In the beginning, we read about the invention of religion. It begins simply enough in Genesis 3

Our goal is to proclaim the genuine good news—that’s what “Gospel” means—of Christ’s forgiveness for you. We do not offer you better tips, techniques or checklists. Instead, You Are Forgiven is sermons by faithful pastors who will clearly show how you cannot be forgiven by your own efforts, no matter how well you do on your homework, your checklist of tasks. But they will also show how you are actually and already forgiven because Jesus has done all that is needed, for you!

The story continues in Genesis 3 when Cindy and her children talk about God’s curses on His Creation: the First Consequences for Sin. Together they will discover how God’s good creation changed, not only for the first man and woman, but also for us today.

No matter how great our efforts or how righteous our intent, we will go from troubled to scared, and scared to terrified, unless we are sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb.

When we talk about love then, let us not talk about ourselves.

Babies need to be baptized for the same reason that all Christians need to be absolved: All of us are born into and contribute to this sin-wrecked show of a life.

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion. It can get ahold of a person and turn him all the way in on himself.

Jesus loves His church. He cleans her up. He takes her as His own. And He leads her.

We’ve been desperate—and it is a gift of God when we are, when we realize our lost condition!

Salvation starts in being a sinner and knowing it because that's where God starts salvation, in making "Him to be Sin who knew no sin."

I take out the broom, spray bottle, and trash can. For the hundredth time this week, I find myself sweeping up the mess of a Christmas to come.

Lose trust in the free grace of the righteousness of Christ alone, and the holiness of the Church and all in her is lost.