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
03/31/16

Repentant Enough

If you’ve been in church long enough, you might have seen the worst of someone’s unrepentant sin get them kicked out, cast out, excommunicated or “handed over to Satan so their flesh might die and their soul might live.”
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Sam P. Schuldheisz
03/27/16

The Great Easter Entmoot

On this night of nights, Christ arises victorious and sends the devil’s hordes running with no darkness to find cover; death’s dark shadow is gone
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/26/16

He Will Easter You

“Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” the angel asked the two women. The time for Jesus to die has passed.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/24/16

Golgotha: The Place of Adam's Skull

That man you see on the tree—he is the re-Genesis of the world. He has come to remake us alive and free and beautiful on the Friday of his crucifixion.
Kathy Morales
Kathy Morales
03/17/16

Tell the Easter Bunny How Much You’ve Grown

I was walking through a mall recently, and all the spring decorations and colors were starting to appear. It was refreshing to see the fresh colors and a change of scenery as I strolled through the mall.
Rick Ritchie
Rick Ritchie
03/15/16

If God is Better than My Father, He's Really Good

God the Father Almighty is good. And He must be good in ways that surpass my earthly father.
Bonnie Petroschuk
Bonnie Petroschuk
03/07/16

The Optimist Must Die

To whatever extent we follow God’s perfect commands we will benefit from following them.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/01/16

The Older Brother of the Prodigal Son Speaks Out

If there’s going to be a celebration, why not celebrate fidelity, obedience, hard work?
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/01/16

New Life Begins in the Dark

We spend the first nine months of our lives in utter darkness. There are no tiny fluorescent bulbs beaming from the ceiling of the womb, no fetal flashlights, not even a pinprick of illumination.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/28/16

Pastors Don't Always Want to Go to Church Either

For many, there are days when they’re as excited about going to work on Sunday morning as you are about going to work on Monday morning.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/25/16

The Tragedy of Accomplishment

Cindy’s tragedy was that she was blind to the Christ from whom all her good gifts came.
Scott Keith
Scott Keith
02/22/16

Concerning the Gospel

The term Gospel came to mean a new kind of proclamation so that the Law and the new doctrine [Gospel] are distinguished in such a way that the new doctrine gains primary influence.
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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