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

Rod Rosenbladt
Rod Rosenbladt
01/12/16

How To Choose Your Church

All other subjects—even Biblical subjects—were subservient to an accurate view of the Person and work of Jesus Christ for sinners.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
01/11/16

The Gospel in Hebrew: How Ten Hebrew Words Preach Christ and His Work

These words sum up the whole person and work of our Messiah. Here is the Gospel in Hebrew.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
01/08/16

The Myth of Forgiving Yourself

I know now that to “forgive yourself” is not only impossible; it is foolish, dangerous, and futile. It is the vain attempt of a soul plagued by guilt to seek relief in the very last place he should be looking: in himself.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
01/05/16

The River of Life and Death

The manna God provides is never tasty enough. God never lives up to your expectations. So silently or audibly you wish for an easier way.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
01/05/16

Reconnecting Through My Father's Ghosts

I’m still piecing together fragments. I’ve spent my life collecting scraps of personal stories that will explain my father to me.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
01/02/16

Ill-Conceived: Pinpointing When Our Lives Went Wrong

What is it about David’s life, and this psalm, that make this so fitting a place to utter this dire pronouncement of humanity’s corruption?
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/28/15

The Plastic Jesus: Reshaping Christ to Meet Our Expectations

Isn’t it strange how the Jesus we end up with bears such a striking resemblance to ourselves? Our Jesus thinks as we do, acts as we act, speaks as we speak.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
12/25/15

And the Darkness Has Not Overcome It….

It had just been a few weeks in my friend’s life since he had been converted to the Christian faith. He was very much still learning the ropes of what it meant to be a Christian.
Rick Ritchie
Rick Ritchie
12/22/15

Have Yourself a Vulgar Little Christmas

People lamented that ancient paganism was dead, but the same people who profess that they would love an old pagan feast ignore Christmas, where the best of paganism has survived.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/16/15

Rusting Chariots Found at the Bottom of Baptismal Fonts

He has Israel right where he wants them: a body of water in front of them, their enemies behind them, and God above them, ready to save. Our Lord is always undoing us that he might redo us, killing us that he might enliven us.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/08/15

Power in the Blood

But I remember that that’s how it ended. Words. Wine. Blood. A sudden halt to the conversation.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/07/15

Shielded by Blood

Behold the seemingly foolish ways of our wise God. He bids us embrace what appears impossible: that blood alone is our defense, that blood alone saves us from destruction, that the blood of a lamb is more than enough.
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