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

Bror Erickson
Bror Erickson
03/29/19

Romans 8: Life in the Spirit

Only in this manner could the good that the law pointed to be completed. It was completed in us, not by us.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
03/28/19

You Are Not Your Sin

Pelagianism is the ancient heresy that says that if you work hard enough and will something strongly enough, you can prevent sin
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
03/27/19

Always Preach the Law, if Necessary Use Words

In our own lives, we might find that the Law is not an alien word, whether we call it our conscience or our values, our Holy Writ, or our municipality’s laws and regulations
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/26/19

Come to Me...and I Will Give You Rest

No matter what happens, whether failure, pain, or discouragement, Jesus says, “Come to me... and I will give you rest"
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
03/20/19

The Ones Who Don't Do Anything

On account of God’s graciousness in Jesus, we are the ones who don’t do anything
Ryan Couch
Ryan Couch
03/19/19

I Am A Fake Christian

The other day a prominent Evangelical pastor tweeted, “My life’s commitment is to talk about the Bible in such a way that fake Christians feel fake — so that they can be saved.”
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/19/19

The War for Our Freedom

The lack of Gospel or abundance of Gospel and Christ’s gifts, more than anything else, determines whether we’ll be overrun by sin, death, and hell
Jessica Thompson
Jessica Thompson
03/18/19

Grace In The Wilderness

God’s children spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. Imagine the hopelessness. Imagine the frustration.
Bonnie Petroschuk
Bonnie Petroschuk
03/15/19

Begin The Begets

I am a time traveler now. It all started this past Christmas. My son gave my husband and me DNA kits, and the instructions suggested that.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/15/19

Christ Who Becomes Our Sin

I am the Resurrection,’ says Jesus, not an abstract miracle or idea
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/14/19

So You Don't Like Your Pastor

Pastors are built from the same stuff as everyone else. That’s good, and that’s bad.
Kyle G. Jones
Kyle G. Jones
03/14/19

Practice Your Righteousness in Fasting

Our enoughness before God cannot be earned by our piety or bestowed by our neighbor. Our righteousness and our justification come from Christ and His work for us
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.