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

Cindy Koch
Cindy Koch
06/13/19

The Little Story

We tell the little story of the Gospel because our great stories ultimately reflect Christ.
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
06/12/19

Do I Have To Go to Church?

The 'church' is neither your mega-complex nor is it you alone with your own private devotions.
Bonnie Petroschuk
Bonnie Petroschuk
06/11/19

One of Those Days

I'm having one of those days. You know, the kind where you're filled with confusion, guilt, and fear? If you don't know what I'm talking about, just stop reading now.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
06/11/19

Water, Blood, and Spirit...That's the Thing

The Holy Spirit keeps us in faith and pours us out into the world so others may also hear and believe.
Kyle G. Jones
Kyle G. Jones
06/10/19

A Communion of Saints for the Forgiveness of Sins

The Holy Spirit gathers us together and keeps the church in the true faith, and He does it all by way of the Gospel.
Joshua Miller
Joshua Miller
06/10/19

Preaching Saints: On the Communion of Saints and Being Kept in the Faith

While the Holy Spirit does work within us, He always comes to us from the outside, through the external Word and Sacraments.
Kelsi Klembara
Kelsi Klembara
06/07/19

Luther's Counsel for the Worried and Anxious

Today’s advice for the anxious and worried would have likely horrified Luther.
Cindy Koch
Cindy Koch
06/05/19

The Way of Wisdom

We might assume that all ways are equal to raising a child in wisdom, but they are not.
Bror Erickson
Bror Erickson
05/31/19

Luther's Counsel on Persecution

While most of his letters were written as semi-private counsel and consolation, some, like the “Letter to the Christians of Miltenburg” were written openly for public consumption.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
05/31/19

Our Biography in a Single Word

One of the sweetest gifts you can give humanity is to commit an infamous act. It doesn’t have to be a mind-boggling evil. We’ll settle for a run-of-the-mill variety of sin. It just needs to be documented, well-known, and simple. Think Monica Lewinski.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
05/28/19

Jesus is Our True Happiness

We hold fast to Christ Jesus where He’s most God, most Savior, for us: in His gifts of word, water, bread, and wine.
Gretchen Ronnevik
Gretchen Ronnevik
05/28/19

This Is My Body, Broken For You

My family fills a row of chairs in the sanctuary of our church. I always feel bad for the people who sit around my noisy family. Our pastor loves children and has told me once he struggles to preach on the Sundays when they are all whisked off to Children's Church after the music once a month because the sanctuary is too quiet.
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