This is an excerpt from Chapter 6 in Sinner Saint: A Surprising Primer to the Christian Life (1517 Publishing, 2025). Sinner Saint is available today from 1517 Publishing.
On its journey from Byzantium to Constantinople to Istanbul, this special place helps us understand the broader arc of Christian history, which goes on until Christ's return.
We needn’t fear statistics and studies as palm readings into a certain future. God is God, and his Spirit is alive through his Word.

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This Epiphany text brings the coming of the Light and the Light shining in the darkness drawing all men to it together.
Christ has received the mark of law that we might be marked with the gospel, with the sign of his holy cross on our heads and hearts as redeemed children of God.
This Christmas season we are thankful that even though we “fallers” are unable to climb up to God, he came down the ladder to us.
Love turns out to be not simply a thing or action, but a characteristic of God himself.
Solomon uses his new gift of wisdom immediately, but as he grows older he appears to use this gift less and less!
Gideon’s “foolish” weaponry of clay jars and shofars will give way to the Messiah’s “foolish” ways of doing things, for his weapons will be humility, fidelity, and, above all, the word of his Father.
Because of Christ, we find safety and healing in the light. Because of Christ, we do not have to be afraid of the truth that his light reveals.
All the redeeming in God’s Word ultimately points to the first-born, only Begotten, who redeems the world.
This Messiah is not a continuation—He is the fulfillment and the beginning of something new.
Waiting is not easy, but after waiting a long time, one would at least expect us to be ready when the time came.
“The days are coming,” and God said it. God, who kept his promise that Christ would come at Christmas.
The Messenger is coming—must come—because the LORD God has promised, and He is unchanging and always faithful no matter how unfaithful His people may be.