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

Joel Hess
Joel Hess
10/24/18

The Gospel is Only for Consumers

Perhaps the answer to creating a healthier church and a more invested people is found in preaching more clearly the full freeing Gospel.
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
10/19/18

An Introduction to Luther's Theology of the Cross

The following is an excerpt from the introduction to Theology of the Cross: Reflections on Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation written by Steve Paulson and edited by Kelsi Klembara and Caleb Keith (1517 Publishing, 2018).
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
10/15/18

Enemies Of The Cross

The thing seems incredible, and I would not have believed it myself, nor have understood Paul’s words here, had I not witnessed it with my own eyes and experienced it.
Wade Johnston
Wade Johnston
10/12/18

Theses 27-28: Love for the Unlovable

But these good works aren’t done under compulsion. They’re done freely. They aren’t done so that God will love us. They’re done because He loves us.
Valerie Thur
Valerie Thur
10/11/18

What If and What Is

For all its stewing, regret ironically does not truly focus on the past. Often it is more concerned with the present and the future and how they would be if only we had done something differently.
Bonnie Petroschuk
Bonnie Petroschuk
10/09/18

Jesus Loves Me, This I Know

I have been very busy lately, trying to understand things.
John W. Hoyum
John W. Hoyum
10/08/18

The Law, Between Fear and Freedom

What we notice less often is that this same fear wonders about both the efficacy of the Gospel and the Law.
Rod Rosenbladt
Rod Rosenbladt
10/05/18

Theses 25-26: The Final Turn

From Our Series on Luthers, Heidelberg Disputation.
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
10/03/18

Getting Saved, Doing Nothing

We are saved by grace, and strictly speaking, not by an offer.
Haroldo Camacho
Haroldo Camacho
10/01/18

The Abandoned

As I write this, I wonder if perhaps I am stretching things a bit thinking that it would be relevant to a considerably more sophisticated audience. Perhaps we already know the Gospel, that we are all sinners.
Jake Allstaedt
Jake Allstaedt
09/28/18

It Never Depended Upon You

I visited a senior man at his home the other day. I'll refer to him as “Jim.”
Cindy Koch
Cindy Koch
09/28/18

Theses 22-24: The Wisdom of the Cross

A part of our series on Luther's, Heidelberg Disputation.
1517 is a Christian non-profit (501(c)3) multi-media organization. Our mission is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free on account of the death and resurrection of Jesus alone.
1517.org
Search
Academy
Donate

1517 grants permission for our free online resources to be printed, photocopied, and otherwise used freely for private and church use. We require that authorship and source (1517.org) are referenced and maintained. These resources may not be sold or included in any publications for sale.