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
12/11/16

Oh Happy Fall Into Sin!

He created us with an eye on recreating us. He made humanity in his image because one day he would assume that image. The Creator would become a creature while remaining Creator.
Joel Hess
Joel Hess
12/09/16

Spending Advent in God’s Winter Garden

So it is with my little garden as well; dead, so it would seem. Nothing. Barren.
Bonnie Petroschuk
Bonnie Petroschuk
12/07/16

In Our Time of Need

Have you ever grown despondent from trying so hard to stop behaving in certain destructive ways, but always failing?
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/03/16

Two Ways to Launch Your Career in the Self-Salvation Business

Sometimes we try be the bad god, sometimes the good god, oftentimes a freaky hybrid of both. The result is the same: Jesus the savior just gets in our way.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
12/01/16

Death And The Gospel

A while back, my wife and I attended the wake and memorial service of a friend from a prior church we attended.
Jessica Thompson
Jessica Thompson
11/30/16

Forget Not All His Benefits

I have the easiest time remembering all the good things I have done. How I was kind in the face of anger.
Matt Kroelinger
Matt Kroelinger
11/18/16

Weak Faith in the Midst of Tragedy

Recently I’ve met many people that have suffered tragedies in their families. I know this sounds a little selfish, but the ones that stick out the most to me are the ones that affected my own family.
Bonnie Petroschuk
Bonnie Petroschuk
11/15/16

Safely in the Yard

Duke is my dog-in-training; although, sometimes I suspect I am actually his person-in-training. Regardless, we have both been learning a lot.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
11/14/16

The Righteous Revenant’s Revenge

As an avid movie-goer, one of the ways Scripture comes alive for me is to picture the stories as if they were scenes and beats from a live-action movie.
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Sam P. Schuldheisz
10/29/16

What If The Freedom Found In Fairy Tales Was True?

True freedom, Luther discovered, is found in Jesus crucified who sets us free.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
10/27/16

Grace Is Waiting

I often dance around the idea of denominations. I've been Pentecostal and I guess Evangelical.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
10/26/16

Gospel Upside-Downness

Have you ever really thought about how crazy your salvation is? You may have never thought of it in those terms, but truly, your redemption and rescue from eternal damnation is a jarring truth, one that should spawn tears of joy and shouts of praise.
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