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

1517 Publishing
1517 Publishing
06/14/21

I Have Put My Words in Your Mouth

This is an edited excerpt from “The Pastoral Prophet: Meditations on the Book of Jeremiah” written by Steve Kruschel (1517 Publishing, 2019).
Jacob Corzine
Jacob Corzine
06/13/21

Preaching Perfection

Whenever Jesus explains the commandments they get harder to keep, not easier.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
06/12/21

Gospel: Mark 4:35-41 (Pentecost 4: Series B)

The only one who is truly worthy of fear shows He cares for His disciples and desires to save them. Not only them, but all who are perishing.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
06/10/21

The Gospel of a Fulfilled Law

Despite what the Pharisees believed and advertised, Jesus was not intent upon deconstructing the fundamental tenets of the Old Testament law. Actually, he proceeds to do just the opposite.
Bob Hiller
Bob Hiller
06/06/21

Book Review: Theology Is For Preaching: Biblical Foundations, Method, and Practice

It is necessary for preachers to have both the humility to acknowledge that they must keep watch over their teaching and the means to have their preaching constantly formed and shaped by God’s Word.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
06/05/21

Gospel: Mark 4:26-34 (Pentecost 3: Series B)

We know not how, and we do not know when, but God works according to His perfect will and His perfect timing.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
06/03/21

Answering the Universal Inquiry of Humanity

Everyone is living as a naked sufferer who’s been duped into believing that the nakedness of suffering has to be covered up.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
06/02/21

You Are Not Forgotten

We prefer God to forgive our sin by not paying attention to it. Then our prayer is not for grace but that God would overlook and wink at us from the sidelines.
Daniel Emery Price
Daniel Emery Price
06/01/21

False Converts Are Not Your Concern

Here is someone to love; they’re not a Christian. They’re not very clean and don’t seem to care. Love them. Let your life become intertwined with theirs. Let it cost you something.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
05/29/21

Gospel: Mark 3:20-35 (Pentecost 2: Series B)

Questions and opinions about Him varied, but one thing was certain, Jesus was causing a major commotion. He could not be ignored.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
05/28/21

The Religion of the Sacred Cow

If you and I were to examine our own lives, we’d likely have to admit that we are frequent disciples of Jeroboam’s “bootleg religion.”
Kevin Hale
Kevin Hale
05/27/21

Mute and Muted Idols

The irony of our idolatry is that many of our idols could and would speak the gospel to us if we would listen.
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