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.

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

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.

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Bradley Gray

11/20/21

A Tale of Two Cities

The youths that mock Elisha are representative of Israel’s collective contempt and disregard for all things relating to their One True God.

John T. Pless

11/19/21

Your Pastor Is Not Your Therapist: Private Confession

Forgiveness of sins does not come in bits and pieces. There are no levels of forgiveness.

Ryan Stevenson-Cosgrove

11/18/21

Losing Your Life: What Aretha Franklin's Depiction in Respect Reveals about the Gospel

It is in your lows where Christ has hidden his highest high, eternal life itself.

Bror Erickson

11/16/21

A Q&A on the New Testament Devotional Commentary, Volume 1 from Bo Giertz with Bror Erickson

What I like about Giertz’s approach is the devotional nature of these commentaries. He’s a pastor concerned with what these texts have to say to us today.

Jeffrey Pulse

11/14/21

Old Testament: Isaiah 51:4-6 (Last Sunday of the Church Year: Series B )

The Israelites had taken the Covenantal promise and the language of separation and interpreted them to mean the message of salvation and restoration was meant for only them. But this is counter to the reality of the Scriptures.

Bob Hiller

11/14/21

Epistle: Jude 20-25 (The Last Sunday of the Church Year: Series B )

God is most glorified in the sending of Jesus to be the Savior of sinners.

David Schmitt

11/14/21

Gospel: Mark 13:24-37 (The Last Sunday of the Church Year: Series B )

Trust in the midst of trouble. That is what our Lord calls us to experience today.

Sam P. Schuldheisz

11/12/21

A Reformation of the Imagination

The Reformation was yet another era of history when God’s people were faced with the question that Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”

Kyle G. Jones

11/10/21

The Bible and How to Read It - Part 4: How Do I Study It?

Reading, understanding, and studying Scripture is a life-long process of contemplation in conversation with others.

Bror Erickson

11/09/21

Introduction to the Gospels

This is an excerpt from “The New Testament Devotional Commentary: Volume 1: Matthew, Mark, Luke” written by Bo Giertz and translated by Bror Erickson (1517 Publishing, 2021).

Jeffrey Pulse

11/06/21

Old Testament: Daniel 12:1-3 (Pentecost 25: Series B )

This text arguably contains the clearest teaching concerning the bodily resurrection from the dead in the Old Testament.

Bob Hiller

11/06/21

Epistle: Hebrews 10:11-25 (Pentecost 25: Series B )

Hebrews reminds us you cannot “be the church” unless you go to church.

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