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

Brian W. Thomas
Brian W. Thomas
12/16/25

Christmas for the Spiritual but Not Religious

Christianity doesn’t start with our speculation about God. It starts with God’s self-revelation.
Adam Francisco
Adam Francisco
12/15/25

Be Kind...But Why?

Christ did not merely urge humanity to be kind. He embodied perfect kindness by giving his life for those who neither earned nor expected such a gift.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
11/25/25

A Review of The Well That Washes What it Shows by Jonathan Linebaugh

“The well that washes what it shows” captures the essence of Linebaugh’s project, which aims to give the paradigmatic law-gospel hermeneutic a colloquial and visual language.
Brian W. Thomas
Brian W. Thomas
11/21/25

Christian Nationalism: What It Is and Isn't

Caesar gets your taxes. Christ gets your heart.
Matthew L. Rubinstein
Matthew L. Rubinstein
11/20/25

The Greatest of Psalms

If Psalms 1 and 2 reveal the Christ who reigns, Psalms 3 and 4 reveal the Christ who remains.
Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
11/19/25

A Review of "The Quiet Ambition" by Ryan P. Tinetti

While Thoreau’s Walden is seen as a central text of that most American of virtues—self-reliance—quiet ambition as envisioned by Tinetti is exactly the opposite: dependence on God.
Russ Lackey
Russ Lackey
11/17/25

The Word That Will Not Shut Down

Every age has its emergencies, and the church must never ignore them. Yet, our response cannot be one of panic or propaganda.
Ryan Couch
Ryan Couch
11/10/25

Happy Birthday Martin Luther: How a 16th Century Monk Helped Me Rediscover the Gospel

On this, the birthday of Martin Luther, I will pause to thank God for his birth.
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
11/06/25

Reformation Christians and the Current Catholic Moment

Something Reformation Christians ought to do is familiarize themselves with Roman Catholic theology.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
11/05/25

Mercy Runs Downstairs

The testimony of the Word assures us that God isn’t waiting for us at the top of the stairs, with arms folded and brows furrowed.
Matthew L. Rubinstein
Matthew L. Rubinstein
11/04/25

Grace in the Gap

The acrostic psalms do not hold because of their perfect structure. Nor do our lives.
Brian W. Thomas
Brian W. Thomas
10/31/25

The Reformation for the Rest of Us

The Reformation isn’t just a chapter in church history. It’s a reminder that the gospel remains forever good news.
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