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.
Behold the Lamb
Bradley Gray
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
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.

All Articles

David Schmitt
David Schmitt
07/17/21

Gospel: Mark 6:45-56 (Pentecost 9: Series B)

When the One who created the world comes to you, there is reason for courage and never reason to fear.
David Schmitt
David Schmitt
07/10/21

Gospel: Mark 6:30-44 (Pentecost 8: Series B)

Because Jesus turns desolate, dying places into holy landscapes of life.
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
07/09/21

The Trinity and the Gospel

What Luther is doing in his Catechism is teaching how the gospel is an action of the whole Trinity, not just one of the persons.
David Schmitt
David Schmitt
07/03/21

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29 (Pentecost 7: Series B)

I would understand if you were a bit offended. This looks more like Game of Thrones than the Kingdom of God.
David Schmitt
David Schmitt
06/26/21

Gospel: Mark 6:1-13 (Pentecost 6: Series B)

Jesus will bring good news, send His disciples to bring good news, and, in His death and resurrection, become good news for all.
Joshua Miller
Joshua Miller
06/26/21

A Necessary and Eternal Treasure

Take away the communal aspect, take away the communal gathering around Christ’s body and blood, and the Christian will begin to suffer a malnutrition of faith.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
06/19/21

Gospel: Mark 5:21-43 (Pentecost 5: Series B)

The people you serve are still hanging on by a thread, which is another way of saying they are living by faith.
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
06/19/21

Juneteenth and the Proclamation of Freedom

The story of Juneteenth is one of living between proclamation and emancipation, and the story of the Christian faith is one of living in that same tension.
Sarah Crowder
Sarah Crowder
06/16/21

Justus Jonas and the Important Thing

We continue to run the race, knowing the victory has been won and given to us through Christ Jesus.
Gretchen Ronnevik
Gretchen Ronnevik
06/15/21

The Christian Men of Jane Eyre

It is not her sacrifices that define Jane's faith, but her belief in the one who sacrificed for her.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
06/12/21

Gospel: Mark 4:35-41 (Pentecost 4: Series B)

The only one who is truly worthy of fear shows He cares for His disciples and desires to save them. Not only them, but all who are perishing.
1517 Staff
1517 Staff
06/07/21

Our Summer Reading List

Some of our 1517 staff members have shared what they are looking forward to reading in the coming months below. If you’re looking for titles to fill your own summer reading list, we hope this list is a helpful resource.
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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