The Consuming Fire and the Holiness That Comes Down
By Bradley Gray
10/02/25
23mins

The Consuming Fire and the Holiness That Comes Down

He doesn’t consume us, even though that is what we deserve. Instead, Jesus comes down to us and consumes all our sin by taking it on himself.
When Pastors Are Abused by Their Congregations
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
10/01/25

When Pastors Are Abused by Their Congregations

This article is the first part of a two-part series. The second part will take a look at when pastors abuse their congregations.
An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
09/30/25

An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136

The following entries are excerpts from Chad Bird’s new book, Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of the Psalms (1517 Publishing, 2025), pgs. 311 and 335

All Articles

David Schmitt
David Schmitt
09/02/19

Gospel: Luke 14:25-35 (Pentecost 13:Series C)

We would expect Jesus to be delighted people have responded to the master’s invitation. Instead, Jesus asks these people to reconsider whether they should be following Him or not.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
08/28/19

David vs. Goliath: We're Teaching the Story All Wrong

As we do in daily life, so we have done in our reading of the Bible: we have placed ourselves at the center, and Christ at the periphery.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
08/13/19

You’re Not Fine Just the Way You Are

Contrary to what pop-psychology, social media memes, and your sweet grandmother told you, you are not fine just the way you are.
John T. Pless
John T. Pless
08/12/19

Catechetical Preaching

[Luther's] Catechism is at home in the evangelical pulpit, guiding and shaping what the preacher says so faith might be created and love given direction.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
08/12/19

Gospel: Luke 12:49-56 (Pentecost 10: Series C)

Jesus is still in the business of dividing. He has come to divide us from our sinful thoughts and habits. He has come to divide us from false views of the world and distortions of His Word.
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
08/08/19

Preaching and Sola Scriptura

Preaching is simply the verbal bestowal of what Scripture has already given us in written form
Jacob Corzine
Jacob Corzine
08/05/19

Original Sin and Actual Sins

As I weigh briefly here the advantages and disadvantages of preaching original sin and preaching actual sin, I don’t mean to argue for one and against the other. Instead, I mean to suggest a benefit in focusing a given sermon on one or the other, and that neither type of sermon should be the only type a Christian hears.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
08/05/19

Gospel: Luke 12:22-34 (Pentecost 9: Series C)

The Father knows our needs because he knows everything. This is a comforting thought, but only if He is gracious.
Grant Klembara
Grant Klembara
08/05/19

Killing Our Hero, Martin Luther

Martin Luther is not–or, at least should not–be the object of our affection.
John Bombaro
John Bombaro
07/28/19

Epistle: Colossians 3:1-11 (Pentecost 8: Series C)

Indeed, baptism is life because resurrection is life. Nothing short of regeneration—renewal of life—is accomplished by God through sheer grace because of Christ Jesus.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
07/28/19

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21 (Pentecost 8: Series C)

Jesus names what life does not consist of, and in doing so he gets to something near and dear to our hearts as Americans—our possessions.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/27/19

Three Hidden Hebrew Treasures in Psalm 23

These treasures show us that, no matter how well we think we know this poem, there’s always more layers to uncover.
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