Fear Doesn’t Stop Us
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
Release Date: 01/05/2026
The Breath of Life
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
As Christians, we believe in one God who has revealed Godself to us in three distinct persons - the Creator, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. While the concept of the Trinity has helped us understand something of the nature of God, within the Western church much more has been written about the Creator and the Son than about the Holy Spirit. This Sunday, we begin our four-week series on the Holy Spirit by asking - what is the Holy Spirit? www.TheLoftLA.org
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How Do We Pray?
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
The gospel accounts tell us that Jesus spent roughly three years with his disciples during his earthly ministry. Interestingly, the only thing the disciples specifically asked Jesus to teach them was how to pray. In his life and ministry, Jesus shows us that when prayer is our anchor, we can feel grounded while in calm waters and have the courage we need to stay afloat through the storms. www.TheLoftLA.org
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Why Do We Pray?
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
Last week, I suggested that the purpose of prayer is to deepen our relationship with God so that we are transformed by centering in Divine presence, and that it is not about coercing God or others to do something. This week, we continue our series by exploring why we pray. Why do human beings, even ones who don’t identify as people of faith, feel an urge to pray? www.TheLoftLA.org
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Sermon Series on Prayer - Charting Our Inward Sea
The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast Form
What is prayer, and what is its purpose? In this first week of our three-week series on prayer, we explore some answers to these questions by reflecting on the community in Thessalonica and the Apostle Paul’s encouragement that they “pray without ceasing.” www.TheLoftLA.org
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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
info_outlineOn 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 restoration of their own Persian customs and culture within the ever-expanding Roman empire.
We can’t ignore that the Herods of the world still loom large. The slaughter of the Holy Innocents is a painful story that mirrors devastating modern-day events and realities. And yet, this is the work of insisting on hope. We will share holy communion, as love leads us forward.
www.TheLoftLA.org