Preaching to the heart

In this episode of BCUK's To The Heart podcast, hosts Helen Thorne-Allenson, Steve Midgley, and Andrew McKenna discuss the importance of preaching to the heart. They explore the concept of the heart in biblical terms, the challenges of addressing diverse hearts in a congregation, and the role of community in preaching. The conversation emphasizes the need for preachers to engage the heart throughout the sermon, from the introduction to the conclusion, and highlights the significance of illustrations and sermon structure. The hosts also address the balance between faithful exposition and heart engagement, the impact of preparation on preaching, and the importance of follow-up after sermons.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Preaching to the Heart02:53 Understanding the Heart in Preaching05:56 The Challenge of Preaching to Diverse Hearts08:54 The Role of Community in Preaching11:40 Engaging the Heart Throughout the Sermon14:37 The Importance of Illustrations17:35 Structuring a Sermon to Engage Hearts20:19 Concluding a Sermon Effectively23:32 Faithful Exposition vs. Heart Engagement26:11 The Impact of Preparation on Preaching29:09 Follow-Up After Preaching