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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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.

Scott Landrum

11/17/21

Be Specific, Please!

“God in general” is of little use to all of us suffering the ravages of sin, the fear of death, and satanic prosecution.

Bror Erickson

11/16/21

A Q&A on the New Testament Devotional Commentary, Volume 1 from Bo Giertz with Bror Erickson

What I like about Giertz’s approach is the devotional nature of these commentaries. He’s a pastor concerned with what these texts have to say to us today.

Jeffrey Pulse

11/14/21

Old Testament: Isaiah 51:4-6 (Last Sunday of the Church Year: Series B )

The Israelites had taken the Covenantal promise and the language of separation and interpreted them to mean the message of salvation and restoration was meant for only them. But this is counter to the reality of the Scriptures.

Bob Hiller

11/14/21

Epistle: Jude 20-25 (The Last Sunday of the Church Year: Series B )

God is most glorified in the sending of Jesus to be the Savior of sinners.

David Schmitt

11/14/21

Gospel: Mark 13:24-37 (The Last Sunday of the Church Year: Series B )

Trust in the midst of trouble. That is what our Lord calls us to experience today.

Katie Koplin

11/11/21

When We Miscommunicate Our Prayers

We won’t use the right words, but the Holy Spirit is interceding with and for us, as we pray.

Chad Bird

11/10/21

Unloving Ex-Sins and Laughing at Scars

Fourteen years ago, drowning in the muck of dark despair, in the middle of a life gone terribly wrong, I wrote in my journal, "I wonder how, once this is all over, how I’ll be, how I’ll turn out…” Now I know.

Kyle G. Jones

11/10/21

The Bible and How to Read It - Part 4: How Do I Study It?

Reading, understanding, and studying Scripture is a life-long process of contemplation in conversation with others.

Bror Erickson

11/09/21

Introduction to the Gospels

This is an excerpt from “The New Testament Devotional Commentary: Volume 1: Matthew, Mark, Luke” written by Bo Giertz and translated by Bror Erickson (1517 Publishing, 2021).

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.

1517 grants permission for our free online resources to be printed, photocopied, and otherwise used freely for private and church use. We require that authorship and source (1517.org) are referenced and maintained. These resources may not be sold or included in any publications for sale.

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