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

Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
08/09/20

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28 (Pentecost 11: Series A)

This week’s miracle invites you to engage in an honest consideration of something pressing for every believer at some time in their lives: God’s silence.
Gretchen Ronnevik
Gretchen Ronnevik
08/07/20

Disappointing People

Sometimes I think I've gone through the whole forgiveness process, but forgiveness for me often feels like I'm weeding my garden. I forgive and another offense pops up.
Haroldo Camacho
Haroldo Camacho
08/07/20

Released from Double Jeopardy

He will plead guilty on our behalf, and suffer the death sentence in our place.
Cindy Koch
Cindy Koch
08/05/20

Fleeting Made Whole

Who are we if neither vice nor virtue will make us whole?
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
08/05/20

A Little While

Although human reason pretends to understand a great deal about work and word of God. The glory of it is too bright, the longer he beholds it the blinder he becomes.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
08/04/20

What Sin and Death Cannot Do

There is a power that is stronger and mightier than the power of separation in death. And that power is the power of God’s love for you and me.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
08/03/20

It is Better to Not See

Miracles, for all their wonder and encouragement, rely on the dazzling of our senses to work. Because miracle-faith produces sensory-faith, it is of a poor quality.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
08/02/20

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33 (Pentecost 10: Series A)

If the feeding of the 5000 invited an emphasis on Jesus’ COMPASSION, this week’s miracle invites a sermon focused on Jesus’ AUTHORITY.
Michael Berg
Michael Berg
07/31/20

Acceptable Prayers

Your prayers are not what make you acceptable in his sight. You have already been made acceptable through the blood of Christ.
Gerhard Forde
Gerhard Forde
07/30/20

The Radical Gospel

There is no justification except by faith alone. The radical forgiveness itself puts the old to death and calls forth the new.
Pete Lange
Pete Lange
07/30/20

Remembering Rembrandt

“Rembrandt goes so deep into the mysterious that he says things for which there are no words in any language.”
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
07/29/20

The Most Unexpected Gospel

The Gospels function like literary essays, composed with a specific thesis and purpose in mind. Each account of Jesus’s life acts as a treatise to show us something about the person and work of the Savior.
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