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

Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
04/24/18

Playing The Game...Or Not

Whatever we call “god,” how we act out our “religion,” what we call “living,” if its name isn’t Jesus, it’s a sham.
Valerie Thur
Valerie Thur
04/20/18

Of Werewolves and Worldviews

We are called to proclaim the life, death, and resurrection of the Answer incarnate, Jesus Christ, and in love respond to the questions that inevitably arise against it.
Jake Allstaedt
Jake Allstaedt
04/19/18

We Are Nicholas

Pictures of God’s grace for us in and through His Son, Jesus, can be found in the most unlikely places. Recently, I witnessed one such picture of God’s grace during WrestleMania 34.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
04/16/18

How Luther Taught Me to Read the Bible

I’ve always been more at home in the Old Testament than in the New Testament.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
04/10/18

God Is Our Salvation

Our gods expect us to be perfect, pure, and in constant control of our feelings and thoughts.
Joel Hess
Joel Hess
04/05/18

He is Risen: You Can Stop Pretending Death Is OK

Because of Jesus, we don’t have to pretty up anything ugly thing in life.
Kelsi Klembara
Kelsi Klembara
04/02/18

More Room at the Table

“Standing firm in the confession we share should not exclude us from inviting others into it.”
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/31/18

Come, You Strippers and Sunday School Teachers

Come to the feast where evil and good, wise and foolish, shameful and shaming are welcomed as citizens of the kingdom.
Scott Davis
Scott Davis
03/31/18

Chocolate Bunnies, Bouncy Houses, Bread And Wine

Well, it is springtime! Just as you can always expect flowers to begin blooming, the days getting a little longer and everyone’s mood getting a little brighter, there’s something else you can always expect this time of the year.
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
03/30/18

Christ’s Seventh Word From the Cross: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

So, on this Good Friday, our sinful self and all our sins rest with Jesus here in His tomb. Our transgressions are fully atoned.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/30/18

Christ’s Sixth Word From the Cross: “It Is Finished.”

At Golgotha, Jesus saves us from sin by becoming sin for us. Jesus takes all our messes, all our shame, all our guilt, all our fears and insecurities and He allows them to kill Him instead of us.
Brian W. Thomas
Brian W. Thomas
03/30/18

Christ’s Fifth Word From the Cross: “I Thirst.”

Jesus’ death was a direct fulfillment of the will of His Father as promised in the Scriptures.
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.org
Search
Academy
Donate

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.