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

Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
04/03/25

Psalm 8 From the Mouth of Babes: Why do you care, O Lord?

The Psalm now is this: as Christ suffered and then was exalted, so we are also in him.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
03/25/25

The Wounds We Run From: Severance and the Healing Found in Suffering

Devoid of the gospel of Jesus’s death and resurrection, sufferers are left to frantically run the halls of self-salvation, turning this way and that but never getting anywhere.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/11/25

The Wound and the Well

The great lie of addiction is that suffering must be fled, must be numbed, must be drowned out by any means necessary.
Joey Goodall
Joey Goodall
02/28/25

You Can't Sever the Saint from the Sinner

You cannot sever the saint from the sinner. Christians remain both simultaneously.
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
02/27/25

Psalm 7: The Divine Contradiction – Only Faith Overcomes Revenge

God is a judge, but unlike you, God is just!
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
02/10/25

Martin Luther's Three Lights

Luther’s famous treatise contains great consolation for Christians struggling with grace, suffering, and hope.
Karen Stenberg
Karen Stenberg
02/03/25

Homesick for Heaven

I realized that no matter where I call "home," I won't be able to shake the feeling of homesickness.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
01/30/25

The Gospel for All

There is no one — not now, not ever — who cannot be included in the family of God through the efficacy of Christ’s saving power.
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
01/23/25

Psalm 6: Wrestling with God

By the end of this prayer of wrestling, David finally has the strength to claim victory over his lying enemies.
Ryan Couch
Ryan Couch
01/03/25

New Year, Same You

It's a new year, and you are still the same you: a sinner who is simultaneously perfect in every way because Christ declares it to be so.
1517 Staff
1517 Staff
12/26/24

A Christmas Confession

It is impossible to live our lives in a way that would convince God of our value because he already knows our value. He is the one who gave it to us.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/25/24

Conflict and Belief at Christmastide

Belief at Christmas is neither neat nor safe. It is the path that leads to the manger and, from there, to the cross.
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