A Church for Amnesiacs
Even after Jesus made it clear in His actions and commands that God’s grace is for all sinners, the apostles forgot the promises they received from their Savior.
Contributors
Joel Hess
Joel Hess is the senior pastor of St. James Church & School Chicago, host of the down-to-earth podcast, Ringside with the Preachermen, and a regular contributor to 1517. Along with performing in his band, Sunday Morning Moonshine, he enjoys fighting the system with painting, poetry and cocktail parties.
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.
Who Did Jesus Marry?
Did Jesus ever marry? Yes, He married you!
Seeking the Lost
The only obedient son is shunned so that the disobedient one may return. Why? Because God loves sinners. He doesn’t leave them alone.
Why Church is For You
All other wonderful teachings of Holy Scripture from creation to Christ’s coming again are absolutely worthless without being understood in light of Jesus, death, and resurrection for sinners.
What To Tell People Who Already Know the Gospel
Jesus is in the business of proclaiming such a beautiful redundancy.
He Must Be Out of His Mind
Out of His mind indeed, as He took our place between murderers and received the insults and torture of humanity.
I Don’t Want To Be A Poor Widow
Our crucified Lord makes it clear that the widow’s worthless giving was far greater than a million dollars because she gave all she had.
Only Christ Treats Us Like Human Beings
Some lie and tell us that to sin is to be ourselves. But it is not. Sin is not natural to humanity.
We Only Baptize Babies
God only baptizes babies. He only saves babies. He only resurrects babies.
He is Risen: You Can Stop Pretending Death Is OK
Because of Jesus, we don’t have to pretty up anything ugly thing in life.
Practicing to Die, Practicing to Rise
The greatest joy of Lent is failing at it only to find Jesus has already done it for us.
Jesus is a Better Prayer Warrior Than Me
Jesus went on ahead and took our cross, our sins of poor discipleship, our weak faith, our rebellion against God’s command.
Beware It's a Trap
Let us preach Christ and Him crucified to the masses.
All You Have To Do Is Be Silent
From the very beginning, God made everything out of nothing. For mankind’s redemption, God’s Son did everything while we did nothing
The Joy of Repentance
Repentance is not a call to improve. It is a call to die.
The Light Shines in the Darkness
But another possible translation for the Greek word we translate as ‘overcome’ and one maybe more consistent with the context is ‘comprehend.’
Christmas is for the Naughty List
Merry Christmas sinner! Jesus was born for you. He died and rose for you.
Christmas on the Battlefield
In the midst of suffering, hate, and sin, Jesus sets a table for soldiers. He feeds the fearful with forgiveness and eternal life.
Morality is Cowardice
The moral high ground isn’t anything to find comfort in. God gives us something better—Jesus.
Still Replacing Relics
The devil tempts us to hope in things that we can do.
Taking Ground
Rather than presenting Christ’s words as a rule or a threat, Luther reveals it to be the promise of God.
I Am That Guy
We all desperately need God’s only Son to take our place, to cleanse us by His blood, to wipe away our evil deeds.
No Longer A Mystery! David Lynch and Jesus
While Lynch might not be everyone’s cup of tea, he certainly paints a world that many of our neighbors can relate to: a strange place governed by inexplicable entities, causes and forces.
Spiritual Anorexia
She does not see a Christian in the mirror. She sees a doubter.
When We Get Our Spiritual House In Order, We’ll Be Dead
However, right before I affirmed her proposal, it dawned on me, “Isn’t every worship service and Bible study for those struggling with faith, life, and fear?!”
Stay in the Boat!
Not afraid, Jesus decided to take a different mode of transportation across the rough waters—his feet.
You Are Already Dead! So Live!
In Christ we are already dead to sin and the eternal consequences of sin. “There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,” writes Paul (Romans 8:1).
Jesus Doesn't Need You to March for Him
If God is God, He doesn’t need anyone to defend Him. Nor does He need anyone to march for Him.
A Better Altar Call
That week, I began to doubt myself. Did I really believe?
Out of Our Minds Yet Safely in His
From a secret place deeper than the muscle tissue of her brain she spoke Jesus’ words. Words He planted there long ago.
Hey Pastor, Your Church Is Not Healthy (goggles required)
Your church is not healthy. If they were healthy, they wouldn’t need someone to heal them.
What Did Your Funeral Look Like?
The fact is no one dies with dignity.
Fight Club Faith
What is your fight club? Who is your Tyler Durden?
Anything Else You Worship Will Eat You Alive
Whether one believes Jesus to be God or not, His words and actions proclaim that He did not come to be served but to serve.
Lost at Home
Though they have never left the church, they have been lost all the while.
What Does It Mean When Jesus Says, "I Am The Way"?
He does not offer a linear route or a series of actions. He offers Himself. In very simple straightforward words, He declares, “I am the way.”
The Fruit of a Culture That Worships Individualism: Loneliness
We have now reached a point where many believe so strongly in individualism that nothing else matters.
Through His Church, Christ's Story is Your Story
The story did not end with Jesus' death and resurrection, or even with the Acts of the Apostles.
The Church is not a Hospital for Sinners, It's a Morgue for the Dead
It is the strangest of morgues—people arrive dead as doornails and leave alive.
Where Is Jesus?
In his Gospel account, Luke challenges us to play "Where is Jesus?"
Spending Advent in God’s Winter Garden
So it is with my little garden as well; dead, so it would seem. Nothing. Barren.
How Can We Trust The Information Filterers?
Still, sadly, many polls suggest that above 50% of Americans get their news from social media sites as opposed to actual news sites.
The Reformation Will Not Be Televised
The same can be said of the Reformation. I have often heard both Roman Catholic and Lutheran brothers and sisters bemoan the celebration of the Reformation.