Howard Hendricks: The Law of Heart

Note: Howard Hendricks went to be with the Lord on Feb 20, 2013. This is part of a series of articles published in his honor.

Teaching that impacts is not head to head, but heart to heart.

That’s the Law of the Heart, and it’s true as long as you understand the biblical meaning of heart.

It’s one of those quicksilver words, and kind of mushy. We tend to use the word imprecisely today, but the Old Testament writers never did.

Deuteronomy 6:4–6 is one passage that reveals the scriptural context for the word. Moses said, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.”

To the Hebrews, heart embraced the totality of human personality—one’s intellect, one’s emotions, one’s will.

So the process of teaching is that of one total personality transformed by the supernatural grace of God, reaching out to transform other personalities by the same grace. What a privilege!

It’s the simplest thing in the world to take only the head trip. Taking the way of the heart is much more difficult. But it’s also more profitable. In fact, it’s life-changing.

Teaching to Change Lives: Seven Proven Ways to Make Your Teaching Come Alive by Howard Dr Hendricks