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

Uwe Siemon-Netto
Uwe Siemon-Netto
08/06/21

Theology 101, Under Bombs

I am cognizant of the powerful lessons for life I owe to those nights in the air-raid shelter.
Haroldo Camacho
Haroldo Camacho
08/05/21

The Seventh Beatitude: Pax or Hapax?

The title “peacemakers” is not ours except as we tell and retell his peacemaking story.
Cindy Koch
Cindy Koch
08/04/21

Eat and Drink

God will give you more than you can handle. But he doesn’t leave you alone. Not at all.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
08/03/21

Luther versus Erasmus: Bound to Be Free (Part 2)

Luther's response to Erasmus was not meant to be a polite contribution to an academic duel.
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
08/02/21

That's a Good Question: Are We All Predestined to Either Heaven or Hell?

The reason the mind is endlessly troubled about God predestining everything is the vague generalization. Generalizations are cold as ice, without the warm Christ.
Scott Davis
Scott Davis
07/31/21

The Gospel and the Boy Who Cried Wolf

It isn’t that God struggles to believe our repeated cries of “wolf.” Rather, we struggle to believe God when he repeatedly comes to us with forgiveness and mercy on his lips.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
07/30/21

The Rock of Truth in the Storm of Fake News

The Psalms aren’t the clandestine successes of a faithful soul, but are the journaled hopes of a desperate soul — of one teetering on the edge of oblivion.
Haroldo Camacho
Haroldo Camacho
07/29/21

The Sixth Beatitude: Makarios in a Crucible?

We are not saved by the success of our refining process. We are saved precisely because our impurities, no matter what the percentage, ruin the whole thing.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
07/28/21

Luther versus Erasmus: Bound to Be Free (Part 1)

Luther’s allies and opponents also would not allow him to put off responding to Erasmus indefinitely. They badgered him constantly to write a response.
Scott Keith
Scott Keith
07/26/21

That's a Good Question: What Should we do When the Church Lets us Down?

The Church is where God has instituted the office of the preacher of the gospel. And if you are let-down, the gospel is what you need to hear.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/26/21

How a Small, Country Congregation Became a Megachurch Overnight

This tiny rural church would bulge at the seams with worshipers from realms seen and unseen, all mixed together in the adoration of the Lamb.
Uwe Siemon-Netto
Uwe Siemon-Netto
07/23/21

Urchin at War: Introduction

This is an excerpt from the introduction of “Urchin at War: Volume 1” by Uwe Siemon-Netto (1517 Publishing, 2021).
1517 is a Christian non-profit (501(c)3) multi-media organization. Our mission is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free on account of the death and resurrection of Jesus alone.
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