The greatest obstacle to friendship in middle age isn't that nobody wants friends. It's that everyone is waiting for someone else to go first. But here's the good news: Christ has already gone first for you. And because He has, you are free to go first for someone else.
.webp?width=36&height=36&name=Russ%20(head%20shot).webp){kind=small}
09/02/26
Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything under heaven. But God has also placed eternity in our hearts, and that makes us strange creatures: able to rejoice in this life yet always aching for a life that only Christ can give.
08/28/26
What does it take to draw near to God? It takes a perfect priest, a finished work, and a broken body to open the way. In short, it takes everything, which is exactly what Christ has given for you.
All Articles
Author
- All Authors
- 1517 Guest Contributor
- 1517 Publishing
- 1517 Staff
- A. A. Just Jr.
- A.J. Vega
- Aaron Boerst
- Adam Francisco
- Adam Stetson
- Amy Mantravadi
- Andrew Foss
- Anthony DiLiberto
- Blake Flattley
- Bob Hiller
- Bob Sundquist
- Bonnie Petroschuk
- Brad Soenksen
- Bradley Gray
- Brandon Hanson
- Brandon Pangman
- Brennan Manning
- Brian W. Thomas
- Bror Erickson
- Bruce Hillman
- C.S. Lewis
- Caleb Keith
- Chad Bird
- Charles E. Fry
- Christopher J. Richmann
- Cindy Koch
- CJ Armstrong
- Craig Donofrio
- Dan Chrismer
- Dan Weber
- Daniel Deen
- Daniel Emery Price
- Daniel Stenberg
- Daniel van Voorhis
- David Clay
- David Rufner
- David Schmitt
- Debi Winrich
- Delwyn Campbell
- Dominick Santore
- Donavon Riley
- Edward Killian
- Elyse Fitzpatrick
- Erick Sorensen
- Gage Jordan
- Gerhard Forde
- Grant Klembara
- Greg Koukl
- Gretchen Ronnevik
- Haroldo Camacho
- Heather Schulz
- Hermann Sasse
- Jacob Corzine
- Jacob Smith
- Jake Allstaedt
- Jared C. Wilson
- Jason Lane
- Jason Lang
- Jason Oakland
- Jay Sawrie
- Jeff Mallinson
- Jeffrey Pulse
- Jenifer Mohan
- Jeremiah Schultz
- Jessica Delgado
- Jessica Thompson
- Jim Nestingen
- Joel Fitzpatrick
- Joel Hess
- Joey Goodall
- John Bombaro
- John Bortulin
- John Chrysostom
- John T. Pless
- John W. Hoyum
- John Warwick Montgomery
- Jonathan Ruehs
- Jordan Spina
- Joshua Miller
- Justin Rossow
- Karen Stenberg
- Kathy Morales
- Katie Koplin
- Kelsi Klembara
- Ken Sundet Jones
- Kerri Tom
- Kevin Hale
- Kevin McClain
- Kyle G. Jones
- Larry D. Hughes
- Laura Bauer
- Luke Kjolhaug
- Magnus Persson
- Mariah Coward
- Mark Duerr
- Mark Jasa
- Mark Mattes
- Mark Pierson
- Martin Luther
- Matt Johnson
- Matt Kroelinger
- Matt Popovits
- Matthew L. Rubinstein
- Maxx Fisher
- Michael Berg
- Michael Gibney
- Nicholas Hopman
- Nicholas Kallis
- Norman Nagel
- Paul Dunk
- Paul Koch
- Pete Lange
- Peter Nafzger
- Philip Bartelt
- Raleigh Sadler
- Rick Ritchie
- RJ Grunewald
- Robert Farrar Capon
- Robert Kolb
- Rod Rosenbladt
- Roland Ehlke
- Ron Hodel
- Russ Lackey
- Ryan Couch
- Ryan Matthias
- Ryan Stevenson-Cosgrove
- Ryan Tinetti
- Sam Leanza Ortiz
- Sam P. Schuldheisz
- Sarah Crowder
- Scott Davis
- Scott Keith
- Scott Landrum
- Seth Moorman
- Steve Byrnes
- Steve Kruschel
- Steven A. Hein
- Steven Paulson
- StoryMakers NYC
- Tanner Olson
- Tate Barber
- Ted Rosenbladt
- Travis Scholl
- Tyler Cronkright
- Uwe Siemon-Netto
- Valerie Thur
- Wade Johnston
- Walter Hwang
- Wayne Sender
- Zack James Cole
01/01/22
Christ has received the mark of law that we might be marked with the gospel, with the sign of his holy cross on our heads and hearts as redeemed children of God.
12/25/21
The episode of the boy Jesus in the Temple raises questions. It raised questions for Mary (and Joseph) and it raises questions for us.
12/25/21
Solomon uses his new gift of wisdom immediately, but as he grows older he appears to use this gift less and less!
12/25/21
As we continue to celebrate the mystery of the incarnation, this is a perfect moment to meditate on how the work of God “in Christ" unfolds in every moment of the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
%20(1).jpg?width=36&height=36&name=untitled%20(16%20of%2039)%20(1).jpg){kind=small}
12/25/21
In preaching, auditors are informed and instructed on hearing the voice of the Other, not themselves or contemporary resonances.
12/19/21
All the redeeming in God’s Word ultimately points to the first-born, only Begotten, who redeems the world.
12/19/21
The text is not a legalistic set of principles. It is a description of the way things are for us, now that Christ has entered in.
12/19/21
Luke does not say much else about Anna, especially in comparison to Simeon. But the fact that he mentions her suggests she has something to teach your hearers today.
12/17/21
The Advents of Christ (past, present, and future) elicit faith in the word of Christ, confirmed by his presence.
.jpg?width=36&height=36&name=download%20(3).jpg){kind=small}
12/16/21
We don’t have to worry about deserving, earning, or reciprocating his gifts. Our Lord doesn’t give us what we deserve. We are given what he deserves, what Jesus has won for us.
12/15/21
Moses was sent to keep the house in order, but this Child is sent to bring the house home, and you are part of that house, the household of God.
12/14/21
Pastor Craft: Essays and Sermons is now available through 1517 Publishing
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.
1517 grants permission for our free online resources to be printed, photocopied, and otherwise used freely for private and church use. We require that authorship and source (1517.org) are referenced and maintained. These resources may not be sold or included in any publications for sale.