Imagination & Reorder: Energizing The Prophetic Community
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
Release Date: 09/15/2025
Jesus & The Resurrection Journey
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
During his ministry, Jesus reminded his disciples that following his Way meant accepting that they would have to take up their own cross. The Jewish community of Jesus knew that the cross meant death. Yet what we see in the resurrection of Jesus is that death is part of a larger, ongoing process by which all things are made new. The Singers of Soul will be leading us in worship. Children are welcome in The Loft gathering as Easter is an especially meaningful time to worship together. We will have kids worship activity kits that you can pick up on your way in, just in case they need a...
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The Way of Jesus is a Way of Resistance
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
The Bible is both personal and political, and thus, the way of Jesus is both personal and political. The Way is a path towards personal transformation and political resistance to systems of religious and secular domination. The spiritual path of Jesus is an invitation to advocate for the kingdom of God and criticize those complicit in upholding the domination systems that harm the most vulnerable. www.TheLoftLA.org
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The Mysticism of Jesus
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
The majority of Christians would probably not use the term “mystic” to describe Jesus. Many Christians, especially those of us in the West, think of mysticism as a spirituality that is disconnected from the everyday experiences of life. However, what we see in the life of Jesus is that his spiritual practices created a sense of Oneness with God and with other human beings, which deeply informed his beliefs about our responsibilities towards one another. www.TheLoftLA.org
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Jesus & His Neighbors
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
From the outset of his public ministry, Jesus included disciples within his inner circle whom his Jewish contemporaries believed did not deserve a seat at the table. When questioned by a lawyer about one person's moral obligations to another, Jesus begins and ends a parable with the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Matthew Hom from Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice will be joining me in the center to discuss their work helping faith communities live out the principles of this parable. www.TheLoftLA.org
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The Way of Jesus is The Way of Love
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
Like other wisdom teachers, Jesus spoke of two ways. There is a common way, the one followed by most people, and an alternative way, a path of transformation leading from how we ordinarily live our lives to a different way of being in the world. By following the narrow way, Jesus suggests that we move closer to discovering our true and authentic selves in God. www.TheLoftLA.org
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Jesus & The Imperial World
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
The context surrounding Jesus' life was complicated by an imperial domination system. The central features of Roman colonial power were its political oppression and poverty-inducing effects. How was it possible for Jesus to develop a spiritual path of radical compassion out of this social world of political and economic marginalization? www.TheLoftLA.org
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Who Do You Say That I Am?
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 informs how we practice the religion he taught his disciples. www.TheLoftLA.org
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The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
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 movement. Join us this Sunday as we explore what happened to Mary’s teachings and how the decision to exclude her voice continues to affect Christianity today....
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Hagar: The Woman Who God Named
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
When most Christians read the story of Abram, Sarai, Hagar, and Ishmael, Hagar is seen as having a small role in a story that ultimately is not about her. However, upon a closer reading, Hagar plays a central role in God’s unfolding relationship with Abram and his family. Hagar’s story of survival, hope, and redemption mirrors the experiences of many Black, Indigenous, and Other women of Color in America. www.TheLoftLA.org
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Listening For Sophia: Finding Wisdom In Places It Has Always Been
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
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 Angeles? Join us this Sunday as Rev. Dr. Carter is joined in the center by our Director of Youth and Social Justice, Everest Harvey, for a conversation on learning...
info_outlineWhile the dismantling of the old order began with Moses, and the prophets guided his people through their deconstruction and disorder, Jesus energized his community by teaching and practicing a new way to follow God. Jesus ushers in a new expression of the Mosaic tradition he inherited. Similarly, we are called to practice prophetic imagination, and by putting into practice what we hope for, we embody the prophetic energy, the Spirit of God, to do the work our souls must have.
www.TheLoftLA.org