The Consuming Fire and the Holiness That Comes Down
By Bradley Gray
10/02/25
23mins

The Consuming Fire and the Holiness That Comes Down

He doesn’t consume us, even though that is what we deserve. Instead, Jesus comes down to us and consumes all our sin by taking it on himself.
When Pastors Are Abused by Their Congregations
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
10/01/25

When Pastors Are Abused by Their Congregations

This article is the first part of a two-part series. The second part will take a look at when pastors abuse their congregations.
An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
09/30/25

An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136

The following entries are excerpts from Chad Bird’s new book, Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of the Psalms (1517 Publishing, 2025), pgs. 311 and 335

All Articles

Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/20/16

There's No Joy But In This Boy

Our relief when we're troubled can't be found at the end of all our preparations and celebrations, no matter how pious our intent.
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
12/19/16

Christmas is Bigger on the Inside

“It’s bigger on the inside” is not only an evocative literary device, it is also a phrase heavy laden with Good News found in the true story of Christianity, especially at Christmas.
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
12/14/16

Behold The King Israel Never Expected

We have heard of the man born to be king. Here in Bethlehem, by divine condescension, the King—the King of kings—is born to be man.
RJ Grunewald
RJ Grunewald
12/13/16

Grace In The Shadows

On the television show Portlandia—a satirical comedy centered on hipster culture in Portland, Oregon—one episode highlights a conversation between the characters as Carrie and Alexandra look through Fred’s endless photo album of the places he’s traveled.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/13/16

Clark Kent in a Manger

Jesus isn't Superman. He's not from another planet. He's from Earth.
Paul Dunk
Paul Dunk
12/12/16

Grace Came Down

God coming to us at Christmas encapsulates the essence of Christian faith: we don't make ourselves strong and then work our way up to a strong God.
Joel Hess
Joel Hess
12/09/16

Spending Advent in God’s Winter Garden

So it is with my little garden as well; dead, so it would seem. Nothing. Barren.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/06/16

Isn't There Anywhere A Person Can Be Still?

This time of year, Christmas time, the world isn't so much Christ-expectant as it is Christ-haunted.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
10/27/16

Grace Is Waiting

I often dance around the idea of denominations. I've been Pentecostal and I guess Evangelical.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
10/26/16

Gospel Upside-Downness

Have you ever really thought about how crazy your salvation is? You may have never thought of it in those terms, but truly, your redemption and rescue from eternal damnation is a jarring truth, one that should spawn tears of joy and shouts of praise.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
09/27/16

My Favorite Dirty Word in Church

You became, for a time, ritually unclean. Not sinful. Not immoral. To be unclean meant you bore in your own body the effects of a creation in bondage to decay.
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Sam P. Schuldheisz
09/23/16

Hobbits and the Greatest Story of All

Fairy tales are but one chapter in the book we call storytelling. We may prefer reading other kinds of stories (mystery, science fiction, and so on).
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