When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not

By Russ Lackey | Mark Mattes

01/20/26

19mins

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.

Psalm 12, Part 2: The Saint Fails, The Word Purifies

Steven Paulson

01/16/26

Psalm 12, Part 2: The Saint Fails, The Word Purifies

God makes us pure saints by planting us back in the earth we imagined we needed to escape.

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John Bombaro

02/03/20

Epistle: I Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) (Epiphany 5: Series A)

Paul says Christian faith means confessing Jesus is Lord, beginning at the Cross, and owning the historical fact that God raised Him from the dead.

Jeffrey Pulse

02/03/20

Old Testament: Isaiah 58:3-9a (Epiphany 5: Series A)

There are good, God-pleasing reasons to attend a Divine Service, but worship attendance can also be an action by which we try to earn or deserve the favor and love of God. This is an ongoing struggle in every worshiping community.

Valerie Thur

01/31/20

How to Suffer Well

Your faith is not dependent on whether or not you suffer well. Your faith is dependent on the fact that Christ did.

Bror Erickson

01/30/20

John the Baptist on the Necessity of Baptism

We can rejoice in our own need and the gift we receive through baptism given by the same one by whom John desired to be baptized.

Gretchen Ronnevik

01/29/20

Your Bible Reading Plan Won't Save You

If I’m honest, I want that completed Bible reading plan more than I want grace.

Peter Nafzger

01/27/20

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 (Epiphany 4: Series A)

Our first mistake in thinking about the blessed life is we expect to experience it fully in this life.

John Bombaro

01/27/20

Epistle: Hebrews 2:14-18 (The Purification of Mary but also the Presentation of Our Lord)

This passage, above all others, speaks most fully about Jesus as the elder brother, the firstborn, of a large family; the family of God the Father, Creator of humankind.

Jeffrey Pulse

01/27/20

Old Testament: Micah 6:1-8 (Epiphany 4: Series A)

A close examination of the entire life and ministry of Jesus reflects the Exodus event, and Jesus is the New Moses/the prophet like Moses.

Bob Hiller

01/24/20

Good Gifts

The following is an excerpt from "Finding Christ in the Straw" written by Robert M. Hiller (1517 Publishing, 2020).

Erick Sorensen

01/23/20

Jesus and Troubled Waters

Even when God doesn’t take away the troubled waters of our life, he is the Bridge we can lean on no matter what storms may come our way.

Bror Erickson

01/23/20

Third Sunday After Epiphany: John 4:27-42

The following is an excerpt from “A Year of Grace: Collected Sermons of Advent through Pentecost” written by Bo Giertz and translated by Bror Erickson (1517 Publishing, 2019).

Craig Donofrio

01/22/20

Let Us Sing Our Faith

We sing, and in so doing, we are blessed as we are instilled with the word of God in word and song.

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