By Donavon Riley

01/21/26

13mins

Why Christian Tradition? Why Confession

Confession isn’t a detour in the liturgy. It’s the doorway.

When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not

Russ Lackey |

Mark Mattes

01/20/26

When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not

American religion did not become optional because the gospel failed. It became optional because religion slowly redefined itself around usefulness.

Bradley Gray

01/19/26

Behold the Lamb

The Passover wasn’t just Israel’s story; it’s ours.

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Matt Johnson

07/26/19

When to Pass on a Baptism Candidate

Everything was perfectly teed up to move the needle on the baptism metric, but I just couldn’t do it. I told her she shouldn't get baptized.

Donavon Riley

07/26/19

Q&A with Donavon Riley for "Crucifying Religion"

The following is a Question and Answer session with author and pastor Donavon Riley where we talk about his latest book, “Crucifying Religion: How Jesus is the End of Religion”.

Bradley Gray

07/24/19

Growing Downward: Thoughts on Sanctification & Spiritual Maturity

Growth and maturity in the Spirit doesn’t look like we think it does. That’s because it’s backward.

Dan van Voorhis

07/24/19

Happy Birthday, John Newton! Hymn Writer and Slave Trader (Or, what to do when our heroes turn out to be scoundrels)

John Newton was a scoundrel, a pirate, and a slave trader.

Paul Dunk

07/23/19

The Heart: Like an 80's Chevy

We are saved by God's grace, apart from our work – so why does obtaining God's wisdom require such work?

John Bombaro

07/22/19

Pre-Packaged Sermons

Matters of integrity and relationship are compromised when pastors preach pre-packed sermon series.

Peter Nafzger

07/22/19

Gospel: Luke 11:1-13 (Pentecost 7: Series C)

When we pray, we should have in mind His name and His provision and His forgiveness. In other words, we ask God to do what God promises to do.

John Bombaro

07/22/19

Epistle: Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) (Pentecost 7: Series C)

Believers are reminded—and the preacher is to remind them—baptism marks the forgiveness of sins, the end of legal demands, justification and regeneration, and the ultimate triumph over rulers and powers.

Brennan Manning

07/19/19

Reformation, Righteousness, and Real Good News

The central affirmation of the Reformation stands: Through no merit of ours, but by His mercy, we have been restored to a right relationship with God through the life, death, and resurrection of His beloved Son

Chad Bird

07/18/19

The Escape from a Religious Sodom

In this religious Sodom, we had a Jesus with the heart of Moses whose gospel was a new and improved law.

John T. Pless

07/15/19

Summer Reading List for Preachers

Good reading is an ingredient for good preaching. Here are a few books –most of them relatively new- which you might want to put on your summer reading list.

John Bombaro

07/15/19

Epistle: Colossians 1: 21-29 (Pentecost 6: Series C)

Baptized believers are in Christ and of Christ. Once they were alienated from and hostile to God, now they have been reconciled through the work of Christ. This forgiveness is not unconditional. Christ is the condition and, indeed, He fulfills all the conditions.

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