A few weeks ago I was talking to Pastor Mark Strong from Portland, Oregon about the insufferable inner critic (or I.C. for short.) that enters most preachers' heads. At times it never shuts up, but your I.C. usually gets louder shortly after you preach by spewing criticisms and judgments about your message. Did people like it? Did they laugh at your humor? Were they touched? Did you get a negative comment? Did you say something stupid? Did you feel successful about the message? It's like an annoying, steady drip in your head.

Pastor Mark had some great insights into silencing your toxic I.C. "When I was a younger preacher," Mark said, "I relied on all kinds of external factors: Did I see lots of smiles as I preached? Did I hear lots of 'Amen's.' Did weekly giving increase? But now I'm looking to more internal things: Did I try to discern God's voice in this text? Did I do my best to communicate that message to my people? Then I have to be at peace and leave the results up to God. I'm slowly learning to relax and leave the fruit up to the Lord." That's simple advice, for sure, but if you make it a spiritual discipline, it's a great way to mute your incessant I.C.

This week we also feature an amazingly clear and concise sermon on an incredibly complex doctrine—the Triune nature of God. In "Party of Three" Skye writes, "The doctrine of the Trinity tells us that God is a party—that this world is built on the foundation of a relationship. This is why we can say that Christianity is a relationship, not a religion."

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

• New Skills Article: "Preaching 360: Use all the Bible's Genres" By Bryan Carter
• Featured Illustration: Family Decides How to Handle Promised New House
• Video: A Memorial Day Prayer: Pay tribute to those who have served.

In Christ,

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

P.S. Make sure you check out our interview with Pastor Bryan Carter on "Preaching 360: Use all the Bible's Genres"

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