When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not

By Russ Lackey | Mark Mattes

01/20/26

19mins

When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not

American religion did not become optional because the gospel failed. It became optional because religion slowly redefined itself around usefulness.

Bradley Gray

01/19/26

Behold the Lamb

The Passover wasn’t just Israel’s story; it’s ours.

Psalm 12, Part 2: The Saint Fails, The Word Purifies

Steven Paulson

01/16/26

Psalm 12, Part 2: The Saint Fails, The Word Purifies

God makes us pure saints by planting us back in the earth we imagined we needed to escape.

All Articles

Scott Keith

02/16/23

How God Loves Us: Rich in Mercy, Ephesians 2:4-5

His love for you is so deep that in his mercy, while you were yet a sinner, God sent his only begotten Son to die for you.

Kevin Hale

02/01/23

Law and Gospel in 2 Corinthians 3

Rightly distinguishing between law and gospel, as Paul helps us see in 2 Corinthians 3, is, quite literally, a matter of life and death.

John Bombaro

01/29/23

Authentic Proclamation: How Good Pastoring Factors into Good Preaching

Authentic proclamation, then, is the love of Christ for our souls, which we have seen and experienced through the under-shepherd’s pastoral care put into the words of Christ Himself.

Ryan Couch

01/16/23

I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins

God gives us the power and authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to burdened sinners who entrust us with their pain, guilt, and defeat.

John Bombaro

01/13/23

Very Superstitious: A History of the Sign of the Cross

The sign of the cross, according to the earliest centuries of Christians, is “the sign of the Lord,” and every baptized Christian was “marked” with it.

Haroldo Camacho

01/10/23

Another Look at the "Loving" Expert on the Law

The law had to have its way with the expert to bring him around (and back) to Abraham's response.

Robert Kolb

01/07/23

Dismantling Mistrust from the Pulpit

The sermon takes place in the context of a multi-facetted set of relationships experienced through the weeks and months of being together in congregation and community. Those relationships shape the credibility of the preacher in the pulpit.

Luke Kjolhaug

01/02/23

A Toast to the End of Ourselves

Maybe, just maybe, our goal for 2023 should not be to live more but to die more.

John Bombaro

12/24/22

Unavoidable Jesus: Good News on Christmas Eve

Despite our best efforts to avoid him, King Jesus remains very much unavoidable.

Craig Donofrio

11/30/22

Advent Anticipation Through the Ages

When and how did the church start this season of anticipation?

Bradley Gray

11/21/22

Refreshment for the Depressed Soul

Help comes for those who cannot help themselves. When we bottom-out and come to the end of ourselves, that is where hope springs.

John Bombaro

11/19/22

Epistle: Romans 13: (8-10)11-14 (Advent 1: Series A)

For Christians, Advent is the time when the Church patiently prepares for the coming of the Great King, Jesus the Christ.

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 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.

Articles

Podcasts

Scripture

Books

Events

Music

Videos

Courses

All Articles