Since launching in 1984, TED talks have been offered in over 100 languages. They're informative, inspirational, positive, funny, and short (less than 18 minutes). The TED website proclaims, "We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world." What preacher doesn't want that? With the success of the TED format, it's easy to ask, Should my sermons look more like a TED talk? In this week's skills article, Chris Green, a pastor and blogger from North London, says yes … and no. Read the whole thing. Chris will help you take a few positives from TED talks but remember the true nature of our task as gospel preachers.

You'll also love the stirring challenge from Dr. David Zac Niringiye of Uganda in his sermon "What Kind of Heart Does God Desire?" David says he got a shock when he discovered that it wasn't his job to change the church. "It's so much work just to change me! But the joyful thing is that this is God's work, not mine. The church does not depend on you or on me. In fact, the good news is this (for some this may be bad news): the world does not depend on your strategies."

• Featured Skills Article: "Should We Preach Like a TED Talk?" by Chris Green
• Featured Sermon: "What Kind of Heart Does God Desire?" by David Zac Niringiye
• Featured Illustration: Rumors Fuel the 'Toilet Paper Scare' of 1973
• Featured Video: Before You're Dismissed: A reminder before you go that church is only 0.5% of our week.

In Christ,

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

P.S. We're only one month away from the Gordon-Conwell National Preaching Conference where I'll be teaching a few workshops! For registration and cost information, check out their website.

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