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

Kelsi Klembara
Kelsi Klembara
12/10/21

Implications of the Incarnation: God Confirms His Sacramental Gifts

Big or small, potential or certain, the despair we may grapple with during this time of year tends to find its end in the fact that things are not as they should be.
John T. Pless
John T. Pless
12/09/21

Bright Valley of Love: A Story for Preachers as Advent Turns Toward Christmas

This is an excerpt from Chapter 27 in “Pastor Craft: Essays and Sermons” written by John T. Pless (1517 Publishing, 2021). Now Available for Preorder
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/08/21

The O Antiphons of Advent

Preparing for Advent? Discover Seven Ways to Better Know the Christ of Christmas in this free guide.
Wade Johnston
Wade Johnston
12/08/21

The Lord Will Relent

The thought of losing even one of those for whom his Son died pains God beyond belief, and the angels rejoice when even one of his children repents.
Grant Klembara
Grant Klembara
12/07/21

QAnon, Christianity, and Belief in a Resurrection

So what, if anything, makes us different from those who are waiting on the grassy knoll in Dallas, TX? Can we be any more sure of our belief in the resurrection?
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
12/05/21

Gospel: Luke 7:18-28 (29-35) (Advent 3: Series C)

Sometimes it is the unnamed characters in the Bible who can most help present-day readers find their own place in the biblical story.
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
12/03/21

Implications of the Incarnation: The Incarnation is New Creation

Each week during this year’s Advent series, we will take a look at a specific implication of Christ’s incarnation. This week, we will discover how God reaffirms the goodness of his creation by making all things new in the incarnation.
John Bombaro
John Bombaro
12/01/21

Advent's Double Helix

There is no other transitionary event in human history that warrants three full months of focused attention and persistent acknowledgment than the incarnation of the Son of God.
Ken Sundet Jones
Ken Sundet Jones
11/30/21

The Antidote to "Sadvent"

If Jesus is indeed the same yesterday, today, and forever, everything his enfleshment brings is already assured: life, salvation, and forgiveness.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
11/28/21

Gospel: Luke 3:1-20 (Advent 2: Series C)

Like Isaiah and John, we look forward to that great and glorious day, trusting the resurrected One will return as He promised.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/26/21

Implications of the Incarnation: Christmas in the Garden of Eden

In Genesis 1-2, the Lord reveals—or, at a bare minimum, starts dropping some big hints—that he will be quite comfortable becoming a human being himself someday.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
11/22/21

Offering the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

That's how true faith talks. It doesn't talk about itself. It says "Thank you!" to the one who gives healing and salvation.
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