The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form

After having spent time in his community preaching and teaching, Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do the people say that I am?" For those of us who grew up Christian, how we answered that question was of utmost importance. However, as we mature in our faith, an equally important question begins to emerge: how do we tell the story of Jesus? There are many ways to tell the story of Jesus, but how we choose to tell it significantly info...

Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus's disciples. The Gospels say she traveled with him, was present at his crucifixion, and was the first to see him after his resurrection. Most Christians don't view her as one of the more important disciples, if they see her as a disciple at all. However, this wasn't always the case; plenty of evidence suggests that the writings attributed to Mary played a key role in shaping the early Christian movem...

In Jewish and Christian traditions, the voice of wisdom has long been personified as Sophia, a woman. It is a sad irony that the voices of women and other marginalized communities are not usually seen as sources of wisdom in modern Christian communities. What might we learn if we listen to the voices of those whose wisdom has been marginalized? What wisdom can we draw from the community response in Minneapolis and apply here in Los...

The book of Esther was written to help Jewish believers live faithfully in a world that is often unfaithful and sometimes openly hostile. Although she only appears in the first chapter, the same could be said about Queen Vashti. Her story shows the cost and risks women face when they stay true to themselves. Denying patriarchal ownership over her body cost her wealth and prestige, but it gave her so much more in return. Rev. Dr. Ca...

As we continue in the sermon series inspired by women of the Hebrew Bible and Claire McKeever-Burgett's book, In the Beginning Were the Women, we turn this week to a little known story: The Witch of Endor. Yes, there's a witch in the Bible. No, she's not the bad guy. Join us to consider the way society has often labeled women who dare to tell the truth, turning them into villains instead of the prophets God made them to be.

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From the moment we are born, the stories we learn help us make meaning out of our lives. They become the sources of knowledge we draw from when our own understanding falls short. But knowledge isn't neutral; it is always influenced by culture. So, how has our culture shaped what you believe you know? The exodus story is fundamental to Christianity, and yet, when we tell this story, it is important that we ask ourselves which voices...

On Epiphany, churches often focus on mysterious and joyful arrival of the magi, a jovial tale about three royal kings bringing the baby Jesus finely-wrapped birthday gifts. But the reality is that Herod looms large; his actions twist this tale into a tragedy. In fear, Herod chooses coercion and control. Still, the magi persist and persevere, giving honor to a Judean king with insistent hope that his anointing could lead to the rest...

After Jesus' birth, fear and oppression continue to pervade the lives of the Holy Family. Due to Herod's persecution, we are promptly reminded that even with Christ among us, the world is still a broken and messy place. In our current world, as we continue to see refugees and immigrants targeted and deported, as well as genocides violently enacted by governing forces, the church has a responsibility to proclaim what is too often ig...

What does it mean to be "called" to do something? There are many stories of prophets and leaders in the Christian tradition who say they were called to be in their roles. What can we learn from their call stories that might help us when we are unsure of which way to go? In the call stories of Jeremiah and Mary, we see that even if we are afraid, God invites us to step into our calling and walk through our fear, knowing that God wil...

After his encounter with the angel Gabriel, Zechariah is compelled into a period of silence, during which he grapples with faith, doubt, and hope. Similarly, we can be confident that when his wife, Elisabeth, learns she is pregnant, she also considers what will happen to their growing family. Their story is not unique; many families, especially mothers, cling to a quiet hope that God will make a way out of no way. This Sunday, Rev....

When Zechariah encounters an angel of the Lord, the angel tells him not to be afraid because his prayers have been heard. As an elderly priest, Zechariah had witnessed the fall of Judean independence and the start of Roman occupation. To be sure, Herod, who ruled at the behest of Rome, brought many things to fear. Despite his fears, Zechariah longed for the coming Messiah and a son. Similarly, we find ourselves in a time when many ...

Our newly adopted mission statement reflects our core values of justice and compassion, which represent our public and private commitments to Christ-like acts of mercy. These values are rooted in the ancient wisdom of scripture, including teachings from Hebrew prophets and the life and witness of Jesus. This Sunday, we continue to focus on our congregation's mission and how the new ...

This Sunday, we welcome guest preacher Kat Armas. Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer, speaker, and theologian from Miami, FL. She holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary. Kat has spoken at seminaries, universities, and conferences nationwide and her work has appeared in the National Catholic Reporter—where one of her essays was shared by the pope!, Plough Magazine, The...

During the fourth and final week of The Seasons of Origins, we are invited to imagine together a more just church and a way forward toward such a church. Imagination is essential here, and one key doctrine that limits the Church's ability to envision what it can become is Original Sin. St. Augustine developed the doctrine of original sin, which claims that we are born "marked with si...

During the third week of The Season of Origins, we are invited to seek to repair past harms through justice-focused actions. Few harms have affected Christian communities as deeply as patriarchy. Women, children, and men have, and continue to suffer under the oppressive hierarchies that patriarchal thinking promotes. We invite you to join us this Sunday as we seek out new origin stories in the life and teachings of Jesus that can g...

During the second week of The Season of Origins, we are invited to name and lament the atrocities of the past and examine the role Christian theology played in justifying those past harms. As Angelinos, we can see the harmful effects of Manifest Destiny theology all around us. However, Jesus guides us toward a new way of relating to one another in the Gospels by constantly reminding us that the love of God should motivate us to be ...