The Original Sin of Preaching: The Constant Craving for a Useful God in Pulpit and Pew
By Magnus Persson
03/25/26
12mins

The Original Sin of Preaching: The Constant Craving for a Useful God in Pulpit and Pew

God is not a tool in our hands. He does not exist to serve our goals, our metrics, or our platforms.
Even Chuck Norris Needed a Savior
Russ Lackey
Russ Lackey
03/23/26

Even Chuck Norris Needed a Savior

The gospel isn’t for the strong but people who know they aren’t.
Post-Denominational Lutheranism
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
03/20/26

Post-Denominational Lutheranism

One great thing about our post-denominational age is that it has opened up opportunities to make common cause with other Lutherans who, despite their differences and eccentricities, can agree on some of the most important things.

All Articles

Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
08/27/24

Yours Is the Victory

Press on, church. Yours is the victory through Jesus Christ your Lord.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
08/26/24

Indifference Is A Most Deadly Poison

It is the story of a God who is not distant, not indifferent, not doing anything in half-measures, but who is here, now.
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
08/22/24

God's Self-Revelation in Nature

Nature ends in stinging judgment from its Creator.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
08/21/24

God's Use of Nature

As both law and gospel are proclaimed, judgment and deliverance are miraculously pronounced over the hearer.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
08/12/24

Listen to Him

With so many TV preachers, pastors, and Bible teachers claiming to be authoritative voices for God himself, how do you know who to listen to?
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
08/01/24

When The I AM Moves in Our Direction

The gospel is his weapon that beats back the darkness — “I AM the Resurrection and the Life. Bow your head, bend the knee when I walk by.”
Christopher J. Richmann
Christopher J. Richmann
07/23/24

The Fate of American Revivalism

When the historical importance of revivalism is understood, one can appreciate that the question, “Could America experience another revival?” is also a question about the fate of Christianity in America.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
07/11/24

What Makes the Church Fundamentally Unique?

This week, when you go to church, take a moment to reflect that you are being summoned by a loving Father, hands full of gifts he wants to give.
Michael Berg
Michael Berg
07/08/24

The Church Year

This is an edited excerpt from Addendum A, “The Church Year,” On Any Given Sunday: The Story of Christ in the Divine Service, written by Michael Berg (1517 Publishing, 2023), pgs. 113-120.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
06/24/24

Unshakable Hope

If your faith is rooted in the gospel of Zion, in the good news of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection on your behalf, you are already a member of the “heavenly Jerusalem”
John T. Pless
John T. Pless
06/21/24

Confession and Absolution

This is an excerpt from “Confession and Absolution” by John T. Pless in Common Places in Theology: A Curated Collection of Essays from Lutheran Quarterly, edited by Mark Mattes, (1517 Publishing 2023).
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
06/18/24

The Weird Time Is About to Happen

With the Spirit we will get lost in the world. We are on a new track.
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