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

Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse
07/17/21

Old Testament: Genesis 9:8-17 (Pentecost 9: Series B)

The rainbow is a sign of the covenant God is making with “all flesh which is on the earth” and to the coming generations.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/16/21

Pencil Sketches: How Old Testament Individuals Outlined the Messiah's Colorful Life

When we read about Noah, we are reading backward to Adam and forward to Jesus.
Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse
07/10/21

Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:1-6 (Pentecost 8: Series B)

The LORD promises He Himself will gather up the remnants and they will prosper under His shepherding.
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
07/09/21

The Trinity and the Gospel

What Luther is doing in his Catechism is teaching how the gospel is an action of the whole Trinity, not just one of the persons.
Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse
07/03/21

Old Testament: Amos 7:7-15 (Pentecost 7: Series B)

In spite of the many issues of unfaithfulness, the LORD still refers to them as, “My people Israel,” pointing to the Covenantal promise.
Haroldo Camacho
Haroldo Camacho
07/01/21

The Second Beatitude: From Tears to Joy

The giver of life, the source of joy, stands weeping together with the human family as they grieve under the curse of sin.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
06/28/21

Come to the Waters of Repentance

Mankind’s “thoughts and ways” on the matter of pardon and forgiveness do not even come close to exhausting, let alone fathoming, God’s “thoughts and ways.”
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
06/27/21

Have No “Great Expectations” of Your Pastors and Christian Leaders

Our leaders, our pastors, our priests, our teachers, all have feet of clay, just as leaders in Israel did. We do not put our faith in them, even in the ones—perhaps *especially* the ones—in whom we are inclined to have great expectations. They preach the Messiah but are not the Messiah.
John Bombaro
John Bombaro
06/27/21

First Principles of Preaching: The Verb Itself (Part 2)

The Christian sermon is Gospel preaching. We only preach the Gospel. Only the Gospel is the sermon, notwithstanding necessary admonishments of law and requisite exhortations toward sanctification.
Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse
06/26/21

Old Testament: Ezekiel 2:1-5 (Pentecost 6: Series B)

Ezekiel is not called/sent out to be “successful” in his prophetic ministry—he is sent out to be faithful!
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
06/25/21

The Psalms as the Prayerbook of Jesus and the Church

As the sin-bearer, Jesus was also the sin-confessor in the psalms.
Mark Mattes
Mark Mattes
06/23/21

A Guide to the Augsburg Confession

The reformers were compelled to confess the true faith and challenge corrupt practices—this is what the Augsburg Confession is about.
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