You know how to preach a sermon, but do you know how to listen to a sermon? Have you ever taught your people how to listen to a sermon? Dr. Scott M. Gibson, a self-described "professional sermon listener" (he's also the Director of the Haddon W. Robinson Center for Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), has some refreshingly practical advice for preachers and for their hearers. Check out this week's skills article—"How to Listen to a Sermon." Gibson argues that most Christians (including preachers) need to learn how to listen. Gibson trains us how to lean into what God is saying, even through an imperfect sermon.

Strike one! Strike two! Strike three—and you are out of here! That doesn't just describe baseball. According to Mark Mitchell's sermon "Satan Strikes Out," that describes what's happened and is happening to Satan. Mitchell, a first-class expositor, walks us through a difficult text—Revelation 12. Mitchell argues that we may not lose our lives for following Christ, but what if we lost a job, friendship, or a dating relationship? Holding fast to the word of Christ's testimony, spoken with love, seasoned with grace, is still the way we overcome the enemy.

Also, check out these new resources:

• Featured Illustration: Life is like Hitting a Knuckleball
• Featured Video: Mother's Hands: This mini-video shows how a mother's hands are there to hold, comfort, guide, and love.
• Featured Sermons: "Satan Strikes Out," by Mark Mitchell
• Featured Skills Article: "How to Listen to a Sermon," by Scott Gibson

In Christ,

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

P.S. Are you ready for Mother's Day? Checkout our holiday pages for your sermon prep inspiration!

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