When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not

By Russ Lackey | Mark Mattes

01/20/26

19mins

When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not

American religion did not become optional because the gospel failed. It became optional because religion slowly redefined itself around usefulness.

Bradley Gray

01/19/26

Behold the Lamb

The Passover wasn’t just Israel’s story; it’s ours.

Psalm 12, Part 2: The Saint Fails, The Word Purifies

Steven Paulson

01/16/26

Psalm 12, Part 2: The Saint Fails, The Word Purifies

God makes us pure saints by planting us back in the earth we imagined we needed to escape.

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Ryan Couch

01/16/23

I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins

God gives us the power and authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to burdened sinners who entrust us with their pain, guilt, and defeat.

Haroldo Camacho

01/10/23

Another Look at the "Loving" Expert on the Law

The law had to have its way with the expert to bring him around (and back) to Abraham's response.

Bradley Gray

01/05/23

Jesus is Better

As the writer to the Hebrews affirms, what makes the Christian gospel so much better is that we are no longer dealing with “types and shadows."

Luke Kjolhaug

01/02/23

A Toast to the End of Ourselves

Maybe, just maybe, our goal for 2023 should not be to live more but to die more.

John W. Hoyum

12/28/22

Christ Deep in the Flesh

That great truth of creedal Christianity – that God is man in Christ – is not set forth for our speculative enjoyment.

Steven Paulson

12/20/22

Christmas in Psalm 2: Futility is Funny

Who would ever want all these screamers and haters? It turns out that Christ does.

John W. Hoyum

12/14/22

Finding the Catholic Luther: A Review of Martin Luther and the Rule of Faith by Todd Hains

Hains offers a novel yet simple contention: Luther is most catholic where he is boldest.

1517 Staff

11/28/22

Church Fathers on Christmas: John Chrysostom

For with God we look not for the order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of him who works.

John T. Pless

11/20/22

Heads Up: A Primer from Luther for Advent Preaching

Whatever else may be said of Advent, it is above all devoted to making Christ known as the Lord who condescends to come as Brother to and Savior of sinners.

John Bombaro

11/12/22

Epistles: Colossians 1:13-20 (The Last Sunday in the Church Year: Series C)

The epistle text from Colossians 1 declares how the great drama of redemption and human history ends.

Wade Johnston

11/03/22

Virgins in Hell

We don’t start with behavior and work toward Christ. We start with Christ and everything works out from there.

Steve Kruschel

11/01/22

John of Ragusa: Prometheus of the Reformation

If a key part of the Reformation was placing God’s Word back into the hands of the people in a clear, understandable way, then John of Ragusa can be called a “Prometheus” in his own right.

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