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
05/02/16

Two Thursdays That Tell Us (Almost) Everything About Jesus

What Jesus did and gives on these two Thursdays encapsulates his whole life and mission.
Brian W. Thomas
Brian W. Thomas
04/29/16

What's The Big Deal About The Liturgy? (Part 1: Basic Grammar)

Over the next few months, I invite you to join me in looking at what the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions have to say about the subject of worship through the lens of language.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
04/27/16

An Address to the Graduating Devils of Discordia Seminary

Brothers, the rich and diverse education you have received has more than adequately prepared you for the ministry of temptation to which you have been called.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
04/22/16

The End of "As If" Christianity

“As if” Christians aren’t allowed to reflect; that they’re not kind, generous, brave, or loyal. They’re not living up to the example of biblical saints.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
04/20/16

The Prosperity of the Gospel

I started writing this article about a friend, her struggles through cancer, and the pain of an unfortunate and severe fall that landed her in a hospital, requiring months of rehabilitation.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
04/19/16

The Cocktail of Worship and Doubt

But on the mountain in Galilee, where we encounter a very different side of God, doubts overtake us. Why?
Larry D. Hughes
Larry D. Hughes
04/14/16

Why Do The Youth Leave The Church?

This story is all-too-common, and illustrates a key dynamic driving the youth out of church.
Daniel Emery Price
Daniel Emery Price
04/11/16

Sinners Get To Wear White

Years ago a young woman approached her pastor with a request. It wasn’t a strange request. She simply asked if he would perform her wedding ceremony.
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
04/08/16

The Not-So-Empty Tomb of Jesus

Should we consider the tomb of Jesus completely empty, or just somewhat empty?
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
04/04/16

Imagine...

Imagine a church's mission statement is: "You Don't Have to Fake It Till You Make It." That is, you walk into church and an usher hands you a bulletin
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
04/03/16

Change and Decay

You are changing as your eyes move over these sentences. You are aging. You are on your way to death. And nothing, absolutely nothing, can alter that fact.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
04/01/16

Taking My Children to Visit God at the Zoo

There’s something appealing about a caged deity.
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