Spiritual But Not Useless
By 1517 Guest Contributor
09/18/25
11mins

Spiritual But Not Useless

Christian spirituality is not a flight from the world, but a deep dive into its brokenness.
When Silence Speaks: A Christian Call to Restraint in the Age of Opinions
Ryan Couch
Ryan Couch
09/17/25

When Silence Speaks: A Christian Call to Restraint in the Age of Opinions

At the end of the day, what do you want to be known for? Your opinions, or your Savior?
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk and the Promise of Christian Suffering
Caleb Keith
Caleb Keith
09/16/25

The Assassination of Charlie Kirk and the Promise of Christian Suffering

Charlie Kirk’s murder is a reminder that Christians will be hated for what we believe, teach, and confess about this sinful world and because of the God who has died and risen to save it.

All Articles

Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/27/16

My Top Ten Articles of 2016

Thank you for all you do to encourage me, pray for me, and remind me of the grace of Christ which forms the foundation of all I write.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/17/16

When a Dragon Tried to Eat Jesus: The Nativity Story We Don't Talk About

The dragon who failed to devour the child in the manger swallows the man atop the cross. In so doing, unbeknownst to this beast, he ate poison.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/14/16

"O Eden, Choked by Sweat and Thorn" -- A Christmas Hymn

The church cannot stop singing of the joy of the Incarnation. Here is another hymn to add to the long list of poetry focused on Emmanuel.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/11/16

Oh Happy Fall Into Sin!

He created us with an eye on recreating us. He made humanity in his image because one day he would assume that image. The Creator would become a creature while remaining Creator.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/03/16

Two Ways to Launch Your Career in the Self-Salvation Business

Sometimes we try be the bad god, sometimes the good god, oftentimes a freaky hybrid of both. The result is the same: Jesus the savior just gets in our way.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/30/16

Gospel Phobia

If the devil took over a church, I suspect it would be bursting at the seams every Sunday, with smiling faces, clean noses, straight morals, conservative voting, institutional fidelity
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/27/16

Six Words That Make All the Difference in the World

In those waters we are nailed to his cross and washed out the door of his tomb. Within his wounds we safely hide.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/24/16

When Turkeys Preach

It’s strange that we’ll stuff our mouths today with a bird whose life preaches against us. For consider the turkeys, which neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/23/16

Why Is God Punishing Me?

It was Jesus who appeared to Hagar, comforted her, and gave her the promise of future blessings. It was Jesus who came to her when it seemed everything and everyone else had let her down.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/16/16

Showing Mercy to Former Ministers

I don’t care why you left the ministry—moral failure, congregational politics, burnout, whatever—the Christ whom you proclaimed has not left you.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/14/16

The Sex Worker Who Teaches Us the Fear of the Lord

Hear that confession of saving faith? Rahab may have been a prostitute in Jericho, but she was secretly a virgin daughter of Yahweh.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/06/16

Animals Teach Us How to Read the Bible

The church is God’s flock. Jesus is both a lion and a lamb. The zoo turns out to be as packed with theology as a seminary, if not more.
1517 is a Christian non-profit (501(c)3) multi-media organization. Our mission is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free on account of the death and resurrection of Jesus alone.
1517.org
Search
Academy
Donate

1517 grants permission for our free online resources to be printed, photocopied, and otherwise used freely for private and church use. We require that authorship and source (1517.org) are referenced and maintained. These resources may not be sold or included in any publications for sale.