The Story of Jonah
Cortez, Ellie, Kai, Elliot, Everett, and Pastor Craig lead the congregation through the story of Jonah and discuss how this story impacts our lives today. This conversation comes to a close with a secret being revealed at the very end.
The Hassle of Humility
Pastor Craig Hadley leads a conversation on the bizarre and unsettling fourth chapter in the book of Jonah in which Jonah begs for his death because a worm ate a plant.
The Consternation of Change
The third chapter of Jonah contains a plot twist so dramatic, that it even catches the Creator of the universe by surprise. This part of the story invites us to reflect on our own belief about how we respond to our enemies.
Resilience
Pastor Kim Krogstad tells the story of Peter and Jesus Christ, and how she has experienced resilience firsthand through heartache and joy.
The Belly of the Beast
While in the belly of a fish, Jonah prays a predictable prayer...until you get to the end of Jonah's story. Pastor Craig Hadley highlights this tension, and then discusses how Jonah's story contains two VERY different journeys.
The Faith of Forgiveness
Pastor Craig Hadley kicks off our four part series in the book of Jonah with a discussion on our focus on the fish in this story has distracted us from what this book is all about.
Darkness & Light
Pastor Craig Hadley discusses how unitive consciousness, young adult romance novels, how grief and love are actually the same thing, and how resurrection is meaningless without death.
This Is Healthy Church
Pastor Craig Hadley discusses the thesis statement of 1 Timothy, and talks about what a real, functioning church looks like when its healthy.
This Passage Is Sexist
Pastor Craig Hadley discusses 1 Timothy 2:8-15 which is one of the most offensive passages of scripture in the entire Bible.
The Power of Repair
Pastor Donna Burkland, from Safe Harbor OC, discusses a firsthand experience of receiving repair from a religious community, and then shares how we can offer that same repair to others.
This Isn't Anti-LGBTQ
Pastor Craig Hadley looks closely at 1 Timothy 1:10, a verse which has been used over and over again to clobber people of queer sexual orientations, and discusses why this verse is talking about something else entirely.
Paul Did Not Write This
Pastor Craig Hadley dives into the controversial book of 1 Timothy and discusses how much more enriching these words are when we accept that the Apostle Paul did not write them.
Esther Part 5: Haman and Our Enemies
Pastor Craig Hadley talks about the terrifying part of Esther's story that is often skipped and then shares how it speaks to our lives today.
Esther Part 4: Truth to Power
Pastor Cheryl Raine talks about the inspiration of Esther and how her story challenges all of us to speak truth to power (no matter how difficult it may be).
Esther Part 3: Esther & Madam CJ Walker
Pastor Craig tells the inspirational stories of Queen Esther and Madam CJ Walker, and then discusses what inspiration means for us today.
Esther Part 2: Moredecai and Bayard Rustin
Pastor Craig discusses the brilliant and courageous challenge of Mordecai and compares it to the life of Bayard Rustin.
Esther Part 1: Queen Vashti & Alice Ball
After a brief introduction to the book, Pastor Craig discusses the opening scene of the book of Esther and how it parallels the life of Alice Ball in the 20th century.
Philemon (Revisited)
Drs. Maury Jackson and Craig Hadley share a few ideas on the book of Philemon by the Apostle Paul, and then they sit down together to talk about what this book means for us today.
Amos Part 3: The Prophet and the President
Pastor Craig Hadley tells a story from the book of Amos which paralleled events of the past week with the presidential inauguration and the national prayer service.
Amos Part 2: Amos and MLK
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Amos are similar in many ways. Pastor Craig Hadley looks closely at their similarities and talks about finding God in the darkness.