Speaking to the Heart: A Lesson from the Field

One of my fellow preachers once shared a personal story from his missionary trip to a city in England. During that period, he put great effort into presenting well-reasoned and scholarly lectures, believing that intellectual content would naturally attract people. However, to his surprise, the response was lukewarm. The audiences did not engage as he had hoped, and he returned disappointed.

Back at the seminary, he visited his teacher to express his frustration. “I spoke about meaningful and important topics,” he said, “but the people didn’t seem to connect at all.”

The wise teacher listened carefully and then asked, “What were the subjects of your lectures?” After hearing his response, the teacher gently pointed out a crucial insight:

“Your topics didn’t speak to their hearts. Appealing to the mind alone is not enough. A preacher must also speak to the heart.”

The teacher continued, “Choose subjects that touch people’s pure emotions. For example, speak about a mother’s love. Think of how a mother loves her child unconditionally. A person who can’t bear to look at their own waste will, as a mother, carefully examine the nappies of her baby to make sure the child is healthy. Sometimes, she even gives up her favourite foods if they might harm her baby. This is the depth of a mother’s love.”

Then, with a profound look, the teacher added, “If a mother’s love is so great, God’s love for His servants is thousands of times greater.”

My friend recalls: “On my next preaching trip, I included this story and similar heartfelt themes in my lectures. To my amazement, the audience’s response was completely different. Their eyes were warmer, their hearts more open, and attendance increased significantly. That was when I realized: a preacher cannot ignore the emotional and spiritual state of the audience. Religious speech reaches people when it comes from the heart and connects with their feelings.”

Lessons from This Experience:

1. Blending Emotion and Intellect: A powerful message combines rational clarity with emotional connection; intellectual content alone is not enough.
2. Knowing the Audience: A preacher must consider the emotional state and mental context of the listeners for the message to be truly received.
3. Using Tangible Examples: Simple, human examples-like a mother’s love-can build a bridge between profound spiritual truths and people’s hearts.