Let's be brutally honest: every week you preach to a bunch of rebels. Folks who don't really want to hear from God. And it gets worse: you're a rebel too. We're all rebels. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, "We are not merely imperfect creatures who must be improved: we are … rebels who must lay down our arms." In this week's featured sermon—"The Rebel in All of Us"—Michael Lawrence says, "By nature, nurture, and choice, you're a rebel. That's what you are. But by grace [and through Christ] you can have a different legacy and a better future."

This sermon provides some great material for preaching on Lenten themes. It's also a great way to prepare your own heart for this holy season.

This week we also feature:

• Skills Article: The Life Cycle of a Sermon by Peter Scazzero
• Illustration: 10 Crazy Business Expenses
• Sermon Series: The Power of the Cross by Lee Eclov
• Video: Your Light

In Christ,

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

P.S. Don't forget to check out our annual Super Bowl Ad Edition of News That Illustrates: Preachable angles on the best and funniest Super Bowl Commercials. It's FREE so share the link with your friends.

P.P.S. Watch for new illustrations and sermons for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Make sure your "Search by:" filter is set to "Newest" and then search by keywords, including Lenten Themes (Lent; Repentance; Sin, confession of; Sin), Maundy Thursday/Good Friday (Atonement; Cross; Christ, Death of; Christ, cross of; Faith, justification by), and Easter (Christ, resurrection of; Easter; Resurrection).

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