In Preaching Articles: "Hardened Heart"

How To Guard Your Heart In The Pulpit: 5 Ways To Stay Grounded While Preaching

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Aug 6, 2019

Preaching is a public act of worship, but it’s also a spiritual battleground. Learn five essential ways to guard your heart as you step into the pulpit.

Tags: preaching tips, Preaching Tips

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 graphics for churches, Easter sermon preparation, Easter service themes, Holy Week church resources, Good Friday sermon resources, Holy week, lent, Holy Week, sermon series, Easter sermon series, Easter church resources, Easter preaching ideas, Easter, Good Friday, Resurrection  (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: Heart, taste and see, Delight, Personal Growth, Delight in the Lord, sovereignty of God, Psalms, Emotions  (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

How I Write A Sermon

By Bruce Frank on Aug 17, 2020

Bruce Frank, lead pastor of of Biltmore Baptist Church, one of the top 50 fastest-growing churches in America, shares his sermon prep process.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16, 2 Samuel 11:1-15, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Heart, Study, Preaching, repent, BIBLE STUDY, preparation, circumcise, Sword, Reject, shaken the dust, Bible Study  (view more)  (view less)

Sincerity In Preaching Can't Be Faked: Do You Have It?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 26, 2025

Eight tips on "bearing your honest heart" for greater preaching impact.

Scripture: Matthew 19:13-15, Exodus 32:1-14

Tags: Authenticity, preaching, Preaching

The Greatest Gift You Give Your Team- Part 1

By Lance Witt on Jul 11, 2024

This week work at paying attention to your soul. Listen to your emotions. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what is going on beneath the surface of all your “doing”.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1, John 16:32, John 16:32

Tags: Approval, personal holiness, Growth in Christ, pastoral leadership, God's Approval, Guarding your heart, motives, soul care  (view more)  (view less)

The Greatest Gift You Give Your Team- Part 2

By Lance Witt on Jul 15, 2024

Some of the qualities that people will applaud in your life are the very things that will wreck your soul.

Tags: Time of Reflection, Guarding your heart, motives, soul care, sanctification, Personal Growth, pastoral care, Examine self  (view more)  (view less)

The Top Secret Agendas Carried By Your Congregation

By Chris Surber on Sep 11, 2021

Every church member carries an agenda in the secret briefcase of their heart. What's their agenda?

Tags: Agenda, Affirm, Preaching, challenge, Congregation  (view more)  (view less)

10 Pointers For Older preachers

By Peter Mead on Nov 9, 2019

To stay effective in the preaching ministry, we need the humble, hearing heart of novice.

Tags: teachable spirit, Humble, Preaching, champion, Feedback  (view more)  (view less)

Preach The (Memorized) Word

By David Vroege on Aug 31, 2024

When we hide his word in our hearts, it makes a powerful difference personally and professionally.

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:11

Tags: Study, Preaching, teach, BIBLE STUDY, memorize, Bible Study, bible study, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The One Thing Nearly Everyone Forgets When It Comes To Hermeneutics

By Peter Mead on Nov 5, 2024

One key dimension tends to be overlooked when we talk about hermeneutics: the interpreter's heart.

Scripture: Psalm 10:1-17

Tags: preaching, Revelation, Preaching, advice, hermeneutics  (view more)  (view less)

Church Discipline, Short Skirts, And Angry Deacons

By Ray Hollenbach on Mar 11, 2025

Loving someone enough to help them find freedom from their fears and appetites is the heart of church discipline.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, Church General, preaching

4 Remedies For Discouragement In Your Preaching

By Erik Raymond on Apr 3, 2025

Take heart! There's one big reason our preaching is not in vain, and three more after that!

Scripture: 1 Samuel 12:23

Tags: Preaching, Discouragement, preaching, Trust, Hope  (view more)  (view less)