God is not a tool in our hands. He does not exist to serve our goals, our metrics, or our platforms.
.webp?width=36&height=36&name=Russ%20(head%20shot).webp){kind=small}
03/23/26
The gospel isn’t for the strong but people who know they aren’t.
.jpg?width=700&height=555&name=andrew-seaman-ZwaqicZOAgc-unsplash%20(1).jpg)
03/20/26
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
Author
- All Authors
- 1517 Guest Contributor
- 1517 Publishing
- 1517 Staff
- A. A. Just Jr.
- A.J. Vega
- Aaron Boerst
- Adam Francisco
- Adam Stetson
- Amy Mantravadi
- Andrew Foss
- Anthony DiLiberto
- Blake Flattley
- Bob Hiller
- Bob Sundquist
- Bonnie Petroschuk
- Brad Soenksen
- Bradley Gray
- Brandon Hanson
- Brandon Pangman
- Brennan Manning
- Brian W. Thomas
- Bror Erickson
- Bruce Hillman
- C.S. Lewis
- Caleb Keith
- Chad Bird
- Charles E. Fry
- Christopher J. Richmann
- Cindy Koch
- CJ Armstrong
- Craig Donofrio
- Dan Chrismer
- Dan van Voorhis
- Dan Weber
- Daniel Deen
- Daniel Emery Price
- Daniel Stenberg
- David Clay
- David Rufner
- David Schmitt
- Debi Winrich
- Delwyn Campbell
- Dominick Santore
- Donavon Riley
- Edward Killian
- Elyse Fitzpatrick
- Erick Sorensen
- Gage Jordan
- Gerhard Forde
- Grant Klembara
- Greg Koukl
- Gretchen Ronnevik
- Haroldo Camacho
- Heather Schulz
- Hermann Sasse
- Jacob Corzine
- Jacob Smith
- Jake Allstaedt
- Jared C. Wilson
- Jason Lane
- Jason Lang
- Jason Oakland
- Jay Sawrie
- Jeff Mallinson
- Jeffrey Pulse
- Jenifer Mohan
- Jessica Delgado
- Jessica Thompson
- Jim Nestingen
- Joel Fitzpatrick
- Joel Hess
- Joey Goodall
- John Bombaro
- John Bortulin
- John Chrysostom
- John T. Pless
- John W. Hoyum
- John Warwick Montgomery
- Jonathan Ruehs
- Jordan Spina
- Joshua Miller
- Justin Rossow
- Karen Stenberg
- Kathy Morales
- Katie Koplin
- Kelsi Klembara
- Ken Sundet Jones
- Kerri Tom
- Kevin Hale
- Kevin McClain
- Kyle G. Jones
- Larry D. Hughes
- Laura Bauer
- Luke Kjolhaug
- Magnus Persson
- Mariah Coward
- Mark Jasa
- Mark Mattes
- Mark Pierson
- Martin Luther
- Matt Johnson
- Matt Kroelinger
- Matt Popovits
- Matthew L. Rubinstein
- Michael Berg
- Michael Gibney
- Nicholas Hopman
- Nicholas Kallis
- Norman Nagel
- Paul Dunk
- Paul Koch
- Pete Lange
- Peter Nafzger
- Philip Bartelt
- Raleigh Sadler
- Rick Ritchie
- RJ Grunewald
- Robert Farrar Capon
- Robert Kolb
- Rod Rosenbladt
- Roland Ehlke
- Ron Hodel
- Russ Lackey
- Ryan Couch
- Ryan Matthias
- Ryan Stevenson-Cosgrove
- Ryan Tinetti
- Sam Leanza Ortiz
- Sam P. Schuldheisz
- Sarah Crowder
- Scott Davis
- Scott Keith
- Scott Landrum
- Seth Moorman
- Steve Byrnes
- Steve Kruschel
- Steven A. Hein
- Steven Paulson
- StoryMakers NYC
- Tanner Olson
- Tate Barber
- Ted Rosenbladt
- Travis Scholl
- Tyler Cronkright
- Uwe Siemon-Netto
- Valerie Thur
- Wade Johnston
- Walter Hwang
- Wayne Sender
- Zack James Cole
11/18/18
It is important to note the “mission” character of this text. Indeed, these would have been strange words for Isaiah’s audience. The Israelites had taken the covenantal promise and the language of separation and chosen to mean that the message of salvation and restoration was meant for no one but them.
11/18/18
It is somewhat rare that preachers get a blessing as a sermon text, but that is what Jude gives us. The genre is entirely fitting for the Last Sunday of the Church Year, especially if your congregation has had a tough year (you know what I mean).
11/18/18
Stay alert! Stay awake! Do not get too comfortable. Do not grow complacent. Whatever you do, do not fall asleep. The day is coming. It is coming soon. Time is short. So, stay awake! Stay alert!
11/15/18
What does it mean to be a child of God and to carry his image? This is a theological question, but it is a question necessary for our self-understanding
11/14/18
But I can’t evade the question. And neither can you. Because every day God puts it to us. We don’t hear his voice, but nevertheless his voice echoes within us. Asking, prying, confronting us: What do you want me to do for you?
11/14/18
When our mind betrays us, our body fails us, and our soul can’t be comforted, our Jesus now saves us.
11/12/18
The more I seek God on my own terms, the deeper I am gazing at my own navel.
11/11/18
This week we come to the end of our readings in Hebrews for Series B. There is a lot here, so rather than argue about the cohesion of the text, which I hope becomes obvious, let us get right to a few avenues for preaching. The pericope from 10:11-25 fits beautifully with the week’s theme and church’s preparation for Christ’s return.
11/11/18
Christian preaching always has an eschatological ring to it. It takes place during the “in-between” times—the days between Jesus’ first and second comings. But this eschatological perspective tends to fade into the background as Christians (and preachers) go about their business week-in and week-out. The end of the church year provides an opportunity to reorient the Christian life around Jesus’ promise to return.
11/06/18
We tell our children if they work hard and play by the rules, they’ll succeed in life. Jerks, cheaters, and thieves won’t. They’ll end up in the gutter. Or jail. Or worse.
11/05/18
The desire to go home—or to find the place where one truly belongs—is latent in every human being.
11/04/18
Two major themes seem to be running through the readings for the 25th Sunday after Pentecost. The first weaves together the widow who gave of her poverty in Mark 12 and the story of the widow of Zarephath from 1 Kings 17, who also gave to the prophet everything that she had… However, the other theme comes by way of the Epistle from Hebrews 9:24-28, which is about the temple made without hands.
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.