Churches have a reputation for policing everyone else's behavior while ignoring the harm happening inside their own walls. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul confronts a community that looked the other way while a well-connected man exploited a woman who never gets a voice in the story. Then he asks a surprising question: what business do we have judging outsiders at all?

Pastor Anthony unpacks what the word usually translated "sexual immorality" actually meant. Hint: it's about exploitation and power, not a list of rules. He also explores why Paul's first instruction was to grieve, and how he reworked an ancient punishment toward accountability and restoration rather than revenge.

This is part one of a two-part conversation in our Hot Takes series

In this week of Hot Takes, our series on 1 Corinthians, Pastor Tonetta Landis-Aina takes on a letter many of us have complicated feelings about. She draws on The Great Gatsby, a mocking piece of ancient Roman graffiti, and the wisdom of Howard Thurman's grandmother. Along the way she explores why the people the world overlooks are often the ones best equipped to teach us, and why excellent answers can't get us to excellent love.

Listen for permission to stop performing, and share it with someone who's tired of trying to be what everyone else wants.

Kicking off our fall series Hot Takes, Tonetta opens Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth. That was a small, status-conscious community already at odds with itself. Before Paul corrects anyone, he says thank you. This message explores why grace and gratitude, not flawless performance, are what actually hold people together. It also shares how two frustrating grad school partners turned into some of life's most unexpected gifts.

Listen if you've ever wanted to quit a group, or a church. Then ask yourself: who's someone you need to thank this week?

From there, she asks a harder question: what if real commitment was never supposed to be one moment at all? Drawing on two odd parables about a half-built tower and a losing war, she unpacks why skipping the cost of change sets people up to fail — and why walking away from manipulative, high-control tactics isn't rebellion, it's clarity.

If you've ever been burned by pressure-tactic religion, or you're just skeptical of anything sold as instantly life-changing, this one's for you.

Using Encanto's "We don't talk about Bruno" and Janelle Monáe's Dirty Computer as entry points, Tochi traces a throughline: families, institutions, and even religious spaces have a habit of erasing whoever makes them uncomfortable. Then he turns to a 2,000-year-old story Jesus told about a dinner party that gets radically reorganized — not around status, but around who's been left out. The question underneath it all: what would it take to actually widen the circle, instead of just saying we want to?

If you've ever felt like the "difficult" one in a room, this one's for you.

Drawing on his own story — from a debate opponent who couldn't picture him in college, to strangers who couldn't picture him as a lawyer — Antonio traces a different way of seeing, one shaped by time spent in Malawi and by a 2,000-year-old story about a woman searching for a lost coin. It's not a pep talk. It's a case for why the search itself matters, even when you don't get back exactly what you lost.

If you've ever wondered who gets to decide what's possible for you, this one's worth 25 minutes of your time.

Pastor Tonetta draws on an unexpected pairing — a 2,000-year-old story and the imaginative world-building of Afrofuturism — to explore why the people with the smoothest answers aren't always the ones doing the real work, and why lasting change looks less like a perfectly worded post and more like showing up, again and again, even when no one's watching.

Drawing on two one-paragraph parables from the Gospels, Octavia Butler's Earthseed novels, and — unexpectedly — Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this sermon unpacks how "sacrifice" gets weaponized to keep unjust systems running, then offers a different model: total investment in a world worth building, where pleasure, beauty, and community aren't rewards for hard work but part of how the work actually gets done.

No prior scripture knowledge required, just a willingness to rethink what it means to give yourself to something bigger without losing yourself in the process.

Some of the bridesmaids had extra oil. Some didn't. The ones with extra refused to share — and that's usually where the lesson stops. But what if the "wise" choice in this story isn't actually the one worth copying? This conversation digs into what it means to build a future with people instead of ahead of them, and why getting hurt doesn't automatically make us wise.

Listen in if you've ever felt like you didn't have enough to show up — and wondered if that was ever really the point.

This isn't about distant injustice — it's about the people already in your line of sight: the neighbor, the coworker, the relative whose comments you let slide. Drawing on Ibram X. Kendi's line between "not racist" and anti-racist, Trevor argues that staying neutral is still a choice, and usually the wrong one.

If you've ever wondered what separates real inclusion from good intentions, start here — then ask yourself who you've been walking past.

Pastor Heidi uses a 2,000-year-old story about day laborers getting paid unfairly (or so it seems) alongside Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower to unpack how scarcity gets wired into our brains — and our systems. She doesn't stop at "be more generous," either; she pushes into a sharper question: what happens when generosity lets unfair systems off the hook? Expect a genuinely surprising turn partway through.

By the end, you'll walk away with one small, doable practice for noticing abundance in your own life — no prior Bible knowledge required, no guilt trip attached.

This message pairs Butler's Afrofuturism with what may have been Jesus' first parable: a farmer scattering seed on different kinds of soil. Far from a feel-good farming story, it was told to poor tenant farmers crushed by debt — and its absurdly abundant harvest imagined the end of that entire system. Drawing on adrienne maree brown and Ruha Benjamin, this sermon asks: whose imagination are you living inside, and what would it take to change your soil?

New to the parables series? Start here — this one holds the key to all the rest.

Most of us were handed a set of rules about sex before we were ever given a framework for thinking about it — and for many people, especially those raised in religious communities, those rules came wrapped in shame, fear, and silence. The damage is real, well-documented, and affects far more people than the church tends to admit.

In this sermon, Bekki reexamines a familiar Bible story through a different lens — and makes the case that fear-based approaches to sexuality don't produce health or wholeness, they produce hiding. Drawing on personal experience, trauma research, and a close reading of the gospel, she offers a vision of sexuality rooted in love, liberation, and abundance rather than control and condemnation.

Whether you're deconstructing, done with church, or just curious — this one's worth your time.

Pastor Anthony explores an ancient letter where a broke, disaster-stricken community begged to be allowed to give — and what that tells us about generosity as a practice rather than a personality trait. He also takes apart the prosperity gospel, not to dismiss the desire to flourish, but to ask what real prosperity looks like when it doesn't leave anyone on the curb.

If you're skeptical of church messaging around money, or just tired of feeling like generosity is for people with more to spare, this conversation offers a different frame. 

In this sermon, Pastor Tonetta explores what it looks like to locate your identity somewhere other than your possessions — drawing on stories from ancient monastics, a French novel, and the surprisingly radical logic of the Sermon on the Mount. The question underneath it all: what do you own that owns you back?

If you're wrestling with money, security, or what it means to live generously in an uncertain world, this one's worth your time.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7–11; Romans 12:6–8 · Series: Everything We Carry · Preached by Matt at The Table Church, Washington, DC.

Preached by Pastor Tonetta, this sermon uses the story of Antoinette Tuff — a bookkeeper who talked down an armed gunman using nothing but honesty and presence — alongside the Pentecost narrative to reframe what power actually is and what it's for. The case here is that real power moves toward people, not over them, and that the most radical thing you can do is speak, connect, and let go.

Watch or listen to hear three concrete commitments that might change how you show up — in your relationships, your community, and the world.

Elder Daniel explores the story of Pharaoh's daughter — a woman defined entirely by the dominant system around her — and what it looks like to move from awareness to action. The framework he offers isn't about charity or allyship. It's about conspiracy: funding the revolution, betraying the systems that gave you your advantages, and what that kind of commitment actually costs.

New to The Table? This sermon is part of our series Everything We Carry. Pull up a seat.

Pastor Tonetta draws on Tim O'Brien's 'The Things They Carried' and the book of Nehemiah to make a case that you can't repair what you refuse to grieve — and that rebuilding anything worth having requires more than individual optimization. It requires commitment to particular people, a particular place, a particular wall.

This one also gets honest about money — why progressive communities tend to go quiet about it, and what that silence actually costs.

This week, Pastor Anthony looks at a moment where Jesus' closest friends ask exactly the wrong question, and what it reveals about where our attention goes when we're scared, overwhelmed, or just trying to manage the unmanageable.

There's a distinction between what's yours to carry and what isn't — and learning the difference might be the most practical thing you do this week.

Drawing on a post-resurrection story most people overlook, he makes a case that small, ordinary acts — a meal, a text, showing up sad and confused — aren't a consolation prize for people without power. They're actually the model. And that staying at the table, even when you have nothing impressive to offer, might be the most honest form of resistance available.

New to The Table or just stumbling across this? You don't need a faith background to find something here. Come as you are.

In this Easter sermon, Pastor Toneta Landisina draws on the story of Lazarus to reframe resurrection as liberation rather than sentimentality. She unpacks why scapegoating holds entire societies hostage, why "we don't need a them to make an us," and what it looks like to walk out of a tomb while the grave clothes are still on.

Whether you're a longtime churchgoer or someone religion has hurt, this one's for you.

In this sermon, Pastor Anthony traces a thread from an ancient prophet to a Berlin prayer service that helped bring down a wall, asking what it really looks like to resist something without becoming it. The answer involves a donkey, 70,000 candles, and the idea that showing up — openly, stubbornly, joyfully — is its own kind of power.

If you're feeling stuck between fight and flight right now, this one's worth your time.

Trevor Wentt draws on the story of Jeremiah buying land he had no business buying, the Palestinian practice of holding onto house keys across generations, and his own improbable journey to becoming an all-state wrestler — to make a case that hope isn't passive. It's a practice. Sometimes it's a deed in a jar. Sometimes it's a barbecue.

Whether you're rebuilding your faith, navigating a world that feels like it's unraveling, or just trying to figure out what it even means to act with hope right now — this one's for you.

In this sermon, Toochi Ngwangwa draws on the book of Jeremiah to make a case for grief as something meant to be shared out loud. From Jewish Shiva to New Orleans jazz funerals to Jesus walking toward the cross, the throughline is the same: mourning together is what softens us, connects us, and makes space for something new.

If you've been running from something heavy lately — this one's for you.

Drawing from the book of Jeremiah and a surprising reread of Ephesians, Anthony Parrott traces how a marriage metaphor — messy, painful, and sometimes deeply uncomfortable — slowly transforms across scripture. The God who accuses becomes the God who absorbs the cost. And the invitation to return isn't "fix what you broke." It's just: turn around and acknowledge it.

Lent isn't a dramatic moment. It's a daily practice of noticing which direction you're facing — and being willing to shift.

Preached by Anthony Parrott, this sermon holds two truths at once: some things genuinely can't go back to what they were, and that's not the end.

Drawing from the prophet Jeremiah and a deeply personal story about 27 years of carrying the wrong narrative, Anthony explores the difference between a heart that shatters under pressure and one that can be remolded — and what it looks like to build real life in the middle of the fragments.

If you're in a season of loss, disillusionment, or rebuilding something that looks nothing like what you planned, this one's for you.

Drawing from an ancient text written by and for people whose entire world had collapsed, and yes, The Lion King, this message explores what it actually looks like to move from survival mode into something more alive. The insight at the center: you can't build a real future from a frozen heart.

If you've been running from something — or just quietly going through the motions — this one's worth your time. Grab a journal. There's a writing prompt at the end.

Antonio Ingram explores what prayer actually looks like when you stop performing and start showing up as you are — scared, angry, lonely, in pain. Drawing from the prophet Jeremiah, he makes the case that raw, unfiltered honesty isn't a barrier to connecting with God — it's the door.

Whether you've been avoiding prayer for years or you're just exhausted by the version of it you inherited, this one is worth your time. Cast your nets one more time.

This sermon explores the prophet Jeremiah, who preached justice for 23 years and saw zero measurable success. Through his story and the words of Martin Luther King Jr., we examine what happens when we stop measuring our faithfulness by outcomes and start asking a different question: What if the rightness of something doesn't depend on whether it's winning? What would it mean to commit to a long obedience in the same direction—not because the KPIs look good, but because the work itself is true?

For anyone exhausted by activism, burned out on hope, or wondering if they should just give up—this is about finding a way to keep going that doesn't rely on immediate success. It's about planting seeds underground where nobody's watching, trusting what you cannot yet see.

This sermon explores an obscure biblical community called the Rechabites, who mastered what we desperately need today: staying rooted in core values while improvising new responses to new challenges. Using insights from Martin Luther King Jr. and contemporary writer Kaveh Akbar, we examine why it's not enough to simply avoid doing harm—and what it actually looks like to move from endless abstinence to actively showing up for ourselves, our neighbors, and the world.

If you're exhausted from trying to do everything right while still wondering if you're making any real difference, this conversation offers a different framework: what if falling back in love with what matters most is actually the key to sustainable change?

This talk explores an ancient text about a potter and clay that offers a radically different perspective: the future isn't fixed. It responds to what we do. Drawing on voices from James Baldwin to Fannie Lou Hamer, the sermon makes the case that your spiritual life isn't separate from your activism—prayer is part of the work, not what you do after the "real" work is done.

Whether you're carrying personal regrets or political despair, this message insists: the wheel is still spinning. Your past isn't your destiny, and neither is your nation's.

The core message is simple but uncomfortable: we've mistaken proximity for participation. We say "I go to church" the same way people once chanted "this is the temple of the Lord"—as if showing up could substitute for the harder work of actually listening and changing. Jeremiah's indictment was clear: the people had done everything except the one thing that mattered. They performed religion while ignoring its substance.

The invitation is to become "creatively maladjusted" in a world where deceptive words are everywhere. To stop being passive recipients and start actively making meaning. To ask yourself: where, when, and how will you actually listen?

This sermon introduces a series on the prophet Jeremiah, who lived faithfully through his nation's collapse and exile. His calling reveals something crucial: God doesn't choose people because they're qualified. The first lesson from Jeremiah? Stop pleading inadequacy. Whatever feels impossible right now—showing up in fraught political times, rebuilding a faith that can hold you, answering that call you can't shake—you already have what you need.

Using the metaphor of Friday (death), Saturday (devastating in-between), and Sunday (resurrection), this message offers practical wisdom for surviving the long Saturdays of our lives. Because as it turns out, "I am" is a complete sentence.

Shae Washington unpacks four questions that might help us resist letting fear dictate our choices: Where are we focusing our attention? What ways is God trying to guide us that we're missing? And uncomfortably—what patterns of fear-driven harm do we need to dismantle in ourselves? The Magi didn't confront Herod with speeches or swords. They simply chose another way home.

If you're exhausted from hypervigilance and looking for permission to rest while still resisting, or if you're searching for what your "alternative route" might look like in 2026, this one's for you.

Pastor Tonetta draws from the metaphor of a Korean spa scrub to explore what we need to shed during Advent: patriarchy disguised as righteousness, charity that keeps us comfortable instead of solidarity that costs us something, and the false hope of optimism that crumbles when things go sideways. Joseph's power wasn't in control—it was in his subversive tenderness and willingness to not be the main character.

If you're exhausted by shallow positivity and wondering what real hope looks like when the world feels dark, this is for you. Includes questions to sit with whether you hold privilege or need to ask for more support.

Drawing on the stories of Mary and Jeremiah—both of whom faced genuine, life-threatening risks—Antonio offers a framework that doesn't gaslight you about danger but also doesn't let fear of your own potential win. The goal isn't moving forward fearlessly, but faithfully. Baby steps count. And yes, you can say yes while still trembling.

Drawing on the story of John the Baptist questioning Jesus from prison, this message wrestles with what hope looks like when you're running on empty. The answer isn't about manufacturing optimism or pretending things are fine. It's about learning to see the quiet, unspectacular work of repair that's already happening around you—the food pantries, the phone calls, the people showing up exhausted but still showing up.

You don't have to see the finish line to run the race. Your small, faithful acts of repair matter even if you never see them bloom. This week, do one thing without needing to know if it will work.

Drawing from an ancient poet writing amid literal apocalypse and a couple who'd long given up on their dream, this message wrestles with two competing realities. Sometimes our circumstances don't change the way we want, but hope can still emerge in unexpected ways. Other times, hope breaks through demanding we seize it—but fear keeps us from reaching out.

Whether you're facing political despair, personal disappointments, or just trying to figure out how to keep going, this sermon offers a framework for distinguishing between what we can change and what we can't—and why showing up matters either way.

The ancient text offers more than comfort for the afterlife. It presents a choice: whose reality will you live inside? The sermon traces how even kings who warred against God appear at the gates of the New Jerusalem, suggesting something provocative about reconciliation, boundaries, and the possibility of transformation. You'll encounter the phrase "making all things new, not making all new things" and consider what it means to practice hope when hopelessness feels easier.

Discover why Revelation might be less about predicting the future and more about performing resistance in the present.

Drawing on scholarship about the word aion (age, not eternity) and the character of a God whose "mercy endures forever," this message offers a different framework: one where death itself dies, where the fire is surgical rather than sadistic, and where justice work—though painful—becomes participation in resurrection.

Especially relevant for anyone processing church hurt, questioning traditional theology, or wondering what it means to work for justice when systems feel immovable. Also includes honest reflection on loss, community endings, and what happens when good things die.

Drawing on imagery of empire's collapse and unexpected visions of hope, this talk argues that treating faith as either a political platform or an intellectual puzzle drains our capacity to act. Instead, Revelation calls us to something bigger: receiving what we cannot explain, resisting what we cannot ignore, and enduring when logic fails.

If you've ever felt exhausted by trying to figure everything out or felt your doubts piling up despite all the books you've read, this perspective on salvation as "spaciousness" rather than certainty might reframe everything.

This sermon offers a different way forward. By understanding apocalyptic literature as symbolic resistance writing from the powerless, and by reading through three theological frameworks—universalism, pacifism, and open theology—we discover something surprising: even here, the text itself points toward universal reconciliation rather than eternal punishment. The sermon explores how God's wrath might be less about cosmic revenge and more about love fiercely opposing what harms creation.

If you've ever struggled with violent biblical imagery, wondered how justice and mercy fit together, or wanted to resist oppressive systems while still holding onto hope, this conversation is for you. Includes a bonus Andor reference about resisting empire.

Using Revelation 13's symbolism of beasts and marks, this sermon cuts through religious jargon to expose how state power and propaganda work together to make injustice feel inevitable. It's raw, vulnerable, and honest about the real costs of standing firm—including a church losing its home and a queer preacher wrestling with the temptation of closeted safety.

You'll walk away understanding that you're not fighting individuals but systems, and that endurance means actively resisting with others, not suffering alone.

This talk digs into why resistance always comes with a price tag—lost security, financial strain, real consequences—while compliance costs something harder to measure: your sense of who you are. Drawing on MLK's final speech and current struggles for justice from Gaza to the U.S., it asks the question: what will happen to your neighbor if you don't stand up?

If you've ever felt stuck between doing what's right and doing what's safe, or wondered how to keep going when the systems seem too big to fight, this one's for you.

Drawing on Eugene Peterson's insight that Revelation is meant to "revive our imagination" rather than give us new information, this sermon explores how ancient apocalyptic imagery speaks directly to our current moment of chaos and uncertainty. Whether you're familiar with the book of Revelation or have always found it confusing, you'll walk away with a fresh perspective on why these strange, vivid stories might be exactly what we need right now.

Using Assata Shakur's poem "Affirmation" and readings from Revelation 6-8, this sermon reframes ancient apocalyptic literature as a survival guide for communities under oppression. The Four Horsemen aren't about end-times predictions—they're about naming the root causes of violence, inequality, and death that plague us today. Through Indigenous interpretations of judgment as restorative rather than punitive, and examples from movements for justice, it offers a framework for maintaining hope while doing the hard work of resistance. Because hopeful witnesses don't ignore the riders of death—they call them out while planting seeds anyway.

This talk explores the throne room vision in Revelation 4-5 and its central image: a lion that's actually a lamb. It's the key to understanding the whole book—and it completely redefines what power and victory look like. Instead of a warrior God coming back for revenge, we see sacrificial love as the ultimate form of strength. This matters because what we worship shapes how we see justice, community, and ourselves.

For anyone deconstructing harmful theology or wondering if worship can be meaningful without manipulation, this offers a different way forward—one where you can question everything and still choose to pay attention to what matters.

But there's a twist. After unpacking how to read Revelation as a guide for dissident discipleship, Pastor Anthony turns the mirror on progressive faith communities themselves. What happens when deconstruction—necessary as it was—becomes a wall that keeps out not just toxic religion, but genuine encounter with the sacred? Can you be both critically thinking and spiritually surrendered?

Includes a powerful testimony about kidney transplants, monuments to God's faithfulness, and why hope isn't magic—it's work. For anyone who's left the church but still wonders if there's something worth rebuilding.

Rather than treating Revelation as a roadmap to the end times, this message reframes the ancient text as a guide for "dissident discipleship"—living with integrity when the world around you demands compromise. You'll discover why the center of Revelation isn't the four horsemen or 666, but something far more relevant to our current moment.

Whether you're wrestling with recent events, questioning how to maintain hope, or wondering how faith intersects with resistance, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on an often-misunderstood text. No religious background required—just bring your questions about how to live well in turbulent times.

This talk explores the Book of Revelation not as a cryptic prediction about the end times, but as a practical guide for "dissident discipleship" — learning to resist empire while staying grounded in what gives life rather than death. Drawing on the image of Jesus as "the Lion who is really a slain Lamb," we'll examine what it looks like to wield power through vulnerability and maintain hope without naive optimism.

Whether you're familiar with religious texts or not, you'll walk away with concrete insights about navigating resistance, processing difficult emotions, and staying human in dehumanizing times.

Drawing from a summer of solitude and the apostle Paul's bold declaration "I am not ashamed of the gospel," this message distinguishes between life-giving faith and the harmful interpretations that wound people. Through vulnerable storytelling and practical wisdom, it offers a path toward shame resilience and deeper authenticity.

Whether you're wrestling with religious trauma, feeling like an imposter in your calling, or simply trying to separate genuine faith from toxic messaging, this conversation provides tools for healing and two essential questions for personal reflection.

Drawing from the ancient story of prophet Elijah's breakdown and recovery, Daniel explores how sustainable resistance requires intentional rest. He weaves together current events, Palestinian concepts of steadfast resistance, and practical psychology to show why caring for yourself isn't selfish—it's strategic.

Whether you're overwhelmed by news cycles, exhausted from volunteering, or struggling to balance self-care with showing up for others, this offers a framework for staying engaged without losing yourself in the process.

Trevor shares a fresh perspective on personal boundaries, offering practical tools to distinguish between obstacles worth pushing through and limits worth accepting. Through relatable stories (including one about spectacularly breaking expensive furniture), he explores how understanding your constraints can actually expand your possibilities and lead you toward what you actually need.

You'll walk away with specific techniques for self-assessment, including the three-circle test, energy audits, and how to listen to your body's wisdom. Perfect for anyone tired of fighting the wrong battles and ready to work with their authentic self instead of against it.

Drawing from the example of John the Baptist, Antonio reveals how embracing your human limitations isn't selfish—it's essential. He shares practical insights on setting boundaries that actually make you more effective at helping others, not less. Learn the difference between being a supportive person and being someone's unofficial therapist, and discover how acknowledging what you can't control creates space for real solutions.

If you're tired of carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on sustainable caring that protects your mental health while still showing up for the people and causes you love.

Using the ancient story of Elijah's breakdown and recovery, we examine how to assess where you are emotionally and spiritually.

The discussion offers practical tools for envisioning what your "healed self" might look like and identifying concrete next steps to get there. Rather than promoting endless self-improvement, it emphasizes that personal healing ultimately leads us back to community and collective action—not away from it.

Includes interactive reflection exercises you can do while listening. Perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by current events or wondering how to sustain their energy for the long haul.

This talk explores how ancient stories can offer surprisingly modern wisdom about healing. You'll discover why trauma can only be healed in relationship (even though relationships often caused the hurt), practical techniques for nervous system regulation, and why authentic healing requires ditching other people's expectations about how you "should" recover.

If you're tired of being told to "just get over it" or "think positive," this conversation offers a different path—one that honors your actual needs and meets you exactly where you are.

Drawing from family systems theory and stories of Jesus navigating conflict, Anthony introduces the concept of "non-anxious presence"—the ability to stay emotionally regulated and connected during others' crises without absorbing their chaos or requiring them to change for you to feel okay. You'll learn practical ways to distinguish between healthy conflict and actual abuse, stop triangulating others into your problems, and recognize when past trauma is distorting your current reality.

If you're tired of feeling like everyone else's emotional dumping ground or find yourself constantly reactive in relationships, this offers concrete tools for breaking cycles and creating healthier dynamics.

You'll discover the difference between making yourself "really big" (gaining control) versus "really small" (people-pleasing) as trauma responses, and why both keep us trapped. Learn practical ways to notice when you're being reactive versus responsive, and how to stop letting other people's emotional chaos dictate your decisions.

Ready to break free from patterns you didn't even know were controlling you? This is part one of a two-part series on family systems and healing.

Drawing from the story of Moses and the Israelites, we look at how guidance often shows up—not in big, dramatic signs—but in everyday moments: a quiet breath, a conversation with a friend, a walk under the trees. You’ll walk away with three simple practices to help you notice your own “pillar of cloud and fire” when the future feels foggy.

Whether you’re figuring out your next step or just trying to stay afloat, this message offers practical ways to listen for what matters—and find your way forward, one step at a time.

Through stories of getting lost in Bangladesh, adopting an unhinged kitten, and organizing for justice, discover practical tools for making decisions that actually matter. Learn why your grief might be a better guide than your pros-and-cons list, how indigenous wisdom can reshape your thinking about the future, and what it means to find your place in the ecosystem of change.

Perfect for anyone tired of pretending they have it all figured out.

Through the story of Moses and the burning bush, Shae Washington explores three common obstacles we face when trying to live authentically: not knowing ourselves deeply enough, feeling unworthy of our aspirations, and the pressure to find one perfect purpose. She offers a refreshing perspective that shifts focus from finding the "right" thing to do to cultivating the "right" way to be.

This isn't about religious obligation or spiritual performance—it's about discovering what it means to live as your full self while staying connected to something larger than yourself.

Through the story of Moses discovering a burning bush during his mundane shepherd days, we examine how intentional solitude and margin aren't luxuries for introverts, but necessary practices for anyone wanting to reconnect with who they really are. Whether you're an extrovert with ADHD or someone who thrives on constant stimulation, there are practical ways to step outside the relentless flow and create space for curiosity, creativity, and authentic connection.

Perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the "everything everywhere all at once" pace of modern life and wondering how to find themselves again beneath all the noise.

Drawing from ancient wisdom and modern realities, Trevor examines how taking time to notice—whether it's a burning bush or your partner's words—can fundamentally shift how we experience life. He unpacks why slowing down isn't laziness but resistance, and how creating space for ourselves and others might be the most subversive thing we can do.

If you're tired of feeling scattered, rushing from one thing to the next, or missing the moments that matter most, this episode offers a different way forward—one that starts with the simple act of turning aside.

Using the story of Moses and the burning bush, this talk explores why hearing God's voice feels so difficult and offers practical ways to tune into the divine amid all the noise. Spoiler: it's less about dramatic signs and more about learning to pay attention to the ordinary moments where the sacred shows up. You'll discover why boredom might be your spiritual superpower and how to distinguish God's voice from all the other voices competing for your attention.

Whether you're new to faith or have been wrestling with these questions for years, this conversation offers fresh perspective on one of life's most persistent challenges.

Drawing from Christian mysticism and personal experience with loss and religious trauma, Pastor Anthony challenges the idea that authentic faith should always feel good. Instead, he suggests that our most difficult seasons – when prayers feel empty and old beliefs no longer fit – might actually be where real transformation begins.

For anyone who's felt spiritually homeless, questioned their faith, or wondered if they're "doing it wrong," this conversation offers permission to sit with uncertainty and find the sacred in ordinary, difficult places.

This sermon by Pastor Heidi Mills explores an ancient alternative to our modern obsession with doing more and being better. Through the lens of a profound moment in Jesus's life, we'll discover how creating space for rest, practicing presence, and embracing our imperfections might be the real path to transformation—not the kind that comes from grinding harder, but the kind that happens when we finally stop trying to optimize ourselves into oblivion.

Whether you're drowning in your to-do list, feeling guilty about not doing enough, or just exhausted from trying to upgrade every aspect of your life, this might offer a different way forward.

Through her own experience of questioning, deconstructing, and ultimately embracing her sexuality, Heidi demonstrates how supportive communities can create space for people to explore their true selves without shame or judgment. Her story reveals how stepping outside familiar boundaries—even when it costs relationships—can lead to greater freedom and self-acceptance.

Whether you're questioning your own identity, supporting someone who is, or wondering how faith and sexuality intersect, this honest conversation offers hope that there are communities where everyone can belong exactly as they are.

In this Pride Sunday sermon, Antonio Ingram explores how the Genesis story of Adam and Eve offers a surprising framework for understanding queer identity and faith. Drawing on the concept of "chosen family" familiar to many LGBTQ+ folks, he reframes our relationship with the divine not as one of exile and hiding, but as adoption into a family where shame has no place. This isn't about sanitizing faith or ignoring harm done by religious institutions—it's about reclaiming a spiritual heritage that says you belong, exactly as you are.

Whether you're questioning, affirming, or somewhere in between, discover how ancient texts speak to modern struggles for dignity and belonging.

Drawing from Luke 14, we explore Jesus's radical invitation to center marginalized bodies at the table. What if disability isn't something to be fixed, but an identity to be honored? What if our task isn't to worry about our own seat at the table, but instead to become "table setters" who create spaces where everyone belongs as they are? The banquet of new creation has plenty of room—and the house isn't full until everyone is present.

One in four Americans experiences disability, yet our churches and communities often approach disability as something to overcome rather than embrace. Discover how shifting from a medical model to a social model of disability might transform not just how we see disability, but how we understand God's vision for humanity. What if heaven includes wheelchairs, hearing aids, and all the beautiful diversity of human bodies?

Keywords: progressive christianity, spirituality, social justice, abundance, wedding at cana, crisis management, hope, transformation, divine partnership

Length: 42 minutes

From The Table Church in Washington, DC - a community cultivating authentic belonging and following in the prophetic, thoughtful, and radical way of Jesus.

Drawing on insights from bell hooks, Jewish mysticism, and an unexpectedly relevant deep-dive into TV Tropes, we explore how letting go of our "I deserve" mentality might be the key to creating the world we actually want to live in.

Perfect for anyone wrestling with questions about privilege, social change, and what ancient wisdom might have to say about modern problems.

Drawing on her experiences as a woman in ministry and someone who struggles with traditional holiday expectations, Heidi offers a fresh perspective on the Magnificat and what it means to embrace joy as an act of prophetic imagination. This sermon weaves together contemporary poetry, progressive theology, and practical wisdom for finding light in difficult times.

Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction

3:45 Nikki Giovanni's Poetry of Black Joy

8:30 Mary's Magnificat as Revolutionary Text

15:20 Joy as Resistance in Modern Context

21:00 Three Keys to Finding Joy

26:30 Closing Reflection and Song

#Advent #Poetry #Faith #Resistance #Joy #NikkiGiovanni #Spirituality #ProgressiveChristianity

Recorded at The Table Church in Washington, DC on the first Sunday of Advent 2024.

Topics covered:

• The countercultural practice of paying attention
• How noticing small details can lead to life-changing moments
• Finding hope beyond immediate circumstances
• The cyclical nature of history and change
• Practical ways to stay alert in a distracted world

#Mindfulness #Hope #Progressive #Faith #Spirituality #DCChurch #PayingAttention #MaryOliver #Tolkien

Key Conversations - The "isness" of church: Beyond programs and buildings - Church as a fellowship of difference - The power of marginality in Christian community - Tension between institutional structures and authentic relationships - Multi-generational community as "burning bushes"

Featured Quotes & References - Eugene Peterson on the "ontological church" - C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters on the visible vs. invisible church - Dr. Willie James Jennings's commentary on Acts - Jamar Tisby on the Civil Rights Movement as America's third Great Awakening - Dallas Willard: "Your system is perfectly tuned to get the results you're getting"

Scripture Referenced: - Ephesians 2 (God's household) - Acts 1-2 (Birth of the church)

Questions for Reflection: 1. What experiences have shaped your understanding of church? 2. How do you navigate the tension between church as institution and church as community? 3. Where do you see "burning bushes" in your faith community?

Follow LOAM: Instagram loam.fm

Got thoughts or questions about this episode? We'd love to hear from you: podcast@loam.fm

00:00 A Memorable Mistake in London

03:06 Facing Fears and Cultural Monsters

06:43 Exploring the Monster Within

07:29 The Tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

11:09 The False Self and Genesis 27

15:54 Setting the Stage: Isaac's Prayer and Rebecca's Revelation

16:20 Jacob and Esau: The Struggle Begins

17:12 The Shrewdness of Rebecca and Jacob

18:43 The Deception Unfolds: Jacob's Mask

20:12 The Consequences of Deception

20:45 Reflecting on Identity and the False Self

21:56 Understanding the False Self in Christian Context

22:46 Personal Journey: Confronting the False Self

23:34 The Enneagram and Self-Discovery

25:34 Jacob's Transformation: From Supplanter to Israel

27:00 The Struggle of Marginalized Identities

28:11 The Spiritual Journey: Losing the Self to Find the Self

28:55 Confronting Our Fears: The Lesson of the Falling Leaves

In this message, we explore the concept of zombies—not just as monsters in movies but as a metaphor for areas in our lives where we might feel like the “undead.” We tackle questions like:

•Why don’t we like zombies?

•How can staying in the closet or suppressing our true selves make us feel lifeless?

•What does it mean to lose our identity, culture, or autonomy?

We delve into John 12:23-26, where Jesus talks about a grain of wheat needing to die to produce much fruit. This powerful passage challenges us to consider what it means to “die to self” in a way that leads to true, abundant life.

🌱 Key Points:

1.Loss of Identity (Enmeshment): Breaking free from societal pressures that force us to hide who we truly are.

2.Loss of Culture (Assimilation): Resisting the pull to abandon our heritage and uniqueness.

3.Loss of Autonomy (Subjugation): Overcoming environments that demand blind obedience at the expense of our freedom.

But it doesn’t stop there! We discuss the concept of Death as Rebirth, focusing on:

•Dying to Individualism: Moving beyond self-centered living.

•Dying to Kyriarchy: Confronting oppressive systems (yes, we explain what “kyriarchy” means!).

•Dying to Independence: Embracing interdependence and community.

💡 Highlights:

•An insightful reading from C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity on finding your true self through surrender.

•A reflection on Galatians 5:13: Using our freedom to serve one another in love.

•Understanding that to be truly alive, we must engage in collective liberation and authentic community.

We wrap up with a thought-provoking conclusion inspired by Kierkegaard’s idea of the “half dose”—challenging us to fully commit to this transformative journey.

👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how embracing certain “deaths” in our lives can lead us to genuine, vibrant living.

🔔 Subscribe to our channel for more messages in this series and join the conversation in the comments below!

Keywords: Zombies, John 12:23-26, Dying to Self, True Life, Authenticity, Kyriarchy, Individualism, Community, C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Sermon Series, Spiritual Growth, Christianity, Faith Journey, Collective Liberation

00:00 Opening Prayer and Reflection

01:29 The Slow Work of God

02:54 Introduction to Slow Church

04:24 Marks of a Liberating Church

06:08 The North Star Community

10:35 Imitating God and Love

20:10 Rootedness and Growth

24:53 Broadcasting the Gospel

27:19 Reflection and Communion

00:00 Introduction to the Series

00:25 Welcoming Trevor Wendt

01:32 Anime and Power Dynamics

03:40 Exploring Spiritual Gifts

07:22 Understanding the Triadic Formula

12:26 The Common Good and Spiritual Gifts

17:28 Dignity for All

23:36 You Are Enough

28:22 Call to Action

00:00 Introduction to Unspeakable Joy

01:04 Personal Story of Loss and False Joy

02:34 Historical Context and the Black Church

06:34 The Story of Miriam in Exodus

10:30 Miriam's Prophetic Joy and Modern Parallels

12:48 The Power of Worship in Pain

15:13 Conclusion and Prayer

This sermon delves into the contrasting narratives within American Christianity, focusing on the song 'Give Me That Old Time Religion' and its implications of division and exclusion. The speaker critiques this version of faith, highlighting its historical role in subjugation and oppression. They contrast this with a more liberatory approach to Christianity, emphasizing the need to interpret the Bible through the lens of liberation theology. Key moments include a detailed reading of Luke 4:16-30 and an exploration of how Jesus' teachings challenge the status quo, calling for a faith that promotes freedom and justice for all.

00:00 Introduction to an Old Song

01:07 The Divided American Church

03:00 A Different Side of Christianity

04:42 Choosing Which Jesus to Follow

06:03 Reading the Bible for Liberation

09:20 Jesus' Inaugural Sermon

17:17 Interpreting Scripture in Community

22:54 The Scandal of God's Grace

25:29 Conclusion: A Creative Relationship with the Bible

00:00 Welcome Back: Embracing the Fall Season

00:52 Reflecting on Our Core Values

02:48 Exploring Liberating Community Structures

04:04 Personal Church Histories and Models

06:52 The Concept of Hush Harbors

08:51 Introducing Ubuntu: A Philosophy of Interdependence

11:37 Biblical Insights: The Story of Cain and Abel

17:52 Lessons from Cain and Abel: Embracing Ubuntu

24:00 Practical Applications of Ubuntu

29:18 A Call to Action: Becoming a Liberating Church

00:00 Introduction and Personal Confession

00:21 Struggles with Faith and Understanding

03:01 The Concept of Toothpaste Christianity

04:39 Exploring Romans 8

07:24 Body and Spirit Dichotomy

14:50 Inheritance and Vocation

20:32 Engaging in Collective Liberation

25:43 The Role of Suffering and Hope

34:29 Call to Action and Conclusion

This sermon, part of a series on the Book of Romans, focuses on Romans chapter 6. It interprets the scripture to present sin as an oppressive entity that Jesus's death and resurrection have overcome. The message emphasizes the need for believers to shift their allegiance entirely from sin to God, as trying to serve both is futile. Various analogies, including a modern story about an employee with two jobs, illustrate this point. The sermon debunks the traditional legalistic approach, portraying sin as a despotic ruler rather than merely individual mistakes. It underscores the transformative power of baptism, seen as participating in Jesus's death and resurrection, thus liberating believers from sin's grip. The concluding message encourages embracing one's identity as beloved by God, rejecting self-hatred, and living in the freedom and peace offered through Jesus.

Join Pastor Anthony from The Table Church as he delves into the complexities of understanding the Book of Romans. In this enlightening sermon, he contrasts traditional interpretations focused on individual sin and salvation mechanisms with a broader context of systemic issues and the power of Jesus. Through exploring the current and historical societal challenges faced by those under oppressive systems, Anthony aims to reclaim Romans as a gospel proclaiming peace and wholeness for all creation. Tune in for insightful discussions on Biblical narratives and the urgent need to read these scriptures through a lens that addresses both ancient and modern struggles.

In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the book of Romans, focusing on Chapter 12. The conversation begins with an exploration of Proverbs 31 and its traditional interpretations, revealing the transformative power of viewing scripture through fresh perspectives. We then shift to Romans, unpacking the context in which Paul's letter was written and how it has been interpreted historically. The discussion emphasizes understanding Paul's intent to foster unity and peace within the Roman church amidst their struggles. By examining the themes of sacrifice, community, and counter-cultural living, we aim to rediscover Romans as a source of togetherness, hope, and liberation. Join us in understanding how these ancient texts can guide us toward building a community rooted in the gospel of Jesus, amid the challenges posed by the empires of our day.

In this episode of our Romans Reclaimed series, we delve deeper into the true purpose of Paul's letter to the Romans, emphasizing peace within the church and dismantling divisions. We explore how the text has been misinterpreted and discuss the context surrounding Romans 1:18-32, highlighting the letter's aim to disarm prejudices. Through historical and theological analysis, we reinterpret Paul's message, particularly in light of the experiences of marginalized groups. Join us as we reclaim the transformative power of Romans for modern faith.

Join us in a heartfelt prayer and an in-depth discussion on the transformative power of peace. In this episode, we reflect on recent events and their impact on our social consciousness, delving into the role of violence in political change and revolutionary justice. Through the lens of the Book of Romans, we explore its themes of peace, faithfulness, and community. This series aims to reclaim Romans as a gospel of peace, examining its relevance in both historical and contemporary contexts. Discover the significance of figures like Phoebe and the diverse early Christian communities, and learn about the dynamic between the 'weak' and the 'strong' in faith. Engage in this profound exploration of peace, justice, and the flourishing of all creation.

In this final episode of our series on the Lord's Prayer, elder Daniel from the Table Church in DC delves into the profound significance of this age-old prayer. With co-pastors Tonetta and Anthony absent, Daniel recaps the series, emphasizing the communal and historical context of the prayer. He explores the socio-economic challenges faced by the people of Judea under Roman occupation and relates these struggles to present-day issues of poverty and oppression. Daniel discusses the duality of evil, both systemic and personal, and highlights the need for community and collective action in the fight against injustice. The episode concludes with reflections on the transformative power of prayer and the vital role of each individual in achieving collective liberation.

In this compelling video, we explore the crucial roles of volunteers and directors in ministry, highlighting the power of forgiveness and leadership. We initiate by recognizing and praying over the new team of directors, including Caroline Norris, Jules Park, Okechi, Serena, and Lisa Hick, who are dedicated to leading various church ministries. The sermon delves into the Lord's Prayer, specifically focusing on the phrase 'forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,' emphasizing the profound impact of forgiveness. Through the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18, the message underscores the necessity of acknowledging our own need for forgiveness and extending that same mercy to others. The discussion includes practical steps to cultivate forgiveness, insights into God's merciful nature, and the transformative power of grace in healing both individuals and communities.

Join Matt Collins as he delves into the Lord's Prayer with a focus on community and daily needs. In this unique sermon, Matt discusses the significance of communal prayer, using Matthew 6 as a reference point. He examines each word of verse 11, 'Give us this day our daily bread,' emphasizing the importance of collective care and responsibility. The sermon concludes with thought-provoking questions on how the prayer informs and shapes community prayer practices. Engage in a reflective discussion before the communion service led by Katrina.

In this episode, we explore the essence of prayer and its role in spiritual formation. Through personal anecdotes and reflections on Eugene Peterson's teachings, we delve into the importance of authentic prayer over imitative practices. The sermon highlights the transformative power of the Lord's Prayer, focusing on themes of trust, reverence, and the subversive nature of praying for God's kingdom. Join us for an in-depth look at how prayer fosters a deeper connection with God and forms us spiritually.

In this episode, Pastor Anthony introduces a new series on the Lord's Prayer, discussing the complexities and importance of prayer in a Christian's life. He makes a relatable comparison between the anxiety around flossing and praying, and highlights the significance of honest, intimate communication with God. Anthony stresses the difficulty but necessity of teaching prayer, sharing insights from personal mentors. The video explores the different types of language used in prayer, including informational, motivational, and intimate, recommending a move toward intimacy. Definitions of prayer by Jason Miller and Science Mike are provided, emphasizing prayer as a conscious act of presence and meditation. Finally, the script delves into the structure and deeper meanings within the Lord’s Prayer, providing practical advice on cultivating a prayer habit.

Deut. 17:14-20; 18:9-21

Join us in this thought-provoking sermon delivered on Pride Sunday, delving into the intersections of faith, identity, and gender diversity. Reflecting on personal experiences andbiblical passages, the speaker explores the concept of 'eunuchs' and their symbolic significance in the Christian faith. Using scriptures from Matthew 19 and Jeremiah 38, this message challenges traditional views and underscores the importance of embracing complexity and diversity as integral to understanding God's love and creation. Prepare to be inspired and encouraged to see beyond societal norms and embrace a deeper, more inclusive faith.

In this heartfelt sermon, Heidi, co-director of the community at the table, shares her experience of connecting with God through worship songs, particularly focusing on the role and significance of the Holy Spirit. She delves into the story of Pentecost, highlighting the power and tangible presence of the Holy Spirit. Heidi explores the use of gendered language for God, advocating for a more expansive view of God that includes feminine aspects, and discusses the theological implications and practical importance of this perspective. The sermon encourages a deeper understanding and appreciation of the multifaceted nature of God and the unique qualities of each individual within the community.

In this unique Mother's Day sermon, Tonetta departs from their usual polished style due to recovering from illness, to deeply explore the multifaceted concept of God across gender. Reflecting on the story of a relentless Canaanite mother from the Bible, the sermon delves into themes of struggle, sass, and solidarity, emphasizing the broader and often complex interpretations of motherhood. The discussion extends to examining metaphors for God, and how different biblical texts portray similar stories with variations. The sermon is a call to recognize and appreciate all forms of mothering, urging a celebration of the revolutionary work done by mothers of all kinds.

Through the story of the Tower of Babel, Heidi helps to reveal human tendencies and the warnings we can take as we discuss the ideologies we’re stealing away from as a church. The Tower of Babel becomes a metaphor for the structures of supremacy that we build in a modern world. Heidi quotes Sam Killermann in giving examples of Christian privilege. Even if we don’t think about them, we can still benefit from the systems in our country where Christianity is embedded. 

Naming Christian supremacy requires us to confront our own relationship with power. Heidi then shows us how we can use this story to repair and make meaningful changes to dismantle the tower of Christian supremacy. God deliberately creates all the languages in the world which is a powerful image of God creating and celebrating diversity.

Sam Killermann’s Christian Privilege Checklist

https://projecthumanities.asu.edu/christian-privilege-checklist

1. Naming and owning harm

2. Starting to change

3. Restitution and accepting consequences

4. Apology

5. Making different choices

"If you believe that you can damage believe that you can fix. If you believe that you can damage believe that you can heal. If you believe that there is damage in our world believe that you can help repair it. And if you believe that there is damage in our world believe that our God is a God of healing and restoration." - Rebbe Nachman

Discern together with Tonetta and members of the black affinity group, Lisa, Anselm, and Antonio, as they discuss intersections between sankofa and religion.

In this sermon, we explore the intersection of Christianity, colonialism, and the quest for a liberative faith community. We discuss how the models of church given to us by Western Christianity need to be reexamined and how we can learn from the courageous examples set by those who came before us.

As we reflect on the marks of a liberating church and the importance of "stealing away" from dominant oppressive systems, we are reminded of the transformative power of worship and community in hidden spaces. This message challenges us to consider how we can embody the spirit of the hush harbors in our own lives and faith communities.

Questions for reflection are posed, inviting us to engage in meaningful discussion about our own journeys toward liberation and solidarity with the marginalized. This is a call to embrace a different model of church—one that is rooted in justice, equality, and the radical love of Jesus.

Join us for this thought-provoking and inspiring reflection as we honor Black History Month and seek a path toward a more liberating and inclusive faith experience.

Chapter Breaks:

00:00 - Introduction: The Work of the People

02:15 - Chapter 1: Embracing Our Full Selves in Worship

05:30 - Chapter 2: The Power of Communal Rituals

10:45 - Chapter 3: Everyday Acts as Liturgy

15:00 - Chapter 4: Personal Reflections on Community and Loss

20:25 - Chapter 5: How Habits Shape Our Lives and Faith

25:40 - Chapter 6: Finding God in the Mundane

30:55 - Conclusion: A Prayer for Daily Awareness

Whether you're taking out the trash or sitting in the pews, this sermon will inspire you to see the holy in the ordinary and to bring your whole self to God. Tune in to uncover the beauty of living liturgy in your life.

Invitation: Worship a God that’s worthy of worship.

Challenge: Worship with other people.

1. Discipleship is not an invitation to lose or forfeit yourself.

2. Discipleship is an invitation to ruin your life in order to save it.

3. Discipleship is an invitation to wholeness.

4. Discipleship is an invitation to a vision of a radically different society.

Looking at discipleship this way, it is about growth, healing, transformation, and how it calls us to challenge societal norms and expectations. Discipleship also calls us to deny certain things in our lives and embrace others. Join us as we dive deeper into the meaning of discipleship and how it can transform our lives and society. Let's challenge ourselves, ask the hard questions, and seek the answers together. What needs to be denied? What needs to be healed?

This sermon describes the encounters between Mary and Elizabeth, who are both experiencing unusual pregnancies. Elizabeth initially hides herself in seclusion, possibly out of guilt or feelings of unworthiness. Mary, on the other hand, is confused and unsure about the angel's announcement. However, despite their different reactions, both women find joy and connection in each other's presence. The sermon emphasizes the importance of finding joy and connection in the midst of pain and weariness. It also highlights the significance of relationships and community in bringing people out of isolation and into joy. Ultimately, joy is seen as an act of resistance against despair and a way to overcome the challenges and suffering of the world.

II. The Church as Wounded Healers - Pope Francis' reflection on the church as a field hospital after battle  - Questioning whether we sometimes forget our role as wounded healers  - Importance of church being about more than just superficial aspects 

III. Humility in Spiritual and Practical Lives - Examination of 1 Timothy 6:6-8 emphasizing the call to humility  - The idea that we enter and leave the world the same way, focusing on our humanity  - The mantra that having bread on the table and shoes on our feet is enough 

IV. The Road to Ruin and Destruction - Discussion on the lust for money and its potential consequences  - Balancing the desire for financial stability with the call to humility  - Consideration of those who struggle with finding work and financial stability 

V. Jesus' Teachings on Money and Worry - Connection to the Gospel of Matthew and Jesus' teachings  - Examination of Matthew 6:24 and the impossibility of serving both God and money  - Analysis of the Lord's Prayer and the emphasis on daily bread  - Jesus' teachings on fasting and the dangers of seeking recognition  - Jesus' words on worry and the importance of trusting in God 

VI. Conclusion - Reflection on the cultural context of Jesus' teachings and their relevance today  - Identification of pitfalls to watch out for, such as the lust for money  - Encouragement to pursue humility and trust in God's provision

A. Reference to a confrontational moment in the book "The Color Purple"

B. Celie's curse to her abuser Albert

C. Importance of addressing the perspective of people of color in discussions of intercultural church and beloved community

II. Temptation to focus only on the impact on white people in conversations about intercultural church

A. Lack of space to discuss the experiences of people of color

B. Personal experience of attending a panel discussion on conversion therapy and the need for separate conversations

C. Feeling excluded from conversations on race and justice

III. Concern for the discipleship needs of people of color in an intercultural church

A. Danger of allowing their formation to require more work than others

B. Preaching team's commitment to reflect the congregation's diverse needs in preaching series and scripture choices

IV. Exploring challenges of beloved community from the perspective of cultural margins

A. Introduction to the book of Jonah as an extended metaphor

B. Summary of Jonah's disobedience and attempt to escape God's call

C. Jonah's deeper loyalty to his own people and the tension between loyalty and the vision of God

V. Personal reflection on the tension between loyalty to cultural identity and loyalty to the vision of God

A. Experience at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

B. Conflicted feelings about the primary identity, Christian or cultural

C. Comparison to Jonah's dilemma and the fear of being labeled a sellout

VI. Conclusion

Sermons at The Table

The Book of Ruth

Johnlock

Dr. Kim was born in Korea, educated in Canada, and now teaches at Earlham School of Religion in Indiana. She has written over 21 books, including Healing Our Broken Humanity: Practices for Revitalizing the Church and Renewing the World, Reimaging Spirit: Wind, Breath, and Vibration, The Grace of Sophia: A Korean North American’s Women’s Christology, and as well as the book my small group is currently reading Invisible: Theology and Experience of Asian American Women.

The good news: we can heal from trauma! 

The bad news: abuse and trauma can make the things that can bring healing seem bad.

It is a clinically proven fact that the one thing that can help someone heal from abuse, neglect, or trauma is relationship. 

In foster and adoptive world, where I come from, children that suffer neglect or abuse begin to fear all forms of relationship. 

So we end up in paradox. We want to feel close to God. Community, small groups, prayer, Bible study worship, meditation can help. But now they taste like food-poisioning chorizo.

Your hard emotions aren't keeping you from God. In fact, they are the very thing that may lead to your encounter with the Divine. 

We kick off our 5-week series on Lamentations during the Lenten season. Pastor Anthony starts us off with an exploration of the historical context of Lamentations, as well as explores why it seems like so many pastors and churches seem to think that having negative feelings isn't okay.

This year we're introducing Theology Cafe. We're going to start questioning the default by looking at the wide variety of other ways of constructing our theology. Everyone does theology. Even the statement, "I don't need theology," is a form of theology. 

Our plan for 2023 is to every few months take a look at a different lens and experience of theology. Feminist, Asian American Women, Queer, Latinx, and Indigenous Theology. This month, in light of Black History Month, we're taking a look at Black Theology.

In each Theology cafe, we're going to invite a practitioner and scholar of the week's theme to share with us. 

Today, we have a pre-recorded video by Dr. Adam Clark of Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. He currently serves as co-chair of the Black Theology Group at the American Academy of Religion and actively publishes in the area of black theology and black religion and participates in social justice groups.  He is committed to the idea that theological education in the twenty-first century must function as a counter-story—one that equips us to read against the grain of the dominant culture and inspires one to live into the dictum of St. Ignatius, of going forth "to set the world on fire."

Where in your life or your work are you currently pursuing comfort, when what's called for is a little discomfort?

In what ways have you yet to accept the fact that you are who you are, not the person you think you ought to be?

In which areas of life are you still holding back until you feel like you know what you're doing?

How would you spend your days differently if you didn't care so much about seeing your actions reach fruition?

If you want to be part of discussions like these, you can jump-in month-by-month with our Learning Cohort.

This is the first episode in Pastor Tonetta and Pastor Anthony's series talking through the topics of The Table's Learning Cohort.

----more----

Chocolate City

Join the Learning Cohort

The Scandal of Particularity

This Here Flesh

In the first 4 centuries of Christianity, there were six known theological schools that taught three views of Hell.

• Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea, and Edessa taught Universal Reconciliation
• Ephesus taught Annihilationism
• Rome (and Carthage/Hippo) taught Eternal Conscious Torment

Ambrose (340-397) hugely influenced Augustine.

Ambrose held to Origen's views on apakatastasis.

Augustine (354-430). One of the most important theologians in history.

Most known for his fight against "Pelagianism," which Augustine mistakenly thought Origen was the cause of.

Augustine didn't know Greek, or at least vey little. He therefore misunderstands that the one Latin word aeternus translated both Greek words aidios and aiwnios.

The Orthodox Faith - Volume IV - Spirituality - The Kingdom of Heaven - Heaven and Hell

6 For after all it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, dealing out retribution ("exacting justice") to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction ("ruin in the Age"), away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified among His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—because our testimony to you was believed.

Authorship of 2 Thessalonians is debated

Assuming it is Paul, it must still be put in the context of the rest of Paul's words ("every knee bow, every tongue confess"; "all will be made alive in Christ.")

Eternal = aionios, so "otherworldly destruction" or "destruction of the age."

Destruction ≠ Annihilation. Cf. 1 Corinthians 5:5. Destruction in the LXX is often prelude to restoration. "You will be utterly destroyed...and then I will restore you!"

David Bentley Hart's translation, "They will pay the just reparation of ruin in the Age."

Question about the Millennium: people will still reject Jesus even after 1,000 years of his reign. How likely is it that everyone would eventually turn to Jesus and stay there?

1. Various views on Millennium and Revelation in general. One view is "amillennium," which is the idea that the millennium is happening right now, i.e. "The Church Age."
   1. Satan is already defeated and bound. (John 12:31, 16:11)
   2. Christians already reign with Christ. (Colossians 3:1-3)
2. Therefore this is not about a future were "perfect people fall." But rather a description of something that happens towards the end of time.
3. Even assuming a futurist millennial position, the millennial is not synonymous with the new heavens and the new earth.

The critical consensus is that the New Testament contains, for the most part, two kinds of language about the last judgment:

1) One that seems to portend the final destruction of the wicked at the threshold of the restored creation in the Age to Come and

2) Another that seems clearly to promise universal salvation. The question...is which of these two kinds of language can better explain the other?

The former, after all, if the destruction of the reprobate is understood simply as total annihilation, would seem to reduce the latter to vacuous hyperbole.

The latter, however, can conceivably explain the former in terms of a harsh purification that destroys the sinful self, but only for the sake of the resurrection of the redeemed creature. (DBH)

The belief that a God of infinite intellect, justice, love, and power would condemn rational beings to a state of endless suffering, or would allow them to condemn themselves on account of their own delusion, pain, and anger, is probably worse than merely scandalous. It may be the single most horrid notion the religious imagination has ever entertained, and the most irrational and spiritually corrosive picture of existence possible.

— DBH

“Love your enemies…be perfect as your father is perfect.”

The irresoluble contradiction at the very core of the now dominant understanding of Christian confession is that the faith commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbours as ourselves, while also enjoining us to believe in the reality of an eternal hell; we cannot possibly do both of these things at once.

— DBH

If the hypothesis were offered us of a world in which ... millions [should be] kept permanently happy on the one simple condition that a certain lost soul on the far-off edge of things should lead a life of lonely torture, what except a sceptical and independent sort of emotion can it be which would make us immediately feel, even though an impulse arose within us to clutch at the happiness so offered, how hideous a thing would be its enjoyment when deliberately accepted as the fruit of such a bargain?” — William James

The obscenity of belief in an eternal hell - ABC Religion & Ethics

I believe that God intentionally chose to be birthed by an unwed, teenage girl to place a mirror to our own prejudices about women…

I believe God intentionally chose to be born as a refugee…

Cole Arthur Riley in This Here Flesh, “We need other people to see our own face- to bear witness to their beauty and truth.”

Date: July 10, 2022

Preacher: Anthony Parrott, MDiv

This sermon is based off of the sermon of the same name by pastor and scholar Brad Jersak. It kicks off our new series as we explore the beliefs of Christianity and The Table Church. We begin with an exploration of two ways to tell the Gospel story. One is the legal-courtroom model where God is fundamentally against us. The other is the Therapeutic-Hospital model, where God is fundamentally for us.

If you are the one holding the power, we get to imitate the way of Jesus by giving away power and privilege.

Lectio Divina is one of the great treasures of the Christian tradition of prayer. It means Divine Reading, which is reading the book we believe to be divinely inspired. This tradition of prayer flows out of a Hebrew method of studying the Scriptures which was an interactive interpretation of the Scriptures by means of the free use of the text to explore its inner meaning. It was part of the devotional practice of the Jews in the days of Jesus.

Lectio Divina is the most traditional way of cultivating friendship with Christ. It is a way of listening to the texts of scripture as if we were in conversation with Christ and He was suggesting the topics of conversation. It is listening with the “ear” of the heart. The daily encounter with Christ and reflection on His Word leads beyond mere acquaintanceship to an attitude of friendship, trust and love.

Bible Study is the reading of the scriptures for information and an understanding of the context of the passage. It provides a solid conceptual background for the practice of Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina is a reflective reading of scripture. It is a method of prayer that leads us into the deeper meaning of scripture and the transformation of our lives. A contemplative reading of the Scriptures is compatible with well-grounded interpretation of the Bible.

Moment One: Lectio. Read the Scripture

Read passage as slowly as you can. Listen with the “ear of your heart.” What phrase, sentence or even single word stands out to you? Begin to repeat that phrase, sentence or one word over and over, allowing it to settle deeply in your heart. And then read the passage slowly at least two more times, stopping to consider certain phrases or words or questions that may arise.

Pause to write down that word or phrase, and any reflections you may have at this point.

Moment Two: Meditatio. Reflect.

Read the passage yet again, but now attempt to place yourself into the story or passage. Place yourself as one the characters within the story. Or simply imagine that the words on the page are words that you yourself are speaking to God. Use your senses. If you were a character, would you be seeing, touching, tasting, hearing, smelling? What emotions would be rising up within you? Reflect on and relish the words, thoughts, and feelings. Let them resound in your heart. Let an attitude of quiet receptiveness permeate the prayer time. Be attentive to what speaks to your heart.

Again, pause to write down what you may be thinking or feeling at this point.

Moment Three: Oratio. Pray.

Speak to God as you continue to listen to a phrase, sentence or word. A prayer of praise, thanksgiving or petition may arise. It may arise out of the emotions or feeling you’re having as you consider the passage.

Once again, it may be appropriate to write down a prayer.

Moment Four: Contemplatio. Rest in God.

Simply “be with” God’s presence as you open yourself to a deeper hearing of the Word of God. Sit in silence, allowing the choppy waves of your soul to come to place of stillness and rest. If you feel drawn back to the scriptures, follow the lead of the Spirit.

https://www.amazon.com/Divine-HoursTM-Pocket-Phyllis-Tickle-ebook/dp/B000S1LX16/ref=sr_1_5?crid=25IULSM74GI79&keywords=divine+hours+phyllis+tickle&qid=1647446976&s=digital-text&sprefix=divine+hours%2Cdigital-text%2C79&sr=1-5&pldnSite=1

https://pray-as-you-go.org/

https://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/resources

• NRSV
• NIV (2011 or TNIV)
• CEB
• NASB (2021)

Avoid

• ESV
• KJV
• The Living Bible

Special

• The Message
• First Nations Version
  • John 3:16 "The Great Spirit loves this world of human beings so deeply he gave us his Son―the only Son who fully represents him.** All who trust in him and his way will not come to a bad end, but will have the life of the world to come that never fades―full of beauty and harmony. Creator did not send his Son to decide against the people of this world, but to set them free from the worthless ways of the world."
• Single Author Translations

• Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
• CEB Study Bible
• Africana Study Bible (OT)
• True to Our Native Land (NT)
• Oxford and Harper Collins Annotated Study Bibles
• Jewish Study Bible & Jewish Annotated New Testament

Avoid

• Study Bibles from Someone's Name or Face on Them

$40 / year

• Best Tools on Bible Gateway
  • NIV or NRSV Cultural Background Study Bible
  • NIV Application Commentary
  • Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament
  • Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary
  • New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology
  • Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary
  • Mounce's Interlinear

• A Survey of the Old Testament (Hill & Walton)
• A Survey of the New Testament (Gundry)
• Toward Decentering the New Testament (Mitzi J. Smith, Yung Suk Kim)

If you want to understand a verse you need to understand it's

• Genre
• Book
• Audience and Context
• Chapter
• Paragraph

https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Bible-Commentary-Third-Revised/dp/066423707X

https://www.amazon.com/Queer-Bible-Commentary-Deryn-Guest/dp/0334054427/?pldnSite=1

https://www.amazon.com/Peoples-Companion-Bible-Curtiss-Deyoung/dp/0800697022?pldnSite=1

https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Margin-Interpreting-Bible-World-ebook/dp/B00U7XTRT0/?pldnSite=1

• Probably a hint that a more nuanced conversation isn't in the cards at the moment
• Go up one level: recognize that people have said, "The Bible clearly says" in contradictory ways; which then means maybe it's not as "clear" as we thought
• If Jesus were to confront this passage what would He say? "You've heard it said; I say unto you..."

• Name the internal feelings and emotions; identify the strong response or trauma
• If Jesus were to confront this passage what would He say. "You've heard it said; I say unto you..."

Class Notes here: https://www.craft.do/s/gCwpHcMBSYPKv6

Click here for the full sermon notes

Full show notes here: https://www.craft.do/s/H4tK6utydxtize

Capitalism. Toxic Family or Social Systems. Addiction or Compulsion. Inner and Outer Voices and Pressure.

"Healthy boundaries are a form of rest." —Tricia Hersey (The Nap Ministry)

“We must not confuse the command to love with the disease to please.” ― Lysa TerKeurst

“Whenever you say yes to something, there is less of you for something else. Make sure your yes is worth the less.” ― Lysa TerKeurst

Self-Differentiation is the ability to separate your emotions and actions from the emotions and actions of others.

It's different from detachment. Detachment is the inability to care about someone else's emotions. Self-differentiation is the ability to not let someone else's emotional state define yours.

‌Non-Anxious Presence. First, you must be present. This is not the same as avoidance. Second, deciding to not add anxiety to anxious situation. Not the same as denial. But rather, the choice to not add to or pass along anxiety.

Non-Reactivity and Non-Judgment. To be able to respond instead of react. To thoughtfully consider, instead of instinctually knee-jerk.

Disciplines are activities within our power that enable us to accomplish what we cannot do by direct effort. The effect of discipline is to enable us to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. (Dallas Willard)

Solitude is choosing to step free from human relationships for a lengthy period of time, in isolation or anonymity, to make room for occupation of our lives by God. It is to do nothing and not try to make anything happen. It is the primary spiritual discipline which enables us to learn other disciplines

Silence completes solitude. It is not an absence but a presence, a positive reality, in which we experience in quiet or are in a place with only natural sounds.

Sick with a fever - of course, couldn't go to synagogue. This was not because of the germ theory of disease. This was because of impurity, uncleanness. Perhaps inability; but even if she had been physically able, she would not allowed to go by the community. 

Jesus' response - physical touch. To touch those that society had deemed unclean. 

**Jesus has contagious purity.** 

Why did the woman serve?   Because serving is the sign of being a disciple, in the way of Jesus   Her serving is not about her being a woman and therefore being put back in her rightful place. 

Though, it is slight about being a woman, because women were not permitted to be disciples of a rabbi. They are not the people to whom you would be expected to look for an example of discipleship. But it is the woman who ends up being the example to which to follow.

How do we know? Because there are only 3 examples in the whole of Mark's Gospel of people who serve.

1) The angels, who serve Jesus in the desert after his temptation. 2) This woman. 3) And Jesus Himself. "The Son of Man did not come into the world to be served, but to serve."

Messianic secret (why does Jesus tell demons to be silent)

Main Idea: The extraordinary kingdom of God is enacted through radical acts of hospitality and restoration.

Our long journey, our very personal collaboration with God, to be more Christ-like is a long-term, gradual, non-linear exorcism/healing in slow motion.

Main Idea: Jesus' ministry of the Kingdom of God was about disrupting the unjust social order for the sake of creating a new social order.

"Kairos time is the right or opportune time. It is a decisive moment in history that potentially has far-reaching impact. It is often a chaotic period, a time of crisis. However, it is through the chaos and crisis that God is fully present, disrupting things as they are and providing an opportunity to a new future--God's future.
--
"Kairos time is, therefore, a time pregnant with infinite possibilities for new life. Kairos time is God's time. It is a time bursting forth with God's call to a new way of living in the world." Kelly Douglas Brown, Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God.

Jesus disrupted the fishermen in the middle of their ordinary lives... so they can be a part of what Jesus doing.



The disciples don't know what the end result of this disruption will be, but they make the decision to follow anyway. 

Pray: God, how are you disrupting my life, and what am I called to do or become in response?

1) God’s purpose is clear: to call us an others into God’s story

2) God sees worth in everyone

3) God is not calling us to a new career; God is calling us to a new identity.

"The claim of a God bigger than those who worship him, more gracious, more generous, more hospitable than they are, is at the core of what Jesus calls the good news, or the gospel, and it ought to be good news that God is bigger than we are." Reverend Peter Gomes

• Genesis 1
  • Separation of waters (where chaos lives)
  • Living among the wild animals
  • Spirit brooding above the waters
• Genesis 6—7
  • Heavens broke open
  • Noah among the animals
  • 40 Days/Nights
  • Sign of New Creation is a dove

Jesus' Baptism

• heavens are rent open
• Spirit descends like a dove
• Jesus in the wilderness 40 days
• With the wild animals

• Isaiah 64, "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down." And then the rest of the chapter is about judgment
• Everything from here on shows us what it looks like for God to show up and render judgment

• Isaiah 42 - song of the suffering servant. "This is my son..."
• God says this to Jesus (notice the Trinity)
• God is saying this to you too

Question: What do we do with the Old Testament? Particularly the God of the OT? (Note: "Hebrew/Jewish Scriptures," "First Testament," "Old Testament" all refer to Genesis—Malichi)

Marcion tried to answer this question by saying that the God of the OT was a different god than the God revealed in Christ. Therefore Christians should reject OT.

Smacks of anti-semitism. Marcion wanted a Christinaity, "Untrammeled and undefiled by association with Judaism."

But then we meet the opening of the book of Mark. "The beginning of the Gospel" begins with — the Old Testament.

"Isaiah" quote is actually 3 Old Testament quotes. First Malachi 3:1,

"Look, I am sending my messenger who will clear/prepare the path before me; Then suddenty the Lord (Yahweh) whom you are seeking will come to his temple." (God is going to come on the scene; but first a messenger).

Which it self is a quote from Exodus 23 at Mt. Sinai, "I'm about to send a messenger/angel in front of you to guard you on your way and bring you to a place I've made ready."

And a quote from Isaiah 40, "A voice one calling, 'In the wilderness prepare the way for Yahweh; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain shall become level, the rugged plaes a plain. And the glory of Yahweh will be revealed, all all people will see it together." (Which just a few verses later is the passage we talked about last week..."Tell the good news...here is your God!")

Application: Jesus and NT is unintelligible without the OT.

Just because there's continuity with what came before doesn't mean something new isn't happening.

In the stories of the first horseless carriages, the investors and inventors were ridiculed because what they were doing was "just a fad" or just a novelty. Cars were just doing the same thing horses had done for centuries. And horses were a lot easier to care for.

John (and, we'll see, Jesus) had continuity with the past; but something brand new was happening as well.

• Wilderness. All the best stories happen in the wilderness. Wilderness was the place where God did new things. Red Sea, Sinai. Expectation was high that the messiah would show up in the wilderness to start the revolution.
• Baptism. This is what happened to Gentile converters to Judaism. John is doing it to Jews.
• Elijah. Same description as 2 Kings 1:8. And the expectation that Elijah would come back. "Look, I am sending Elijah the prophet to you, before the great and terrifyin day of the Lord arrives."

Application: Reducing Jesus down to a "nice moral teacher" is an insult to what John proclaimed and the first Christians believed.

John's message was to change direction.

• We think of repentance as negative. But it simply means to change direction.
• Repent is bit preachy. Christianeze. But, you know, we like it when people repent. Repentance can save lives. When people change their minds. (Gay marriage moved from being allowed in one state to all 50 from 2004-2015. One study showed that "Repentance" from banning gay marriage meant 134,000 fewer teens attempted suicide each year).
• Which, we also think of repentance and forgiveness of sins as an individual thing. And it can be. But it's also a community thing; a as-a-people thing. So, as we get closer to the death of Jesus, and we talk about "forgiveness of sins," remember that we're talking about a "nation-being-brought-of-an-exile" thing; not a "go-to-heaven-when-you-die, now-god-can-stand-to-be-around-you-thing."

But here's the thing about repentance and forgiveness: Grace has little effect on those who feel they have no need of it.

Read the full sermon notes by clicking here.