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

Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
07/05/16

Baptism's Promise

A promise was made to my older brother roughly 50 years ago. He was just an infant and had no idea that this promise was being set upon him.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/05/16

The Professional Christian

Being a Christian is hard because it’s easy.
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.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
06/15/16

Let's Talk About Shame

What we see in the face of this God is not a loathing expression. We find the face of a compassionate man who knew all about shame himself.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
06/14/16

God's War Animal

No, when the Lord is ready for battle, of all creatures, he commissions Mary’s little lamb.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
06/10/16

We Need Less Goliath and More Bathsheba

I became like God’s child David, whom the Lord pardoned of his adultery and murder. I became like Noah, Abraham, Judah, Aaron, Gideon, and so many more wayward children.
Kathy Morales
Kathy Morales
06/07/16

Real Strength

God cannot love me unconditionally without prerequisites, especially after all I’ve done, can He?
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
06/06/16

Can You Be a Christian Without Your Rituals and Traditions?

Take away the water, words, bread and wine. Can you be a Christian without water, words, bread and wine?
Bonnie Petroschuk
Bonnie Petroschuk
05/30/16

First, the Bad News

Either one of those verses alone is scary; but both of them together are terrifying!
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Sam P. Schuldheisz
05/27/16

Heidelberg and Hobbiton: Theology of the Cross in Middle-earth

As the story unfolds we see Luther’s Heidelberg theses on display, even before the Fellowship leaves Rivendell.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
05/25/16

God Isn't Looking for Brown-Nosers

Faith does not require that we always Hoorah what the Lord does. God wants children, not brown-nosers.
Jeff Mallinson
Jeff Mallinson
05/24/16

When Church is Like Comedy Traffic School

At our churches must remain focused on the deep kick, the real deal, the thing itself. I’m not the first on this site to remind us that this is Christ himself.
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