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

Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
09/12/25

The Deliverer Who Doesn't Run Away

Nothing good happens when you get ahead of God and take matters into your own hands.
1517 Guest Contributor
1517 Guest Contributor
09/11/25

When Evil Roars, Christ Still Reigns

To confess Christ crucified and risen as the only hope in a world that has lost its mind to wickedness and rage.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
09/10/25

An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 86

The following entries are excerpts from Chad Bird’s upcoming book, Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of the Psalms (1517 Publishing, 2025), pgs. 191-192.
Delwyn Campbell
Delwyn Campbell
09/01/25

The Word: God's Message to Us

The Word seems like it is so little, like five barley loaves and two small fish, but it is all that God used to create the heavens and the earth.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
08/27/25

The Saddest Story and the True Story

Here is the true story, the one worth remembering: You are a gift.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
08/26/25

An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 19 and Psalm 29

The following entries are excerpts from Chad Bird’s upcoming book, Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of the Psalms (1517 Publishing, 2025), pgs. 32, 52.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
08/25/25

Eating the Word Again

Bitterness took root when he began approaching the Word merely as a burden he was called to carry rather than a balm that his soul needed, too.
Zack James Cole
Zack James Cole
08/15/25

Homeless In Heaven?

Tetzel peddled righteousness for gold, but God gives it freely through faith in his promised Word, the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Sarah Crowder
Sarah Crowder
08/11/25

Fighting Shame with a Song: What K-Pop Demon Hunters Taught Me About Grace

We need redemption, and we receive it in our church community through God’s Word.
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Sam P. Schuldheisz
08/01/25

A Liturgical Imagination

When you step into the Lord’s house, he gives you a liturgical imagination to see with eyes of faith all of his goodness and grace.
Ryan Matthias
Ryan Matthias
07/31/25

Don't Miss This

The thief is the prophetic picture of all of us, staring hopelessly hopeful at the Son of God, begging to hear the same words.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
07/15/25

Faith That Waits

Chapter 3 of Habakkuk, which is often referred to as “the Psalm of Habakkuk,” is a song of catharsis, relief, faith, and profound emotion.
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