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
12/28/15

Graveyard Lullaby: O Bloody Town of Bethlehem

O bloody town of Bethlehem, How shrill we hear thee cry. Your mothers shriek while fathers weep The graveyard lullaby.
Daniel Emery Price
Daniel Emery Price
12/24/15

The Gospel According to Rudolph

We all love a good story when the underdog comes out on top. We love Rocky winning the title round, Hoosiers taking the championship, Luke Skywalker blowing up the Death Star, and yes, even Rudolph guiding Santa’s sleigh in the fog.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/22/15

The Diapered Divinity

He came to be for every man what no man has been or could be for himself. Born under the law, Jesus fulfilled the law He Himself had given. He was the perfect infant, perfect teenager, perfect adult.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/18/15

Two Pregnancies, One Hope

The mother of this prophet is visited by the Mother of God. In the coming together of these two pregnant women, we see the coming together of the old and the new.
Paul Dunk
Paul Dunk
12/18/15

I Find My Lack of Faith Disturbing

Every time I place my trust in something smaller than God to give me the peace that only God can give, or prefer myself over my neighbor in thought, word or deed - I demonstrate that my lack of faith is disturbing.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
12/14/15

When You Don't Feel Merry

Please... don’t say any variation of, “cheer up.” or “look on the bright side.” Don’t invalidate what someone is going through because you may not understand.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/13/15

The Romance of Heresy and Christmas

What every heresy does, in one way or another, is ungods God, unchristens Christ, uncrucifies the Crucified. It strikes through the good of Good News.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/09/15

The Christian Polytheist

There is truly only one commandment and only one sin. That one commandment is “You shall have no other gods,” and that one sin is idolatry.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/08/15

Power in the Blood

But I remember that that’s how it ended. Words. Wine. Blood. A sudden halt to the conversation.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/07/15

Shielded by Blood

Behold the seemingly foolish ways of our wise God. He bids us embrace what appears impossible: that blood alone is our defense, that blood alone saves us from destruction, that the blood of a lamb is more than enough.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/05/15

Samson: A Testosterone Poem

With but a donkey's jawbone He whacked a thousand men And iced yet even more
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Sam P. Schuldheisz
12/05/15

Is Your Worldview A Peaceful One?

We shouldn’t be surprised when the worldviews of the sub-creators (or their characters) show up in movies, television, books, theater, music, and other works of art.
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.
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