Pentecost and the Beautiful Mess of the Church
By Ryan Couch
06/06/25
15mins

Pentecost and the Beautiful Mess of the Church

Every time someone is baptized, every time bread is broken and wine poured, every time a sinner hears, “Your sins are forgiven in Christ,” Pentecost happens again.
Hymns at Midnight
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
06/05/25

Hymns at Midnight

They were still praying, trusting, and hoping. Why? Because they knew who was with them and who was for them: the risen Christ.
What Now?
Wade Johnston
Wade Johnston
06/04/25

What Now?

So Christ is risen, but what now?

All Articles

Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
12/09/19

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-15 (Advent 3: Series A)

There he sat, awaiting his executioner. John looked around at what God and His Messiah were not doing, and even the greatest among those born of woman had his doubts. “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
Ryan Tinetti
Ryan Tinetti
12/02/19

Setting the Sails: The Canon of Discovery

Through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, you are not so much coming up with something to preach about as you are coming upon it.
Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse
12/02/19

Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10 (Advent 2: Series A)

Isaiah 11:1-10 provides us with an Advent text capturing the beauty, excitement and reality of both the first coming of the Messiah and the second coming.
John Bombaro
John Bombaro
12/02/19

Epistle: Romans 15:4-13 (Advent 2: Series A)

Paul argues that now as the Messiah has come and has achieved what the entire Hebrew Bible (i.e., the Old Testament) has been moving toward, the Scriptures can be read as an open book.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
12/02/19

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 (Advent 2: Series A)

The problem is not that we are unrepentant. The problem is our contrition is too small.
Philip Bartelt
Philip Bartelt
11/29/19

The Church is Hidden, the Saints Concealed

Instead of defining the true church in the way of the law, Augustine approaches the issue pastorally in the way of the gospel.
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
11/25/19

Between Fear and Hatred: Two Kinds of Divine Hiddenness

We might not appreciate that God chooses to save us by his word alone, but our discomfort doesn’t make the promise any less effective.
John T. Pless
John T. Pless
11/25/19

Revisiting an Overlooked Classic: Franzmann on the Gospel According to Matthew

Franzmann walks alongside of readers of the Gospel according to Matthew like a sharp-eyed and knowledgeable tour guide pointing out features of the evangelical landscape which invite and provoke deeper reflection and, in turn, cannot but help make preaching more interesting and robust.
Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse
11/25/19

Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5 (Advent 1: Series A)

Isaiah 2:1-5... is a beautiful eschatological prophecy focusing on the era of peace that comes along with the coming of the LORD.
Philip Bartelt
Philip Bartelt
11/20/19

Is Absolution a Sacrament?

If someone confesses their sins into my ears, I have no options but to forgive them in the name of Christ.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/20/19

The Preaching Thief on the Cross

The kingdom of God is not a place, a thing, a concept, a philosophy, a spiritual force, or a state of being. The kingdom of God is a person.
Delwyn Campbell
Delwyn Campbell
11/18/19

Jesus' Harsh Words

Could it be that the root of not asking is not believing, either in the power, or worse, the graciousness of the Lord to address the issue that lies before us?
1517 is a Christian non-profit (501(c)3) multi-media organization. Our mission is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free on account of the death and resurrection of Jesus alone.
1517.org
Search
Academy
Donate

1517 grants permission for our free online resources to be printed, photocopied, and otherwise used freely for private and church use. We require that authorship and source (1517.org) are referenced and maintained. These resources may not be sold or included in any publications for sale.