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

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.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/14/16

The Most Unusual Cemetery in America: New York City’s Hart Island and the Heart of Easter’s Lord

The Lord has a special place in his heart for those whom the world forgets. For the anonymous. For the rejected.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/09/16

Fat Tuesday's Redemption

Warning, Remember, O man, that thou art dust… And lust, he mocks in mute self-condemnation.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
02/09/16

God Helps Those Who (CANNOT) Help Themselves

Surely everyone reading at one time or another in their lives has heard the popular phrase I’m writing about today.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/08/16

Hurts So Good: Our Dirty Little Secret on Ash Wednesday

What is really good for the soul is not so much confession as absolution. If confession is us telling the truth about ourselves to God, then absolution is God telling us a truer truth about ourselves.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/06/16

Three Hymns on the Transfiguration

In nature one with God, The Son partakes in love, Of human flesh that we, Partake of God above.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/03/16

Sometimes We See Too Much

Whether we are overcome by happiness on the mountaintop or overwhelmed by sorrow in the valley, our vision can be our greatest handicap.
Mark Jasa
Mark Jasa
01/29/16

What is the Meaning of Life?

We chase after status, wealth, luxury, glory, honor, youth, beauty, and pleasure. We work ourselves to death. For what?
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
01/28/16

Novel Salvation: How God Used Fiction to Save My Life

As it turned out, the novels in which I had sought escape, became part of the means whereby the Lord rescued me from my own death.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
01/26/16

It's Okay to Move

It's a January day in New York City and the building I work in is just off the water. What this means is that it's cold out and not just cold but cold with a biting wind. As the phrase goes, "you can feel it in your bones."
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
01/23/16

The Religion of Regret

As with so many things, regret can begin as something natural, even beneficial, as you struggle to recover from a wound in your past. But over time, regret can devolve from a sadness to a sickness.
Craig Donofrio
Craig Donofrio
01/21/16

Finding God's Promise in His Law

So what's the back side? What's the promise? We shall not have other gods, but we do have the one, true God—the promise of a God 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.