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

Adam Francisco
Adam Francisco
12/09/24

Jesus, Our Prophet

This is the first article in a special three-part Advent series on how Jesus is our prophet, priest, and king.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/06/24

Hannah and the Divine Upending of Grace

The Lord did for Hannah what he loves to do: he shifted everything into reverse, making the bottom the top and the top the bottom.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
12/05/24

The Unrivaled Christ

However knowledgeable you may become by reading Buddha or compassionate after following Gandhi, you will never find forgiveness in anyone else other than Christ alone.
Pete Lange
Pete Lange
12/04/24

The Real and True Rock

The crucified and risen Christ comes to renew, restore, and build up.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/03/24

An Advent Meditation: Does God Want Us To Reject Modernity?

The world rushes forward, lighting up screens and decking out storefronts in a mad sprint toward the next thing, but Advent pulls us back.
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson
12/02/24

Too Soon for Tinsel? Why November Christmas Lights Might Be More Than Holiday Hype

In Scripture, laments are raw expressions of grief, but they always point to hope. What if our culture’s obsession with holiday lights is an unconscious way of crying out, “We need good news, and we need it now”?
1517 Staff
1517 Staff
11/29/24

An Excerpt from His Gospel is Peace

Below is an excerpt from the personal devotional included in this year’s 1517 Advent Resources.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
11/04/24

Two Kingdoms, Three Estates, One Christ

One Christ rules over all of it. He is the constant, the root that nourishes every estate and every vocation.
Aaron Boerst
Aaron Boerst
11/01/24

Reforming the Reformation

No matter how many times we hear this good news, it never stops being good news.
John Bombaro
John Bombaro
10/24/24

Something About Mary

Mary looms large in our theology, our liturgy, our confessions and creeds.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
10/21/24

Simply Christ and Him Crucified

To preach Christ and him crucified is to keep the message simple and accessible.
Scott Keith
Scott Keith
10/16/24

Essential Reading for Lutheran Theology: The Thinking Fellows List

Below is the Thinking Fellows Essential Reading List with contributions from each of the Thinking Fellows hosts.
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