in Catechesis

The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church

Be sure to check out other resources from Dr. Rosenbladt and apologetics materials from Dr. John Warwick Montgomery at the 1517 Legacy Project.


This MP3 of the recording of Dr. Rosenbladt’s presentation is tailor-made for all those folks who are “mad” at and “sad” about Christianity BECAUSE they have been “baited and switched” by the church.

If the Ten Commandments were not impossible enough, the preaching of Christian behavior, of Christian ethics, of Christian living, can drive a Christian into despairing unbelief. Not happy unbelief. Tragic, despairing, sad unbelief. (It is not unlike the [unhappy] Christian equivalent of “Jack Mormons” – those who finally admit to themselves and others that they can’t live up to the demands of this non-Christian cult’s laws, and excuse themselves from the whole sheebang.) A diet of this stuff from pulpit, from curriculum, from a Christian reading list, can do a work on a Christian that is (at least over the long haul) “faith destroying.”

In this staggeringly potent presentation, Dr. Rosenbladt tackles what plagues many ‘recovering Christians’. Sticking to his unchanging theme of 200-proof Gospel, using his own history as an agnostic “outsider” to Christianity, Dr. Rosenbladt delivers the grace of the cross with all its potency, undiluted. If you’ve struggled with your faith in your church because of what you’re seeing and hearing (and maybe don’t even go to church anymore), you don’t want to miss this powerful address – an unabashed analysis of the church today and what it is doing to many believers – from one who has experienced it himself.

Are we Christians saved the same way we were when we were baptized into Christ, or when we came to acknowledge Christ’s shed blood and His righteousness as all we had in the face of God’s holy law? That all of our supposed “virtue” – Christian or pagan – is just like so many old menstrual garments (to use the Bible phrase)? But that God imputes to those who trust Christ’s cross the true righteousness of Christ Himself? We are pretty sure that unbelievers who come to believe this are instantly justified in God’s sight, declared as if innocent, adopted as sons or daughters, forgiven of all sin, given eternal life, etc. But are Christians still saved that freely? Or are we not? We are pretty clear that imputed righteousness saves sinners. But can the imputed righteousness of Christ save a Christian? And can it save him or her all by itself? Or no?

For all of you who have been given morality lessons instead of the Gospel, hear how Dr. Rod Rosenbladt succinctly presents Christianity as first and foremost a genuine truth claim about Christ as our righteous substitute, instead of a never ending list of popular religious recipes for personal success.


Download the MP3 file.

Download the PDF formatted for a regular sheet of paper.

Download the PDF formatted for a booklet.

Dr. Rod Rosenbladt on “The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church” fromFaith Lutheran Church on Vimeo.


Be sure to also check out the sequel, Christianity in Five Verses:

This lecture by Dr. Rod Rosenbladt given in the Concordia University Chapel on February 14 of 2011 is what we are considering the long awaited sequel to the “The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church.” Once again it is some of his finest work. Though he didn’t set out to create such a sequel, you will notice Dr. Rosenbladt borrows from his former presentation throughout this new one.

What we are affinitively calling “Christianity In Five Verses” could rightfully be titled “The Gospel” or “What is Christianity?” This powerful lecture goes right to the center of what the Christian faith is, cutting through all the claptrap and fluff that so often diverts us from the core message of the Scriptures. Dr. Rosenbladt clearly and concisely lays down Gospel right from the text of the Scriptures and contrasts this message with what often masquerades as the Gospel. This is a must-listen for every Christian, but especially for pastors and teachers charged with teaching and preaching God’s Word, and for those actively involved in sharing their faith with others.

We recommend this lecture at least as much as we do “The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church.” It is similarly being made available for free. Download it, share it with others without restriction, post it on your blog or Facebook wall. All we ask is that if you do, please include a link back to our website here at the 1517 Legacy Project.

But whatever you do, don’t miss this one. It is only a little over 22 minutes long.

DOWNLOAD Christianity in Five Verses (MP3)