In Preaching Articles: "Heart"

How I Write A Sermon

By Bruce Frank on Aug 16, 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, repent, circumcise, Sword, Reject  (view more)  (view less)

5 Questions Before You Preach

By Joel Mayward on Mar 9, 2026

Strong preaching requires intentional focus. These five questions help preachers keep their sermons centered on Jesus, the gospel, the heart, and practical response.

Scripture: John 16:20-23, Ephesians 5:6-14, 1 Corinthians 2:2, James 1:22, Luke 24:27  (view more)  (view less)

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

Aim For The Ear

By Hershael York on May 23, 2025

Preaching is fundamentally an oral event, not a written one. Effective preachers understand that delivery, connection, and presence are essential to communicating the Word.

Scripture: Acts 2:37, 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Corinthians 2:4, Nehemiah 8:8

Tags: Heart, Preaching, mistakes, Head, connection, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Top 3 Inner Battles Of A Leader

By Dan Reiland on Aug 5, 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)

The Secret Ingredient For Effective Ministry

By Ray Hollenbach on Jun 16, 2025

What if there were a way to open the floodgates of heaven for other people? What if YOU could have this secret?

Scripture: John 5:9-16

Tags: Ministry, Humble, Humility, effective, humble heart, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

6 Ways You Can Break Through To Reach Hardened Hearts

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Sep 7, 2025

"Hardened hearts need to hear from a communicator, not a speaker." What can you do to reach them?

Tags: Truth, Preaching, humor, hard heart, Attitude, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Max Lucado On Questions, Suffering, Scripture, And The Heart Of Preaching

By Max Lucado on Jul 26, 2024

"I really believe the purpose of Scripture is to give us this authoritative handbook. We have a place where we can take people when they come to us with questions so we're not just speaking out of our own opinion."

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:16, Luke 5:1-11, John 21:1-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: BIBLICAL TEACHING, Biblical Teaching

Why We Preach: Gospel Bread For Desperate Hearts

By David J. Lose on Oct 5, 2020

Preaching is not merely instruction or exhortation. It is weekly renewal in the story of God’s love for weary believers who struggle to believe.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Romans 10:17, Matthew 4:4, 1 Corinthians 1:23, Hebrews 10:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Gospel, Preaching, gospel, preaching, Christian worship, Christian Worship  (view more)  (view less)

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

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 7, 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

Every Sermon Needs A Strategy: What's Yours?

By Peter Mead on May 24, 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)

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

By Charles Stone on Nov 16, 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)

Prepare Your Heart To Lead Your Home: Advent Advice For Fathers

By Douglas Wilson on Dec 11, 2025

A father who wants to lead and disciple his family needs to remember that the one thing he must cultivate is heart loyalty. He must, of course, connect that loyalty to scriptural and worthy objects, but if he does not have heart loyalty, childrearing will simply be one grief replaced by another.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4

Tags: Christmas, Advent, parenting, discipling, teach children, Discipline, Attitudes of thanks, child training  (view more)  (view less)

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

By Philip Holmes on Mar 13, 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 Guard Your Heart In The Pulpit: 5 Ways To Stay Grounded While Preaching

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Jan 26, 2026

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

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

By John Piper on Nov 29, 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)