When Pastors Are Abused by Their Congregations
By Donavon Riley
10/01/25
13mins

When Pastors Are Abused by Their Congregations

This article is the first part of a two-part series. The second part will take a look at when pastors abuse their congregations.
An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
09/30/25

An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136

The following entries are excerpts from Chad Bird’s new book, Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of the Psalms (1517 Publishing, 2025), pgs. 311 and 335
St. Michael, Defender of God’s People
Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
09/29/25

St. Michael, Defender of God’s People

Why did the church dedicate a day to St. Michael anyway? Who is he, and what does he do?

All Articles

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.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
05/31/21

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God (and That’s Not Enough)

God daily broadsides us with his abundant power and glory as we observe nature around us. And yet, as glorious as this book of nature is, it is not enough.
John Bombaro
John Bombaro
05/29/21

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 (Pentecost 2: Series B)

Eyes which are fixed on what is unseen will see the whole world in a different way.
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.
Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse
05/29/21

Old Testament: Genesis 3:8-15 (Pentecost 2: Series B)

This is the first direct promise of the Seed who will reunite all mankind to God by defeating Satan on the Cross.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
05/26/21

Faith in a Sea of Unbelief

God bestows faith that it should deal not with ordinary things, but with things no human being can master such as death, sin, the world, and Satan.
Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse
05/23/21

Old Testament: Isaiah 6:1-8 (Holy Trinity: Series B)

Does Isaiah find himself in the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem Temple, or is this taking place in the Heavenly Temple? Perhaps we might say the answer is “Yes.”
John Bombaro
John Bombaro
05/23/21

Epistle: Acts 2:14a, 22-36 (Holy Trinity: Series B)

The Apostle Peter’s monumental sermon on Pentecost declares the Kingdom purposes and divine saving work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which culminates in the new world order with Christ in charge.
David Schmitt
David Schmitt
05/23/21

Gospel: John 3:1-17 (Holy Trinity: Series B)

Trinity Sunday is a day we confess the mystery of our faith. It is a mystery that saves.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
05/21/21

A King Greater Than Solomon and a Place Better Than the Temple

You and I have a God who pardons all our wrongdoing by taking all of them onto himself. He doesn’t zap us into oblivion at the first sign of rebellion.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
05/20/21

God in the Arena

Sin, death, and Satan may have had more than a puncher's chance to beat us, but when God stepped into the ring, they should have admitted defeat and thrown in the towel.
Pete Lange
Pete Lange
05/19/21

Something You Could Not Have Guessed

If the Risen Christ is ushering in a new kingdom and a new creation, then maybe we shouldn’t be surprised to see some earth-shaking and mind-blowing things taking place.
1517 is a Christian non-profit (501(c)3) multi-media organization. Our mission is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free on account of the death and resurrection of Jesus alone.
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