Treadmill

It's time to get off the "homelitical treadmill." That's what Jeffrey Arthurs calls our misguided drive to say something new and exciting every Sunday—or every Christmas Eve, for that matter. In this week's skills article—Preaching As Reminding —Dr. Arthurs notes what Jonathan Edwards said about preaching: "[Sermons involve] bringing the great things of religion to [our hearers'] remembrance, and setting [God's Word] before them in their proper colours, though they know them, and have been fully instructed in them already." Preaching-as-reminding isn't just a cop-out. According to Edwards, it "stirs" and "quickens the affections."

We also feature some last-minute Christmas illustration ideas in this week's News That Illustrates column. And check out the fresh way to remind your folks about the New Year's opportunity that Dan Meyer calls The Great Adventure.

This week to help you in your preaching efforts we offer the following:

• Featured Illustration: Planning Helps Avoid Deadly Accidents
• Preaching Skills Article: Preaching As Reminding By Jeffrey Arthurs
• Video: Stranger: Washing Feet

In Christ,

Matt Woodley
Managing Editor, PreachingToday.com
mwoodley@christianitytoday.com

P.S. Looking for an expert to interview for your blog or website? Consider our ministry's respected and experienced staff: http://www.christianitytoday.org/mediaroom/interviewopportunity.html

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.