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.
Behold the Lamb
Bradley Gray
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
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.

All Articles

David Schmitt
David Schmitt
09/18/21

Gospel: Mark 9:38-50 (Pentecost 18: Series B )

You cannot “be what you want to be” and follow Jesus. Jesus has a higher calling for you, a calling which is more personal.
Paul Koch
Paul Koch
09/18/21

Performance in the Pulpit

What is it to perform the Word? Is it to speak about it, to retell it, to illustrate it, to enlighten it? What?
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
09/18/21

Luther versus Erasmus: Bound to Be Free (Part 5)

For Erasmus, it would be better for people in general to bear the disease of moralism and choice than to be cured of it by the preaching and teaching of God’s unconditional election of sinners in Christ.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
09/16/21

Leah: Waking up with the Wrong Sister

Rachel was the beloved wife, to be sure, but she was not the maternal link between Eve and Mary. That blessed position belonged to Leah.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
09/15/21

The Gospel According to Norm

Just like in the previous interview, I had to rewind to make sure I was hearing all this right. Yeah, that's actually what he said.
Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse
09/11/21

Old Testament: Jeremiah 11:18-20 (Pentecost 17: Series B )

The “Lamenter” does not ask to carry out the vengeance/action himself, rather He trusts the LORD God to take care of business.
Bob Hiller
Bob Hiller
09/11/21

Epistle: James 3:13-4:10 (Pentecost 17: Series B )

It is from this God, the Wisdom from Heaven who came down in our flesh to befriend sinners, you will learn true wisdom.
David Schmitt
David Schmitt
09/11/21

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 (Pentecost 17: Series B )

Jesus takes that which is overlooked and unappreciated and celebrates this child as the place where God is at work.
Caleb Keith
Caleb Keith
09/11/21

God's Response to Evil: Remembering 9/11

When sin comes out of the shadows and makes itself known, Christians can rest in and declare Christ's resurrection.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
09/10/21

Hypocrites and Work-Saints

The upright, in whom the law has exercised its work, when they feel their sickness and weakness, say: God will help me; I trust in him; I build upon him; he is my rock and hope.
Katie Koplin
Katie Koplin
09/09/21

Hannah: What to Do With Weakness?

This is the second installment in our series profiling women in the Bible (Who are not named Ruth or Esther). Both the stories of Ruth and Esther are beautiful, gracious, and profound. We love reading and rereading them. However, in an attempt to bring attention to more stories of more women throughout the Scriptures, we choose now to shift our focus.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
09/08/21

Good Guys and Bad Guys

But the biggest problem with the Pharisee’s prayer is that he judges himself compared to other people, rather than to God. Our natural tendency is to do just this.
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