025

Sermon Series & Resources to Deepen Your Congregation’s Journey

Tags: Easter, Good Friday, Resurrection, lent, Holy Week, sermon series, Easter sermon series, Easter church resources, Easter preaching ideas, Easter graphics for churches, Easter sermon preparation, Easter service themes, Holy Week church resources, Good Friday sermon resources, Holy week  (view more)  (view less)

Every Sermon Needs A Strategy: What's Yours?

By Peter Mead on May 25, 2024

Peter Mead presents five big questions you should ask after you've studied the text.

Scripture: Zephaniah 1:12-18, Acts 8:26-40

Tags: Preaching, Relevance, God's Heart, main idea, reinforce, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Ways To Stay Motivated While Preaching

By Lance Witt on Sep 19, 2019

Every pastor knows what it is to preach a sermon when your heart isn't in it and your life isn't living it. Here are three ways to stay motivated and preaching from a healthy heart.

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Eternity, Heart, sermon prep, preaching the gospel, Sermon Prep, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

God Wants To Shape Your Wants: An Invitation To The Psalms

By John Piper on Nov 30, 2022

Try to imagine the Bible without the Psalms. What a different book it would be! What a different place the church would be. And what a different person I would be.

Scripture: Psalm 1:3

Tags: Psalms, Emotions, Heart, taste and see, Delight, Personal Growth, Delight in the Lord, sovereignty of God  (view more)  (view less)

What Every Leader Needs: Silence And Solitude

By Charles Stone on May 18, 2022

This discipline is really more of a state of heart than a place.

Tags: Solitude, Silence, Disciplines Silence, Intimacy With God

Why Preparing Sermons Takes Me So Long

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 31, 2020

Proper preparation is not for the faint of heart. It takes prayer, study, and practice.

Scripture: Exodus 14:8-14

Tags: Teaching, Study, Preaching, preparation, e  (view more)  (view less)