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

Philip Bartelt
Philip Bartelt
07/12/22

Marx, Prayer, and Humanity

In the place of God, Marx sets the material, autonomous, self-creating man.
Dan Weber
Dan Weber
07/10/22

Gospel: Luke 10:38-42 (Pentecost 6: Series C)

But it is not always helpful to create tidy categories of good and bad and to say, “Stop being ‘a Martha’ and do a better job of being ‘a Mary.’” That is a dangerous sermon to preach. In doing so, we can fall into the very thing we see Martha doing.
Dan Weber
Dan Weber
07/03/22

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 (Pentecost 5: Series C)

The parable of the Good Samaritan is both a call to faith in Jesus and a call to love our neighbor.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
06/30/22

Mercy Makes Mercy

Christian mercy should not seek its own. It must be round, and open its eyes and look at all alike, friend and foe, as our heavenly Father does.
Kyle G. Jones
Kyle G. Jones
06/27/22

What is the Purpose of a Worship Service?

The worship service is less like servants entering the throne room to wait on the king’s needs and more like a father joining his family around the dining room table.
Dan Weber
Dan Weber
06/26/22

Gospel: Luke 10:1-20 (Pentecost 4: Series C)

Despite the very real obstacles and difficulties, this entire scene is marked by God’s gracious work.
Luke Kjolhaug
Luke Kjolhaug
06/23/22

God's Not Impressed By Your Word Count

Because of Jesus, God always hears our prayers, and he always responds to them in love–regardless of the quality or quantity of the one speaking them.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
06/22/22

Hope for These Bodies of Death: Understanding Romans 7

There’s no possibility of understanding the grace of Romans 6 and the glory of Romans 8 unless you identify with the excruciating struggle of Romans 7.
Sarah Crowder
Sarah Crowder
06/20/22

Word and Water: A Baptism Conversation with FLAME

FLAME uses Scripture and church history to argue that baptism is a gospel gift, not our work.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
06/19/22

Gospel: Luke 9:51-56 (Pentecost 3: Series C)

Nuance and subtlety have been replaced with scorched-earth contempt. It is us versus them. Compromise is not an option. Jesus, however, would have none of it.
Ron Hodel
Ron Hodel
06/17/22

It's Good To Be Lost

This week, we are grateful to publish a series of sermons from our beloved late Chaplain, Ron Hodel. This is the fifth installment of that series.
Paul Koch
Paul Koch
06/16/22

On the Death of a Pastor

There is comfort and joy that while one is now at rest from his labors, the Lord of the church continues to ensure that the good seed is sown, watered, and cared for.
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