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.

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

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.

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Ken Sundet Jones

11/30/21

The Antidote to "Sadvent"

If Jesus is indeed the same yesterday, today, and forever, everything his enfleshment brings is already assured: life, salvation, and forgiveness.

1517 Staff

11/29/21

Giving Tuesday 2021: We Reached Our Goal!

With the help of over 250 donors, we reached and exceeded our Giving Tuesday goal late Tuesday evening. At the end of the day, we raised $201,664, which is a record-breaking day of fundraising for us as an organization. Thank you for your support in extending the Gospel work of our organization.

Kevin Hale

11/29/21

Waiting and Fulfillment and Surprise

In Advent we wait, in Christmas we rejoice over the coming of Christ in the fulfillment of the promises, and in Epiphany we celebrate the surprise, the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.

Peter Nafzger

11/28/21

Gospel: Luke 3:1-20 (Advent 2: Series C)

Like Isaiah and John, we look forward to that great and glorious day, trusting the resurrected One will return as He promised.

Chad Bird

11/26/21

Implications of the Incarnation: Christmas in the Garden of Eden

In Genesis 1-2, the Lord reveals—or, at a bare minimum, starts dropping some big hints—that he will be quite comfortable becoming a human being himself someday.

Zack James Cole

11/24/21

The Lord’s Thanksgiving

In the Lord’s Thanksgiving Supper, we are not served turkey, green bean casserole, and cornbread. We are served Christ.

Bradley Gray

11/23/21

Jehoram, Jehoshaphat, and Jesus

The Word of Yahweh is not a trifling thing that can be visited only when it’s convenient. It’s a book of life, for all of life, that imparts life to those who believe in it and the God of it.

Chad Bird

11/22/21

From the Mark of Cain to Baptism

Throughout the Scriptures, God puts "signs" or "seals" upon people. Often these are placed upon the forehead. How do all these connected stories take us from the mark of Cain, to the Exodus, to the cross, and finally to baptism?

Donavon Riley

11/22/21

Offering the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

That's how true faith talks. It doesn't talk about itself. It says "Thank you!" to the one who gives healing and salvation.

David Schmitt

11/21/21

Gospel: Luke 19:28-40 (Advent 1: Series C)

The oddness of this moment, at the beginning of Advent, is God’s way of saying, “The reason I’m here...”

Bradley Gray

11/20/21

A Tale of Two Cities

The youths that mock Elisha are representative of Israel’s collective contempt and disregard for all things relating to their One True God.

Ryan Stevenson-Cosgrove

11/18/21

Losing Your Life: What Aretha Franklin's Depiction in Respect Reveals about the Gospel

It is in your lows where Christ has hidden his highest high, eternal life itself.

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