This is an excerpt from Chapter 6 in Sinner Saint: A Surprising Primer to the Christian Life (1517 Publishing, 2025). Sinner Saint is available today from 1517 Publishing.
On its journey from Byzantium to Constantinople to Istanbul, this special place helps us understand the broader arc of Christian history, which goes on until Christ's return.
We needn’t fear statistics and studies as palm readings into a certain future. God is God, and his Spirit is alive through his Word.

All Articles

I grew up playing baseball – mostly “street” baseball, with a bunch of friends. It was one of my passions in life.
We fail over and over again to tame the sin in our hearts, to guard the doors of our lips and to act like the children of God.
The sweet aroma of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ overpowers the icy winds that seek to destroy.
A friend recently told me they had never seen the movie A Christmas Story. “What?!” I exclaimed. “Well, you need to fix that this year.”
God’s name is no different. It, too, carries power. The power of a promise only God can make.
Advent is the season when the Church declares to a world overwhelmed by excuses, lies, and cruelty that their Savior comes.
Zechariah’s prophecy about John’s ministry also comes to us in the fullness of our time.
There are no shortcuts with Him. No life hacks. No tricks or changes we need to make to get on God’s good side. There’s just Truth, just Jesus.
Often, when we talk about the Old Testament, we talk about God's promises and work for his chosen people, Israel.
Where Jesus says, “She’s not dead, she’s sleeping,” death dies.
What does it mean to be a child of God and to carry his image? This is a theological question, but it is a question necessary for our self-understanding
We tell our children if they work hard and play by the rules, they’ll succeed in life. Jerks, cheaters, and thieves won’t. They’ll end up in the gutter. Or jail. Or worse.