Mike Fabarez

Throughout over 20 years of preaching I've had a few prominent weaknesses in my sermon prep, including how to outline my sermons. Looking over past sermons, many of my outlines seem flat and static, focused more on conveying information about the text than challenging change through the Lord of the text. That's why I appreciated this fine article by Mike Fabarez on "Framing an Outline for Life Change." Of course outlines "keep us from blathering on through a set of unrelated and scattered comments about the text." But Fabarez argues that well-developed outlines also "reveal pastoral expectations." In other words, do you expect to give people good information, or a right understanding of the text, or ultimately, are you (like the God who gave the text) expecting life change? Check out this article and then ask yourself: How do my outlines expect my people to be transformed by Christ through my preaching?

Mark Dever

What has 1,064 words (in Hebrew, that is)? Here's another clue: the great Christian leader William Wilberforce memorized it and often started the day with it. It's probably the best commentary on the Bible ever written. Do you know what it is? It's Psalm 119. This week we continue Mark Dever's exceptional exposition of this powerful (and often under-preached) passage. (See last week's sermon "Learn God's Law") This week Dever addresses four basic and preachable questions about God's Word: What is God's Word? What is God's Word like? What does God's Word do? How should we respond? This is another powerful example of why we love expository preaching at PreachingToday.com.

Also, check out these new resources:

• Featured Illustration: Death Row Inmate's Last Words of Love
• Featured Video: What If?: This colorfully illustrated mini movie asks us to reflect on the reality that God's love for us in Christ truly is far greater than any darkness, pain, or loss we might experience in this life.
• Featured Sermon: "Meditate on God's Word" by Mark Dever
• Featured Skills Article: "Framing an Outline for Life-Change" by Mike Fabarez

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

P.S. Looking for the perfect complement to your Mother's Day service? Give the gift of Sanctuary for My Soul, a journey through the Psalms, and send women home with a tool they can use for a meaningful devotional time. Click here for prices as low as $1 each.

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