Desk of Matt (･_･)ノ

Welcome to the Desk of Matt style guide. This single page shows common Markdown elements in real, readable text. Paste it into your editor to preview headings, paragraphs, emphasis, lists, links, images, tables, footnotes, code, task lists, blockquotes, and horizontal rules—all in one place.

Headings

Use headings to create a clear hierarchy for your writing. Think of them like sermon series (H1), weekly messages (H2), and major movements inside the message (H3–H4).

Heading 3 Example

Heading 4 Example

Paragraphs & Line Breaks

Good paragraphs carry one main idea at a time and give the reader room to breathe. When I outline a sermon, I’ll draft longer paragraphs first and then tighten them during revision. That way, I don’t lose the heart of what I’m trying to say while I’m still shaping the structure.

This is a second paragraph. It exists to prove that spacing matters and that short, choppy lines are harder to read than a few well-crafted sentences. For a manual line break without a new paragraph, add two spaces at the end of a line.
This sentence starts on a new line, but stays in the same paragraph.

Emphasis

Use italics for nuance, bold for importance, and bold italics when you absolutely must shout from the page (sparingly, please). Emphasis should serve clarity, not drama.

Links

Inline link example: Visit Micro.blog for a clean, text-first blogging platform.

Images

If your platform supports images, this shows the syntax. Replace the URL with a real image.

Lists

Unordered list (great for resources or takeaways):

• Preparation
• Study
  • Old Testament context
  • New Testament fulfillment
• Application

Ordered list (helpful for process steps):

1. Open with Scripture
2. State the big idea
3. Explain the text
4. Call to response

Blockquote

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.”
— 2 Timothy 4:2

Blockquotes help call attention to Scripture, citations, or key insights.

Code

Inline code is great for commands or short snippets: hugo server starts a local preview, and `backticks` mark code.

Fenced code block:

# Start a local Hugo server with drafts enabled
hugo server -D

Another example in JavaScript:

function titleCase(str) {
  return str.replace(/\w\S*/g, w => w[0].toUpperCase() + w.slice(1).toLowerCase());
}

Horizontal Rules

Use horizontal rules to create visual breaks between major sections:

(You’re looking at one above. Here’s another to demonstrate multiple separators.)

Tables

Tables are perfect for schedules, comparisons, or simple data.

Footnotes

Footnotes tuck extra detail out of the main flow. They’re handy for citations, tangents, or definitions without cluttering your paragraphs.¹

Task Lists

Use task lists to track writing, editing, and publishing.

• Draft sermon
• Revise introduction
• Create slides
• Publish notes to blog
• Share recap with team

Inline HTML (If Allowed)

Some platforms allow limited inline HTML for special cases:

Subtle highlight using inline HTML.

If your engine strips HTML, this will simply render as plain text.

Combined Example (Putting It Together)

Big Idea: The gospel forms us before it moves through us.
We prepare diligently, communicate clearly, and love people well. See the style table above for a weekly rhythm, and the code samples for embedding commands or snippets. If you need a quick refresher on Markdown, the official cheat sheet at markdownguide.org is excellent.²

Keep the main thing the main thing, and let formatting serve clarity—not the other way around.

Takeaway:
1) Clarity beats cleverness.
2) Consistency beats novelty.
3) Faithfulness beats speed.

Summary

Markdown is fast, portable, and friendly to readers. Master a few patterns—headings, lists, emphasis, links, tables, and code—and your posts will be easier to write and easier to read. When in doubt, simplify the structure, cut the fluff, and leave the gold.

— Matt