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

Jacob Corzine
Jacob Corzine
08/05/19

Original Sin and Actual Sins

As I weigh briefly here the advantages and disadvantages of preaching original sin and preaching actual sin, I don’t mean to argue for one and against the other. Instead, I mean to suggest a benefit in focusing a given sermon on one or the other, and that neither type of sermon should be the only type a Christian hears.
Grant Klembara
Grant Klembara
08/05/19

Killing Our Hero, Martin Luther

Martin Luther is not–or, at least should not–be the object of our affection.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
08/04/19

What Can the Church Do in Times of Violence?

It is a strange irony, but in a world drunk on violence, it is only on the cross of violence that there is hope for peace in our world.
Bob Hiller
Bob Hiller
07/29/19

Protected from Baptism

The real problem with the way we talk about Baptism in particular, and the sacraments at all, is that we are simply afraid of letting God’s Word get us.
Cindy Koch
Cindy Koch
07/25/19

America the Free?

Where American freedom shouts for individual rights and liberties, freedom in Christ binds neighbors together because our blessings are for each other.
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
07/24/19

Happy Birthday, John Newton! Hymn Writer and Slave Trader (Or, what to do when our heroes turn out to be scoundrels)

John Newton was a scoundrel, a pirate, and a slave trader.
Brennan Manning
Brennan Manning
07/19/19

Reformation, Righteousness, and Real Good News

The central affirmation of the Reformation stands: Through no merit of ours, but by His mercy, we have been restored to a right relationship with God through the life, death, and resurrection of His beloved Son
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/18/19

The Escape from a Religious Sodom

In this religious Sodom, we had a Jesus with the heart of Moses whose gospel was a new and improved law.
1517 Staff
1517 Staff
07/18/19

Jesus Lifted Up, By Us or For Us?

This is a guest article brought to us by Dr. James Isaacs.
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
07/10/19

Happy Birthday, John Calvin! Pastor, Theologian, Sinner, and Saint

What follows is a little crash course in how to read Calvin with respect, for our benefit, and with an eye to how we keep Reformation giants at a proper historical arms distance.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
07/08/19

Calling Your Anger "Righteousness"

These three: to judge, to avenge, and to glory, have been taken from us, and no person should share in them.
Craig Donofrio
Craig Donofrio
07/05/19

Three Popes and the Burning of Jan Hus

It was reported that Hus died singing, “Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me.”
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