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

Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
07/02/19

When We Go to War with God

Original sin produces violent fruit.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/02/19

When Blood Takes the Microphone

Three of the most profound truths embedded in the fabric of the universe are that blood has a voice, blood cries out to God, and blood is heard by heaven.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
07/01/19

Sin is Boring

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion. It can get ahold of a person and turn him all the way in on himself. What seemed a brief reflection lingers for hours, days, weeks, even years.
Joshua Miller
Joshua Miller
07/01/19

Freedom from Food Piety

Our righteousness and the righteousness of our neighbor have nothing to do with what we eat or do not eat.
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
06/26/19

Why History Matters to the Christian

When the church has gone astray, it has been the responsible (not slavish) approach to history that has helped correct the course.
Luke Kjolhaug
Luke Kjolhaug
06/25/19

The Secret to Happiness

Happiness is a slippery term. We all want it. We're all supposed to pursue it. But nobody seems to know how to obtain it.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
06/25/19

Time Doesn't Heal All Wounds, but Jesus Does

Our past, present, and future receive healing from Jesus’ wounds.
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
06/21/19

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Theology of the Cross

I’d like to offer a short reflection on the theme of “worldliness” as it appears in his later work and how that’s connected to an item of his Lutheran heritage: the theology of the cross.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
06/18/19

Jesus is Unconquered

When we brag about what Jesus does for us, we win the battle.
Philip Bartelt
Philip Bartelt
06/14/19

Luther's Counsel for Miscarriage

They cannot know that I am already a father, but, this side of eternity, I won’t ever meet my child because of a miscarriage.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
06/14/19

Christians in a Time of Pride and Shame

Shame is shameful. That may seem obvious but ponder this observation from the authors of Scenes of Shame: “Shame, indeed, covers shame itself—it is shameful to express shame.”
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
06/12/19

Stop Sign Theology

All I need to know about your spiritual condition, I can discover by watching you drive your car. What I’ve learned is that everyone is a lawbreaker, including me. It’s as simple as asking a few short questions about your driving habits...
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