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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John Bombaro

11/22/20

Epistle: I Corinthians 1:3-9 (Advent 1: Series B)

Human history and especially the Christian life have a shape and Jesus is its shaper at every point.

David Schmitt

11/22/20

Gospel: Mark 13:24-37 (Advent 1: Series B)

Jesus desires for us to watch. The question, however, is, “How do we watch for the return of Jesus?”

Donavon Riley

11/17/20

Jesus has Overcome Evil

Jesus overcame sin, death, and Satan on the cross. His bloody suffering and death marked this sinful world's defeat.

David Schmitt

11/15/20

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 (Pentecost 25: Series A)

In this context where death looms large, Jesus reveals a kingdom where life looms even larger.

John Bombaro

11/15/20

Epistle: I Corinthians 15:20-28 (Pentecost 25: Series A)

The resurrection of Jesus was the moment when the one true God appointed the Man through whom the whole cosmos would be brought back into its proper order. A man got us into this mess; the Man would get it out again.

Jeffrey Pulse

11/15/20

Old Testament: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 (Pentecost 29: Series A)

The “New David” will manifest the power of the LORD and will not set Himself in opposition as did the false shepherds.

David Schmitt

11/08/20

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30 (Pentecost 24: Series A)

The tragedy of this parable is not the failure to serve. It is the failure to truly know your Savior.

John Bombaro

11/08/20

Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (Pentecost 24: Series A)

There is life after death and, more gloriously, there is life after life after death, the resurrection of the body.

Jeffrey Pulse

11/08/20

Old Testament: Zephaniah 1:7-16 (Pentecost 24: Series A)

Obviously, the Day of the LORD looks frightening according to the words of Zephaniah the prophet. The question is: “For whom?”

Jeffrey Pulse

11/01/20

Old Testament: Amos 5:18-24 (Pentecost 23: Series A)

Because Israel has turned the eschatology of the Day of the LORD into “escapism” Amos turns that notion on its head in his prophecy.

John Bombaro

11/01/20

Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (Pentecost 23: Series A)

Mindful that the pagans’ understanding of death is a finality, Paul says, “NO!” Death is not the end of humanity in God’s new world.

David Schmitt

11/01/20

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 (Pentecost 23: Series A)

The parable is harsh. It judges. If you do not believe, you will not be saved. But let us pause for a moment and think about why Jesus is telling the parable.

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