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

Chad Bird
Chad Bird
04/15/19

The Gospel According to Noah

When Lamech named his newborn son Noah—which means “rest”—he said, “This one shall give us comfort from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed”
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
04/09/19

The Truly Good Shepherd

You have heard that after his sufferings and death Christ our Lord arose from the dead and entered upon, and was enthroned in, an immortal existence.
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson
04/02/19

God Shows Up When The Chips Are Down

If everyone would just live by the rules, the world would be a better place, wouldn’t it?
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson
03/26/19

Why Bad News Is Good News

Martin Luther knew something about economics. Well, God’s economics anyway.
Robert Kolb
Robert Kolb
03/24/19

Meditating on the Passion (A Forgotten Art: For Preachers and the Entire Congregation)

Lenten meditation is the one time Luther might advise us to be turning in on ourselves--and taking a cold, honest glance. For only in the shadow of the Cross can we look honsetly into the cause of the death of the man from Nazareth, the second person of the Trinity.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
03/21/19

Agree With Your Enemy

Paul describes this faith in most significant words, namely, when we cry Abba! Father! For in the spirit of fear it is not possible to cry, for we can scarcely open our mouth or mumble.
Kyle G. Jones
Kyle G. Jones
03/06/19

Examples of Grace

I was once asked why I thought young people were leaving the church in droves after they graduated high school.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/21/19

The Two Most Important Days In Your Life

We have at least one thing going for us: we know the first of these two days —our birthday.
Brandon Hanson
Brandon Hanson
02/20/19

Can I Get a Fruit Check?

We’ve all been there, waiting in line to check out, and the person ahead of us questions the price of something that was just rung up.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
02/19/19

God Speaks to Us to Give Us Gifts

When we say “forgiveness,” we mean, “Jesus.” When we say, “righteousness,” we mean, “Jesus.”
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson
02/15/19

God’s Not Looking For Spiritual Gurus

To be human is to be preoccupied with averting pain and despair. But despair gets a bad rap.
Scott Keith
Scott Keith
02/15/19

Meeting Melanchthon

In honor of the anniversary of Philip Melanchthon’s Birthday, the following is an excerpt from Meeting Melanchthon written by Scott Keith (1517 Publishing, 2017).
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