I caught myself doing it again, that almost irresistible preacher's bad habit—critiquing a sermon rather than listening to it. I was on vacation, worshipping with my son and daughter-in-law when the sermon started. And it was a good sermon—faithful to the text, nicely outlined, freshly illustrated. But I started thinking, Nice, but I wouldn't preach it that way. How about three points rather than four? Sweet story—gotta get that on PreachingToday.com. It reminded me that all preachers need to practice the spiritual discipline of receiving from a sermon. So here's my challenge: carve out a plot of sacred space this summer where you can listen and learn from a sermon so you can allow God to teach and change you.

This week we also wrap-up our interview with Bryan Chapell: "A Passion for Grace-full Preaching (Part 2)." Bryan has some great advice on what it really means to preach Christ from all of Scripture. He argues that preaching Christ doesn't imply using "some sort of magic symbol or a wand of acrobatic interpretation of our text." Instead, it means "we are showing how all of the Bible unfolds a grace that culminates in Christ."

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

• Featured Sermon: "Family Matters" by Jim Nite (part of our new sermon series from 1 and 2 Thessalonians)
• Featured Illustration: "Comedian Louis C.K. Says Atheism Is Illogical"
• Featured Video: Father's Day Home Movies: See the potential of a father's legacy.

In Christ,

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

P.S. I'll be leading a workshop at Gordon Conwell's Faithful to the Call National Preaching Conference this fall. To register as a participant or an exhibitor/sponsor, check out the Haddon W. Robinson Center for Preaching site.

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