By 1517 Staff

12/29/25

17mins

1517's Favorite Books from 2025

Below is a list of our favorite theological books - across all categories - from 2025. A special thanks to our contributors who submitted titles, wrote summaries and full reviews for these books and more throughout the year.

The Scandal and Splendor of the Savior’s Birth

Bradley Gray

12/26/25

The Scandal and Splendor of the Savior’s Birth

Every sinner can trace their salvation back to this moment when the Savior was born in accordance with the Word of God so that all of God’s words would be realized.

What to Preach and Not to Preach at Christmas

Steven Paulson

12/25/25

What to Preach and Not to Preach at Christmas

Christmas is not for remembering, thinking, pondering, trying to make sure you are really celebrating it properly, or for wondering whether you truly have faith.

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Gerhard Forde

02/09/23

The Last Word

This sermon was originally given at Luther Seminary chapel on May 20, 1986.

Bob Sundquist

02/05/23

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

Isaiah says in summary “liturgical ritual without works is dead” because we render the meaningful worship of God meaningless and even sinful when we do not love our neighbor.

Michael Berg

02/02/23

The Presentation of Our Lord

Forty days after giving birth, Mary, along with her husband Joseph, presented their firstborn Son at the temple and "bought" him back with a sacrifice of two small birds. This is known as the "Presentation of Our Lord."

Kevin Hale

02/01/23

Law and Gospel in 2 Corinthians 3

Rightly distinguishing between law and gospel, as Paul helps us see in 2 Corinthians 3, is, quite literally, a matter of life and death.

Bob Sundquist

01/29/23

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

He has given us more than a surprise Gospel in our text. He has given us everything we need for life and salvation in Him.

Bradley Gray

01/25/23

Consider Jesus

All of Scripture, every last syllable of it, is meant to drive us to "consider Jesus," the One who comes to "make us right" by gifting us his righteousness.

Robert Kolb

01/24/23

God and His Human Creatures in Luther’s Sermons on Genesis

This is an excerpt from “The Alien and the Proper: Luther's Two-Fold Righteousness in Controversy, Ministry, and Citizenship,” edited by Robert Kolb (1517 Publishing, 2023). Now available for purchase.

Donavon Riley

01/23/23

And From That Very Hour, You Are Healed

Jesus not only healed her daughter, but he also gave himself to her. Wherever she went from then on, he was with her.

Robert Kolb

01/17/23

Our Theology - Luther’s Two Kinds of Righteousness: A Personal Reflection

This is an excerpt from “The Alien and the Proper: Luther's Two-Fold Righteousness in Controversy, Ministry, and Citizenship,” edited by Robert Kolb (1517 Publishing, 2023).

Ryan Couch

01/16/23

I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins

God gives us the power and authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to burdened sinners who entrust us with their pain, guilt, and defeat.

Gerhard Forde

01/12/23

A Real Person

Fullness, truth, reality – all this God gives us as his gift in Christ.

Haroldo Camacho

01/10/23

Another Look at the "Loving" Expert on the Law

The law had to have its way with the expert to bring him around (and back) to Abraham's response.

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