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The Heart Is the Target: Preaching Practical Application from Every Text
God’s Word is powerful, and when preached clearly and applied pertinently it can change lives. Yet preaching does not always have this impact. When it is concerned merely with teaching information, it can leave congregations unmoved, and when it sacrifices substance for relevance, it shortchanges the power of the text.For preaching to truly change lives, biblical faithfulness and insightful application must work together—a powerful combination.Murray Capill helps preachers to shape sermons that impact lives with lasting application. He takes preachers through the “living application” preaching process—moving the Word of God, via the life of the preacher, to the lives of the hearers. His model avoids the pitfalls of tacked-on application and enables preachers to aim at the heart from start to finish, and he outlines how they can do so in some specific preaching challenges.Here are the tools to systematically explore the application potential of any text, in any situation.“Experienced preachers are well aware of the pitfalls that pervade the terrain of application in preaching. . . . The Heart Is the Target not only provides biblical and theological correctives to such errors and imbalances, but also offers practical guidance in preparing sermons that serve the transformative purposes of the Bible.”— Dennis E. Johnson, Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary, California“Murray Capill has obviously thought deeply and long about sermon application and clearly has a passion for it—one that is highly appealing to the reader. There is a sensitive awareness of the situation of the ‘average preacher.’ . . . I wish I had had this text in my hands when I began preaching over fifty years ago.”—Bruce Milne, traveling preacher and teacher of pastoral leadersMURRAY CAPILL (D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary, California) has pastored churches in New Zealand and Australia and is principal at the Reformed Theological College in Geelong, Australia, where he lectures in preaching and pastoral ministry.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2014
58 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Murray Capill
5 books5 followersMurray is originally from New Zealand where he pastored a church in Auckland for 10 years. He came to Australia in 2001 to teach part-time at Reformed Theological College Victoria and continue in pastoral ministry. Since 2006 he has taught practical theology full-time and in 2008 he became the Principal of RTC. He is the author of Preaching with Spiritual Vigour (2004) and The Heart is the Target (2014). Murray is married to Wendy and they have five children and one grandchild.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 14, 2016
In my opinion, there is no finer book on the subject of experimental preaching. This book has opened my eyes to some weaknesses in my preaching and has caused me to think deeply about application as I work through the exegesis.
Every budding pastor/preaching needs to read this book (and more than once!). It is a gem.
Every budding pastor/preaching needs to read this book (and more than once!). It is a gem.
April 5, 2020
Great start, better finish. Everything in between super helpful. Loved this book!
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October 18, 2025I saw some of this guy’s Microsoft Word diagrams and charts, and I wanted to make fun of him. But then, he proceeded to call me out every chapter.
November 29, 2023
I heard Murray Capill speak on connecting to the heart at our AFES Staff Conference earlier in the year. It was so good I made sure to add this book to my reading least. I'm so glad I did.
Best book on preaching I've read in a long time. I found myself, again and again, thinking 'Yes! Absolutely!' It's a great book on preaching full stop. But it's also a great book on pastoring, on biblical theology, on faithful Bible application that connects well. It's extremely helpful, practical, and challenging - especially for those who are in the habit of writing and delivering Bible talks.
Highly recommend.
Even though he's a Kiwi.
Best book on preaching I've read in a long time. I found myself, again and again, thinking 'Yes! Absolutely!' It's a great book on preaching full stop. But it's also a great book on pastoring, on biblical theology, on faithful Bible application that connects well. It's extremely helpful, practical, and challenging - especially for those who are in the habit of writing and delivering Bible talks.
Highly recommend.
Even though he's a Kiwi.
Read
October 7, 2024Probably the most helpful book I've read on preaching so far. He exposed my lack of helpful application in sermons
October 18, 2023
Possibly the most helpful book on preaching I've read thus far. And there's enough material here to warrant my revisiting it multiple times in the future. Three particular points were especially helpful to me. First, we need to broaden our concept of "application" beyond imperatives. Second, while the application of any given text may indeed be "be encouraged" or "be comforted," it's not enough for a preacher just to say that. The preacher needs to do the work of encouraging and comforting himself! Third, Capill provides a helpful four-category rubric for thinking through the various spiritual states any one congregant might be in. I found this rubric far more helpful than any of the lists I've heard or read before.
My two qualms with the book were that the diagrams are almost entirely unhelpful, and that I would personally articulate his points about application to social responsibility very differently. These are minor issues, though; this book is great.
My two qualms with the book were that the diagrams are almost entirely unhelpful, and that I would personally articulate his points about application to social responsibility very differently. These are minor issues, though; this book is great.
April 10, 2024
Truly a must read for preachers! Application is misunderstood and abused. This book gives a balanced and God-centered approach.
March 5, 2026
I have often stated that the weakest component of my preaching is application. I am comfortable translating, exegeting, expositing, and principlizing. But application has always been a struggle for me. Capill offers a wonderful book that has helped me see my blind spots in my application process, and offered practical strategies on how to widen the use of application throughout a sermon. Highly recommend.
*not a 5 star rating simply because I do not hold to the narrow Christ centered preaching homiletical method that Capill seems to (a la Edmund Clowney via Dennis Johnson). Capill also seems to hold to a postmil view of the end times which colors his application process to a small degree. Otherwise, I happily recommend!
*not a 5 star rating simply because I do not hold to the narrow Christ centered preaching homiletical method that Capill seems to (a la Edmund Clowney via Dennis Johnson). Capill also seems to hold to a postmil view of the end times which colors his application process to a small degree. Otherwise, I happily recommend!
July 29, 2017
I found this phenomenally helpful. So many useful tools in here. Beneath and beyond the various tools, the theology of preaching presented in this book is true to the theology of God's redemptive purposes in our lives. He reveals Himself to us in His Word that we might be made holy in the whole man so that we might commune with Him. There's an agenda in preaching beyond merely informing or lecturing or educating. There is something deeply formative and spiritually vital in this most central of ordinances of the church.
October 29, 2024
Excellent book! There is so much to glean from this book that focuses on sermon application. Capill offers a very practical, helpful paradigm to help preachers think through sermon application, and provides examples, using particular texts in Scripture to help illustrate the principle he was writing about. I found the first part of the book more effective for the author's argument, but the closing chapter on holistic application was very beneficial as well.
This really is an essential resource for any preacher. I know I will be revisiting this book frequently.
This really is an essential resource for any preacher. I know I will be revisiting this book frequently.
April 19, 2025
I think Capill is onto something and does argue well that sermons aren’t just an information download, however I didn’t find the initial biblical argument well- reasoned enough to be compelling, and therefore it felt like a another applicatory framework.
Probably need to read a few more books on the subject and return again to Capills argument, but for now, 3.5 stars rounded to 4
Probably need to read a few more books on the subject and return again to Capills argument, but for now, 3.5 stars rounded to 4
June 16, 2021
Incredibly helpful. So much underlining, so many notes. I'll be coming back to this material a lot and using the tools offered for sure.
November 18, 2023
This one is probably 4.5 stars. The arguments and content are pure gold. The book, like most preaching, could have been shorter.
May 24, 2020
Overall, this is a helpful book on thinking through sermon application. If you have read broadly on preaching, and particularity from Haddon Robinson and Bryan Chapel, you will find this to be a collection of much of what has already been said. However, that is not a criticism, on the contrary, it is helpful to have a book dedicated to the topic of application, which draws from many sources.
One criticism I do have is how the author pushes transformationalism as the only proper way to apply the text. In his chapter on "Preaching the Kingdom," he speaks of transforming, communities, neighborhoods, towns, and cities, in order to "reclaim [them] for Christ." Further he criticizes preachers who neglect preaching on "texts about social justice." He says, "we need to resist spiritualizing all the social justice expressions in the gospel." Though he never offers a definition of what he means by "social justice," he explicitly includes under this umbrella issues such as fair trade, and poverty.
By wedding "social justice" and the gospel together, at the very least the author is needlessly introducing a controversial and often loaded term, but at worst he may be guilty of removing the focus from what is truly central to the gospel.
One criticism I do have is how the author pushes transformationalism as the only proper way to apply the text. In his chapter on "Preaching the Kingdom," he speaks of transforming, communities, neighborhoods, towns, and cities, in order to "reclaim [them] for Christ." Further he criticizes preachers who neglect preaching on "texts about social justice." He says, "we need to resist spiritualizing all the social justice expressions in the gospel." Though he never offers a definition of what he means by "social justice," he explicitly includes under this umbrella issues such as fair trade, and poverty.
By wedding "social justice" and the gospel together, at the very least the author is needlessly introducing a controversial and often loaded term, but at worst he may be guilty of removing the focus from what is truly central to the gospel.
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March 2, 2022This book was hands-down the most useful preaching resource I have found to date. I would recommend it to any pastor at any level and plan to purchase additional copies often for friends and budding young preachers. It would be of tremendous benefit to other word-ministries outside of preaching and even for those leading family devotionals as it aims to give insights on making the Word applicable to God’s people.
As a word of critique I found the figures that he provides unhelpful as a means of drawing all of the pieces together into a visual and comprehensive whole. A better means of drawing all of the thoughts together would be beneficial. Overall, however, the book is of tremendous value and I cannot wait to read it again.
As a word of critique I found the figures that he provides unhelpful as a means of drawing all of the pieces together into a visual and comprehensive whole. A better means of drawing all of the thoughts together would be beneficial. Overall, however, the book is of tremendous value and I cannot wait to read it again.
January 4, 2017
Excellent book on application in preaching. The sixth chapter entitled 'Applications that live: Shooting Sharp Arrows' alone is worth the price of the book.
June 10, 2019
Really helpful
September 23, 2025
After my second reading, I actually deducted a star. This book overcomplicates preaching.
March 12, 2025
Capill diagnoses that an issue with many brands of expository preaching is weak application to the lives of the hearers. He therefore provides a framework for preachers to preach more applicatory sermons, beginning with the living word of God first speaking to the life of the preacher, and out of that flows the sermon and its application (he calls this preaching "from a full reservoir"); having an insight into the lives of the hearers, faculties of their hearts (and being sensitive to appeal not only to the mind, but also to the conscience, will, and passions), and their spiritual conditions (this will require the preacher to know their hearers and the culture they are swimming in); and the "firing" of "arrows" including: anticipating and answering objections; providing motivations and incentives; being specific; pointed; and direct; and using illustrations for clarity and impact.
In the second half of the book, having laid down his framework, Capill goes into more detail. He puts forward a "kingdom" theology. This includes a wider view of sin (not just individual, but woven into societies and nations and the world as well), a wider view of the gospel (including feeding and giving to the poor and liberation from bondage), and a wider view of serving God (through a theology of vocation and work; and this means preaching to encourage hearers to adopt kingdom values in their trade and work, urging them to love their bosses, client, etc., and ultimately, do all for the glory of God). This gives rise to "living application". Additionally, Capill advocates for "Preaching the "ives"": indicatives (that assert things already done and/or present a certainty), imperatives (commands), and subjunctives (commands that include both the speaker and listeners). Capill observes that the first and third are often underutilised by preachers, but indicatives can actually help congregants enjoy God and His great and glorious work, which can lead to life giving application as people look away from themselves and rejoice in God. Subjunctives joins the preacher and his hearers and makes clear that they are part of the same community, under God, which introduces a different flavour to a sermon that otherwise only uses imperatives.
Overall, I really enjoyed Capill's book. It is certainly one that I see myself revisiting when I need to be reminded of how to craft applicatory segments for sermons or even studies.
In the second half of the book, having laid down his framework, Capill goes into more detail. He puts forward a "kingdom" theology. This includes a wider view of sin (not just individual, but woven into societies and nations and the world as well), a wider view of the gospel (including feeding and giving to the poor and liberation from bondage), and a wider view of serving God (through a theology of vocation and work; and this means preaching to encourage hearers to adopt kingdom values in their trade and work, urging them to love their bosses, client, etc., and ultimately, do all for the glory of God). This gives rise to "living application". Additionally, Capill advocates for "Preaching the "ives"": indicatives (that assert things already done and/or present a certainty), imperatives (commands), and subjunctives (commands that include both the speaker and listeners). Capill observes that the first and third are often underutilised by preachers, but indicatives can actually help congregants enjoy God and His great and glorious work, which can lead to life giving application as people look away from themselves and rejoice in God. Subjunctives joins the preacher and his hearers and makes clear that they are part of the same community, under God, which introduces a different flavour to a sermon that otherwise only uses imperatives.
Overall, I really enjoyed Capill's book. It is certainly one that I see myself revisiting when I need to be reminded of how to craft applicatory segments for sermons or even studies.
November 3, 2023
Just what I needed! I heard about this book at a preacher's meeting where the preacher did a review on this book. It intrigued me, especially since I try to read at least two books a year on preaching, sermon prep, delivery, etc.
I ordered the book that week and got busy reading it as soon as could. It was a tremendously easy read the applicational concepts were laid out in an easy-to-follow format. Each chapter ended with a number of discussion questions which were helpful in review and future reviews.
The Appendix which included various charts, graphs, and application questions was an added bonus especially when putting the material to work in the sermon prep process.
Several chapters stood out to me -
The Life of the Preacher: A Full Reservoir - In this chapter he encourages the preacher to be a well-read man. He suggests five subject areas the preacher should immerse himself in:
1) Theology/Theology Proper
2) Apologetics
3) Church History
4) Sermons and Experimental works
5) Cultural Analysis
Shooting Sharp Arrows
This chapter covers points of application using what the author calls arrows:
Appeal to Judgment,
Anticipate and Answering Objections,
Give Reasons, Motivations, and Incentives,
Be Specific, Pointed, and Direct,
Use Illustration for Clarity and Impact,
Provide Testimonies to the Truth,
Show What it Looks Like in Practice,
Use Fresh Vivid Words,
Speak Personally and Passionately.
The main thrust of this chapter is to encourage preachers to "state truth as clearly and as compellingly as possible."
The last chapter was - Preaching the IVE's - The author went on to talk about Imperatives, Indicatives, and Subjunctives.
Imperatives - The commands seen in the Bible.
Indicatives - Assert or present something that is a certainty.
Subjunctives - These are commands that include both the speaker and listeners. "Let us" is seen in numerous places in the New Testament Epistles.
The author shows how and why we should interweave these into our sermons. We can oftentimes focus too much on the imperatives and never or at least rarely give a reason for it which is where the indicatives come in.
Overall the book was great with just 258 pages. So it shouldn't take too long to read. I would plan on having a notebook or marker with you while reading.
I ordered the book that week and got busy reading it as soon as could. It was a tremendously easy read the applicational concepts were laid out in an easy-to-follow format. Each chapter ended with a number of discussion questions which were helpful in review and future reviews.
The Appendix which included various charts, graphs, and application questions was an added bonus especially when putting the material to work in the sermon prep process.
Several chapters stood out to me -
The Life of the Preacher: A Full Reservoir - In this chapter he encourages the preacher to be a well-read man. He suggests five subject areas the preacher should immerse himself in:
1) Theology/Theology Proper
2) Apologetics
3) Church History
4) Sermons and Experimental works
5) Cultural Analysis
Shooting Sharp Arrows
This chapter covers points of application using what the author calls arrows:
Appeal to Judgment,
Anticipate and Answering Objections,
Give Reasons, Motivations, and Incentives,
Be Specific, Pointed, and Direct,
Use Illustration for Clarity and Impact,
Provide Testimonies to the Truth,
Show What it Looks Like in Practice,
Use Fresh Vivid Words,
Speak Personally and Passionately.
The main thrust of this chapter is to encourage preachers to "state truth as clearly and as compellingly as possible."
The last chapter was - Preaching the IVE's - The author went on to talk about Imperatives, Indicatives, and Subjunctives.
Imperatives - The commands seen in the Bible.
Indicatives - Assert or present something that is a certainty.
Subjunctives - These are commands that include both the speaker and listeners. "Let us" is seen in numerous places in the New Testament Epistles.
The author shows how and why we should interweave these into our sermons. We can oftentimes focus too much on the imperatives and never or at least rarely give a reason for it which is where the indicatives come in.
Overall the book was great with just 258 pages. So it shouldn't take too long to read. I would plan on having a notebook or marker with you while reading.
November 18, 2024
Preacher's Aim: Not just what God said, but what God is saying. Not just what God did, but what he is doing. Because "God’s word speaks and acts not only in the past but also in the present." So to be faithful means not just in your exegesis but in your application too.
Some great ideas too of how to do that:
* Application comes from my life too, so need to experience life richly and reflect on it
* Preach to Mind, Will, Conscience, Passions.
* Shoot sharp arrows.
• Appeal to people’s own judgements
• Anticipate/answer objections
• Give reasons, motivations, incentives
• Be specific, pointed, direct.
• Illustrations for clarity and impact
• Testimonies to the truth
• Show what it looks like in practice
• Fresh, vivid words
• Speak personally and passionately.
* In applying narrative, notice the conflict/struggle between God's promises & reality, and God's discipline through suffering, and the ultimate triumph of faith.
Probably my last preaching book for now, I feel like my head it overloaded with ideas, and now I just need to have a go at preaching more!
Some great ideas too of how to do that:
* Application comes from my life too, so need to experience life richly and reflect on it
* Preach to Mind, Will, Conscience, Passions.
* Shoot sharp arrows.
• Appeal to people’s own judgements
• Anticipate/answer objections
• Give reasons, motivations, incentives
• Be specific, pointed, direct.
• Illustrations for clarity and impact
• Testimonies to the truth
• Show what it looks like in practice
• Fresh, vivid words
• Speak personally and passionately.
* In applying narrative, notice the conflict/struggle between God's promises & reality, and God's discipline through suffering, and the ultimate triumph of faith.
Probably my last preaching book for now, I feel like my head it overloaded with ideas, and now I just need to have a go at preaching more!
December 16, 2024
I have read a large number of books on preaching. This one is probably the best! Although it is a bit technical at times, the emphasis on reaching the heart through the exposition the Bible text, right from the beginning of the sermon, is one that I can very much relate to. Preaching is not principally about giving the audience increased knowledge but rather presenting the text in a way that changes lives. The author not only sets out the theory, he gives useful advice on how to put it into practice and how to avoid pitfalls. I’ve read the book once and I want to read it again. I gladly recommend it.
February 4, 2022
Where has this book been all my life? Actually it's been out for several years.
This is a very good Christ-centered, redemptive-historical, and common sense study of the importance of application in preaching.
Everything in this book resonates with my experience of preaching, both as a listener and as a preacher.
Some really helpful guidance for good application in sermons.
Highly recommended.
This is a very good Christ-centered, redemptive-historical, and common sense study of the importance of application in preaching.
Everything in this book resonates with my experience of preaching, both as a listener and as a preacher.
Some really helpful guidance for good application in sermons.
Highly recommended.
June 13, 2024
I very much appreciated Capill's deep and thoughtful approach to sermon application. "Holistic" is a key word/concept Capill develops helpfully. The book does fall into the trap of endless lists the preacher needs to work through (four key questions, six possible audiences, nine arrows in your quiver, etc). Setting that aside (every preaching book ever written does this), it's a very good resource.
February 20, 2025
I do not know why it took me so long to find out about this book. I think, and I do not say this lightly, that every preacher should read this book. Read it multiple times. This book has helped me so much in thinking through application and helping me to show my people how the Bible truly impacts their lives. I wish this book was more widely known because it is most likely the most helpful book on preaching I have ever read.
January 29, 2020
Methodology books geared on practical application in sermons, which still honor Biblically faithful exegesis seem all but nonexistent. This was the best book I've encountered yet in regards to supplying a tool-set of non-formulaic (hopefully) questions and directions which can regularly yield application-rich sermons which the church desperately needs.
October 30, 2023
Four stars simply because the book is so helpful for preaching layered with practical application. Capill’s arguments were compelling, but the overall vision for preaching even more so. While the book read a little dry and redundant at times (I don’t think it had to be 250 pages), it’s a wonderful resource and is easy to read as well.
December 21, 2023
While this book is geared towards preaching sermons, it is also incredibly helpful for those who teach the Bible. The author gives clear and practical guidelines for getting applications from the Bible passage. Highly recommend it for any preachers and teachers out there looking to grow in the area of application.
October 3, 2017
Capill's book is a gem, an excellent tool that every pastor (at least every young pastor) needs to have in his tool shed. It will now sit on the book shelf nearest my desk to be consulted each week and reread each year.
December 29, 2020
Great insight, throughly researched, with a broad range of material interacted with to make me feel like all the bases were covered. Excellent worked examples in key places of what actual words might be used in a sermon, so the praxis of preaching is very well demonstrated.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews