"Preaching"-Chapter 6/Part 7
- Tony Vance
- Aug 27, 2015
- 6 min read
In our continuing series, of Tim Keller’s book, ‘Preaching’, this Chapter I'm covering here, demonstrates why this is a valuable resouce for preachers, of every level (for explanation of levels see here). Each chapter has laid out basic and in-depth applications, ideas and lessons, and thoughts and well researched theories. This chapter, chapter six, is no exception. The last chapter was the most helpful material, outside of the bible itself, for preaching, I’ve ever encountered. This chapter is not far behind, as it deals with the hearer’s reception of the message, which must be taken into consideration. The chapter is titled, Preaching Christ to the Heart, and it is laid out in clear and precise language. Interestingly, as a side note, this may clear the idea of ‘heart’ that seems to confuse many Bible readers.
Keller begins the chapter with Matthew 6:21 (KJV) “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” This leads into his explaination of why the heart is important. Keller then goes on to explain what heart means biblically. The modern notion of heart is simply an emotional center, a place of your feelings, love, and such. Keller correctly explains, “the Bible often talks about thinking with the heart or acting with the heart.” This is contrary to today’s usage. Again, Keller gives a clear, concise, explanation, “In the Bible the heart is the seat of the mind, will, and emotions, all together.” After an extensive lesson on this, he states, “Whatever captures the heart’s trust and love also controls the feelings and behavior. What the heart most wants the mind finds reasonable, the emotions find valuable, and the will finds doable.” This may be as clear an understanding of the heart, you will find, and why Keller appeals to his readers to preach to the heart.
In explaining preaching to the affections, Keller uses Jonathan Edwards’ terminology found in his book, ‘The Religious Affections’. Edwards uses “understanding” and “inclination” to explain how we perceive or judge things (our “understanding”) and our liking or not, loving or not, that which we perceive (our “inclination”). Edwards further designates other divisions; “will”, that which involves actions, “heart” (as Edwards uses it), our beauty sensor, and the “affections”, this is what Edwards calls the most “vigorous and sensible exercises.” “Affections”, again as used by Edwards, is also where love, joy, peace, humility, etc. are found, aka-“the fruits of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22). Thus, Keller appeals to these affections as MORE than mere emotions. These affections are things which, “it propels us to acquire and protect it.” Also, Keller said, “Affections, however, are more enduring and involve both the convictions of the mind and changes in action and life.”
Keller, with help from Edwards, demonstrates that we are not just preaching (and again, this applies to every level) to change “minds”, which is to say just “head-knowledge”, so to speak. This is changing the heart, to which we appeal. Here is where Edwards’ notion of the beauty of Christ is so enlightening. Keller explains Edwards’ idea as, “at the root of every heart’s affections is “excellency”-that which is appreciated and rested in for its own sake.” This in turn, leads us to Edwards’ notion of the beauty of Christ. This is the Christian that finds beauty in Christ, and in Him alone, “for who he is in himself.” Keller, again with some help from Edwards, is pointing us to the fact that people’s hearts are in need of change, the affection and not just the thinking.
Keller moves into a section of the chapter that deals with “Changing them in their seats.” This is the idea of reaching them, “where they are at,” someone once said. Again, he quotes Edwards to explain the two ways this is accomplished, “[1] believing the truth of it, and [2] having a sensible idea or apprehension of it.” Keller speaks to the first which, “requires us to be convincing and persuasive.” Of course, as this chapter addresses, this is a ‘heart’ matter, so it’s more than convincing the mind of things. He mentions that Dr. D. M. Lloyd called it, “logic on fire.” To this first step Keller said, “We must reason and argue strenuously, but this is only the first step.” From there, Keller moves us to the second, which Edwards alludes to; forming “sensible ideas.” Keller states, “…this means bring(ing) abstract concepts into connection with the listener’s actual sense…” The idea of making connection, or better, helping them to see great spiritual truths by connecting to things in their everyday lives.
He now moves us into How to “Preach to the Heart,” and gives us valuable, practical applications and descriptions. First, preaching to the heart must be done “affectionately”, meaning from our own heart. This is what he calls, “Heart-moving preachers.” This is done not to manipulate the heart, but to show your heart, which in turns pulls people into the truths you are preaching-and they see you are living and believing. Keller rightfully points to the fact if you are ‘trying’ to preach affectionately, then you aren’t. This is done in our own hearts, prepared by believing and experiencing these truths ourselves. Second, is “imaginatively” preaching to the heart. Keller tells us the “sermon illustration” is where this is done. Again, turning to Edwards, he talks about how Edwards observed men are “body-bound creatures.” Our five senses are what we experience or world with, Edwards observed, so if you can connect a sense; a sight, a smell, or even a sound, with a spiritual truth, it will stick. Thirdly, Keller says to preach to the heart “wondrously”. He points to J. R. R. Tolkien’s essay ‘On Fairy Stories’. Tolkien believed the human heart longed for comfort and security, fantasy and science fiction stories provide. Keller firmly believes (as I do) that fiction of this type invokes a longing, within the human heart, that the story of the Bible reaches the heart with.
Next, as he helps us see heart changing preaching, he tells us to preach “memorably”. This is preaching so that people remember. He says our sermons should be insightful, orality, and, what he calls using, “culturally appropriate rhetoric.” Insight is the idea of, “I’ve never heard it put that way” type sermons, fresh notions of timeless truths. Orality is Keller’s way of describing sermons as repetitive, simple (with vocabulary, as opposed to writing), and focused. Keller’s last notion of memorable preaching is using the rhetoric of the culture to point to biblical ideas. Keller then states that preaching to the heart must be “Christocentrically” done. This is a simple pointing to Jesus as the third chapter lays out. Finally, preaching to the heart must be “practically” done. He says this is done expositional (the first section of the book, chapters 1, 2, and 3) and by application (which 4, 5, and 6, cover, in the second section).
Keller ends the book, as a pastor predictably would, with applications of the truths he just covered. These five applicable suggestions are:
Diversify Your Conversation Partners
Diversify Whom You Picture as You Prepare
Weave Application Throughout the Sermon
Use Variety
Be Emotionally Aware
These five applications, of the ideas in this chapter, are fleshed out for you by Keller. The first four, apply generally as they sound, and can be taken almost at face-value, but again, Keller masterfully expounds on them, showing why he is considered not only a ‘great’ preacher, but a gifted writer as well. The fifth one, is due a little explaining, as it is a little more ambiguous. Keller is simply reminding us to watch for the teachable moments, when in a sermon those listening are transfixed, attentive, and possibly under conviction. He says to be “pliable” and not so rigid, that these moments are missed.
If chapter five was the most radically changing of the chapters so far (reaching the culture and the ‘late’ modern mind), for me, chapter six is not far behind. Though I’ve always had a sense of the heart being more than emotions and feelings, Keller points us to ways the heart is affected. Again, his pastoral gift shines thru as he not only gives us the truths, but applies them and shows us how to, too. Our next Blog will cover the seventh and final chapter, but the book doesn’t end there, stay tuned.