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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David Schmitt

09/04/21

Gospel: Mark 9:14-29 (Pentecost 16: Series B)

The beauty of our gospel reading today is how it reveals Jesus as the One who comes not only for the strong in faith but also for those who are weak and walking away.

David Schmitt

08/28/21

Gospel: Mark 7:(24-30) 31-37 (Pentecost 15: Series B)

Jesus does not remain at a distance from our suffering. He fully enters it and bears its burden.

Peter Nafzger

08/21/21

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23 (Pentecost 14: Series B )

Our enemy is both external AND internal. Outside of us AND inside of us. It is the old evil foe who prowls around us AND the old Adam who wreaks havoc inside each of us.

Kelsi Klembara

08/19/21

Can Body Positivity Overcome Our Bodies of Death?

As the body positivity movement has gained traction, we must also be aware of some of its pitfalls

Peter Nafzger

08/14/21

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13 (Pentecost 13: Series B)

No longer do we read about Jesus promising to satisfy and raise and abide in His people. Instead, we encounter a Jesus who goes on the attack.

Bradley Gray

08/11/21

Gentle and Lowly: A Reflection on the Love that Will Not Let Us Go

For sinners who cannot seem to get out of their own way, Dane brings to bear the gospel of Christ’s heart, which aerates one’s spiritual lungs with undiluted grace.

Peter Nafzger

08/07/21

Gospel: John 6:51-69 (Pentecost 12: Series B)

Jesus, the Son of God from all eternity, the agent of creation, the Savior of all people, promises to abide IN His people.

Peter Nafzger

07/31/21

Gospel: John 6:35-51 (Pentecost 11: Series B)

Jesus promises more than a disembodied “spiritual” existence after death. He has promised to raise our perishable, mortal bodies to immortality.

Peter Nafzger

07/24/21

Gospel: John 6:22-35 (Pentecost 10: Series B)

In His grace, Jesus promises that all who come to Him in faith will live abundantly and eternally.

John Bombaro

07/24/21

What Is the Purpose of the Church?

Ascertaining the what and how of the Church greatly factor into the very purpose of the Church, that is, they essentially answer the question why the Church?

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).

Bradley Gray

07/21/21

A Lamp in a Dark World

Through the often abominable and lamentable and occasional commendable season, there is one who remains unmoved by it all.

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