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

Martin Luther
Martin Luther
03/12/20

Dear Death, What Has Become of Your Spear?

Paul says that the power of sin is the law. The more clearly we understand the law, the more sin oppresses and stings us.
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
03/09/20

Gathering up Our Dust During Lent

Ashes and dust do not need the services of spiritual EMTs; we need a Second Adam from whom we regain life itself.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
03/03/20

The Anchor of John 3:16

Christ teaches that we are not lost, but have eternal life. That God has so loved us that he allowed the ransom to cost him his only beloved child.
Ryan Couch
Ryan Couch
02/27/20

God Gives Us More Than We Can Handle

What the law is powerless to do, Jesus accomplishes for us. Jesus delivers what the law demands.
RJ Grunewald
RJ Grunewald
02/26/20

No Approaching God Without Christ

For what end does the Law exist? The Law exposes us so that we might find the remedy in the person and work of Jesus.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
02/25/20

If God Would Just Choose Someone Else

The end of the pursuit isn't regeneration, but degeneration. We're fighting fire with bottles of gasoline.
Pete Lange
Pete Lange
02/18/20

The Pilgrim's Promise

Ultimately the Christian life isn't about progress, it's about promise--the Pilgrim's Promise.
1517 Staff
1517 Staff
02/12/20

The Psychology of Crucifixion

The implications were clear: Jesus’ death destroyed the things that distinguished people as educated or uneducated, rich or poor, free or enslaved, black or white, pious or godless.
Bob Hiller
Bob Hiller
02/11/20

Q&A for Finding Christ in the Straw

The Scriptures are not a collection of platonic ideals laid out for us to strive after. Rather, they are God’s truth given to His beloved church.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/11/20

Weaponizing Our Virtues

Virtue, like all good things, can easily be weaponized. And not only can, but constantly is. Indeed, I would argue that, for churchgoing, rule-following, tradition-honoring, morality-applauding people, virtue often becomes the cancer that we deem a badge of honor.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
02/10/20

The Baptism that Swallowed the Rocks

The Church gathers around the Word and Sacrament in order to receive Christ and each other.
Bob Hiller
Bob Hiller
02/07/20

The Patience of Job

The following is an excerpt from "Finding Christ in the Straw," written by Robert M. Hiller (1517 Publishing, 2020).
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