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

Martin Luther
Martin Luther
09/10/21

Hypocrites and Work-Saints

The upright, in whom the law has exercised its work, when they feel their sickness and weakness, say: God will help me; I trust in him; I build upon him; he is my rock and hope.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
09/08/21

Good Guys and Bad Guys

But the biggest problem with the Pharisee’s prayer is that he judges himself compared to other people, rather than to God. Our natural tendency is to do just this.
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
08/31/21

A Q&A for the Second Edition of "The Christian Life: Cross or Glory?

The Second Edition of “The Christian Life: Cross or Glory?” by Steven Hein is now available from 1517 Publishing.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
08/28/21

The Day of Grace

The night has passed and the day broken. In response to the morning dawn, birds sing, beasts arouse themselves and all humanity arises.
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
08/25/21

The Two-Faced God

Although God is always closer to us than the nose on our face, he has not taken the wraps off and given any sinful and mortal human being a full-measure, face-to-face meeting.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
08/21/21

Luther versus Erasmus: Bound to be Free (Part 4)

When explaining that sinners were saved by grace alone Erasmus would not go so far as to say that the reception of God’s grace erased human responsibility.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
08/13/21

Luther versus Erasmus: Bound to be Free (Part 3)

Erasmus laid out his argument for a theology of grace and free will in much the same way modern Protestants have done since the Enlightenment.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther |
Haroldo Camacho
Haroldo Camacho
08/12/21

The Eighth Beatitude: The Persecution of the Gospel

As long as the church teaches the gospel, it will suffer persecution.
Uwe Siemon-Netto
Uwe Siemon-Netto
08/10/21

A Q&A for "Urchin at War"

Urchin at War is now available from 1517 Publishing
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.
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.
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.
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