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

Scott Keith
Scott Keith
04/03/17

The Gospel as the Dynamite of Salvation and Vocation as the Scaffolding of the Christian Life

What on God’s green earth does dynamite, a chemical explosive, have to do with the Gospel of Christ?
Wade Johnston
Wade Johnston
03/29/17

The Only Sane Man in Town

Who was this Jesus, who could do such things?
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/28/17

The Worrisome Gospel

True faith, saving faith that receives the good news about the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is a faith created in us by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel (Eph 2:8-9).
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/16/17

Our Deepest Fear

There is nothing more appealing than someone telling me I can be whatever I want to be, do whatever I want to do, accomplish whatever I set out to accomplish. No boundaries. No walls.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/15/17

A Christian Looks to Christ

Forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and eternal life aren't handed out by God because we deserve it.
Joel Hess
Joel Hess
03/09/17

Lost at Home

Though they have never left the church, they have been lost all the while.
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Sam P. Schuldheisz
03/08/17

Is Batman Fulfilling His Vocation?

In Christian terms, this is a perfect example of the doctrine of vocation, where God calls us to serve our neighbor.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
03/02/17

The Gospel: No Strings Attached

I don't remember the first time I heard the gospel, but I do remember the first time I began to understand it.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/19/17

My Great-Grandmother Handed Her Husband Over to the Devil

She wasn’t so much giving up on her husband as giving up on herself. She was giving up trying to be the person who changes another person. It was going to take more than her to reform the man she loved.
Bror Erickson
Bror Erickson
02/15/17

The Get Down

Today, people often bemoan the loss of children in the church.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
02/14/17

The Law of Christ

It's difficult enough for us to bear anothers' burdens, but carry another person's sin for him? Why would we do that?
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/13/17

Joy Has No Expiration Date: A Story of Love Worth Waiting For

Their love story was a long time in coming. He was 82 and she 74. And this was the first, and the last, marriage for both.
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