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Declining Attendance and 7 Preaching Shifts That Are Happening Right Now

6. The Intellect Alone Isn’t Enough

When it comes to the style of preaching that’s going to really reach out culture, I’m not sure the intellectual approach is going to fully win the day.

For sure, you need substance, research and a deeper level of thinking than you had before. And if you’re able to carry a discussion far and deep, that’s a great thing.

But speaking to the head alone rarely reaches the heart. So don’t just speak to the head.

7. The Emotional Alone Isn’t Enough

There’s a real resurgence these days in what you might call ’emotional’ preaching…preachers with a lot of passion, fascinating imagery, word-craft and emotion.

In many ways, that’s amazing.

But just like the intellect alone isn’t enough, emotionalism alone isn’t enough.

To reach and keep the next generation is going to take both the head and the heart.

If you only reach the head, it’s easy to walk away when a new idea comes along.

If you only reach the heart, it’s easy to walk away when the feeling dies.

But if you preach to both the head and heart, the head will carry the heart in the tough seasons and the heart will sometimes carry the head.

Preach intelligently and preach emotionally and you’ll reach the whole person. Which is exactly who God redeemed.

Ready to start preaching engaging sermons that reach the unchurched without selling out?

The Art of Better Preaching Course is a 12-session video training with a comprehensive, interactive workbook that will help you create, write and deliver better sermons. The course contains the lessons Mark Clark (lead pastor of  Village Church, a growing megachurch in post-Christian Vancouver) and I have learned, taught and used over decades of preaching in growing churches.

This is the complete course you need to start preaching better sermons, including:

  • 7 preaching myths it’s time to bust forever
  • The 5 keys to preaching sermons to unchurched people (that will keep them coming back)
  • How to discover the power in the text (and use it to drive your sermon)
  • The specific characteristics of sermons that reach people in today’s world
  • Why you need to ditch your sermon notes (and how to do it far more easily than you think.)
  • How to keep your heart and mind fresh over the long run

And far more! Plus you get an interactive workbook and some bonus resources that will help you write amazing messages week after week.

In the Art of Better Preaching, Mark and I share everything we’ve learned about communicating in a way that will help your church grow without compromising biblical integrity. We cover detailed training on everything from interacting with the biblical text to delivering a talk without using notes, to writing killer bottom lines that people will remember for years.

Curious? Check it out today and get instant access.

What Else Is Changing

Anything else you see changing in preaching?

This article originally appeared here.