The Original Sin of Preaching: The Constant Craving for a Useful God in Pulpit and Pew
By Magnus Persson
03/25/26
12mins

The Original Sin of Preaching: The Constant Craving for a Useful God in Pulpit and Pew

God is not a tool in our hands. He does not exist to serve our goals, our metrics, or our platforms.
Even Chuck Norris Needed a Savior
Russ Lackey
Russ Lackey
03/23/26

Even Chuck Norris Needed a Savior

The gospel isn’t for the strong but people who know they aren’t.
Post-Denominational Lutheranism
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
03/20/26

Post-Denominational Lutheranism

One great thing about our post-denominational age is that it has opened up opportunities to make common cause with other Lutherans who, despite their differences and eccentricities, can agree on some of the most important things.

All Articles

Chad Bird
Chad Bird
08/17/16

The Danger and Delight of Happiness

In happiness, we dare never forget that it is Christ, and Christ alone, who has restored our joy.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
08/15/16

Endurance To The End

The Christian life is compared to many things throughout Scripture. It's likened to a soldier going to war, a sheep under the care of a shepherd, or the journey of a pilgrim to a far-off city.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
08/10/16

Rejecting the Gospel?

Over the last 11 months I’ve spent the bulk of my time working to plant a church in New York City.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/30/16

The Sign Said, "Just Kill Me."

One thing is for certain: my day was heaven compared to his. My minor headaches nothing compared to whatever he was going through.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/29/16

The Little Girl in the Shadows

The most powerless person in this story is the key to it all. God uses her who is nothing to effect everything.
Kathy Morales
Kathy Morales
07/27/16

I Have Confidence

In the classic musical, The Sound of Music, the storyline follows the main character, Maria, as she is sent from her life in an Abbey to become a governess over seven children.
Craig Donofrio
Craig Donofrio
07/22/16

A Gospel That You Can Touch, Smell, Taste, See and Hear

Looking back, I see that the biggest problem (besides heresy) was that my faith was first about what I did or didn’t do, but it was also intangible and spiritual.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/18/16

Funeral Songs I Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead Singing

There are many funeral songs I wouldn’t be caught dead singing. Why? Because my funeral will not be about me.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/15/16

Nice, France, and the Heart of the Human Problem

Dear church, do not get sidetracked. This is about far more than terrorism, racism, gun ownership, and the like. This is about the evil of the human heart.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
07/14/16

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction

It seems that no matter where we look in this world, we never quite find what we really need.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
07/06/16

No Salvation Without Works

One of the interesting things about Paul’s writings that is not noticed enough is that Paul doesn’t really have an “application” section.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
06/16/16

Unhappy Father's Day: When Dads Are Failures

There is no pain like the pain of being mistreated by those who, above all others, you expect to love you unconditionally.
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