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

Adam Francisco
Adam Francisco
12/15/25

Be Kind...But Why?

Christ did not merely urge humanity to be kind. He embodied perfect kindness by giving his life for those who neither earned nor expected such a gift.
Ryan Tinetti
Ryan Tinetti
12/09/25

Was Jesus Ambitious?

Was Jesus ambitious or unambitious? We have to say that the answer is…yes.
1517 Staff
1517 Staff
12/01/25

An Excerpt from Coming Home for Christmas: Advent in Isaiah Devotional

This is an excerpt from this year’s 1517 Advent Devotional.
Matthew L. Rubinstein
Matthew L. Rubinstein
11/20/25

The Greatest of Psalms

If Psalms 1 and 2 reveal the Christ who reigns, Psalms 3 and 4 reveal the Christ who remains.
Russ Lackey
Russ Lackey
11/17/25

The Word That Will Not Shut Down

Every age has its emergencies, and the church must never ignore them. Yet, our response cannot be one of panic or propaganda.
Luke Kjolhaug
Luke Kjolhaug
11/11/25

Seamless Fig Leaves

When we fail, our first impulse is the same as that of our spiritual ancestors: to sprint headlong into the bushes.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
11/07/25

You are not weak. You are at war.

Resurrection does not start in sunlight. It begins in the dark.
Matthew L. Rubinstein
Matthew L. Rubinstein
11/04/25

Grace in the Gap

The acrostic psalms do not hold because of their perfect structure. Nor do our lives.
Seth Moorman
Seth Moorman
10/30/25

Why Halloween Might Be the Most Christian Holiday of All

Grace isn’t fair. It’s reckless and lavish and handed out freely to those who don’t deserve a thing.
Jason Oakland
Jason Oakland
10/27/25

The Blessings of Creation

He has freed you from a selfish fixation on gifts. He has freed you to look to the Giver.
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
10/16/25

An Introduction to The Bondage of the Will: The Preached and Unpreached God

This is the fifth installment in our article series, “An Introduction to the Bondage of the Will,” written to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will.
Scott Keith
Scott Keith
10/14/25

An Introduction to the Bondage of the Will: In Bondage to Sin

This is the third installment in our article series, “An Introduction to the Bondage of the Will,” written to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will.
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