Awake with Christ

In this final teaching of the “Earthly Empire and Divine Kin-dom” series, Leah walks us through the last, harrowing chapter of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life—his work in the German resistance, his arrest, and his ultimate execution. Amidst moral ambiguity and deep suffering, Bonhoeffer never stopped seeking Christ’s presence in the complexity of real life. Through prison letters, unfinished writings, and his haunting poem “Who Am I?”, Leah shows how Bonhoeffer called followers of Jesus not to escapism, but to deep solidarity with the suffering of the world. Anchored in the story of Jesus in Gethsemane, this teaching calls us to “stay awake with Christ”—to bear witness and resist despair with courage and presence. Leah reminds us that the true legacy of Bonhoeffer lies not in answers, but in the question he lived: “Where is Christ, here and now?”

Review Leah’s notes here and listen to or watch the teaching below.

Discipling Resistance

In this next teaching on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Leah explores his leadership in the Confessing Church and his efforts to disciple Christian resistance in Nazi Germany. She shares how Bonhoeffer trained young pastors in an underground seminary, centering their faith on intentional community and the radical teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. His writings from this period, Discipleship and Life Together, challenge us to embrace “costly grace” —a faith the resists injustice rather than conforming to empire. Leah also reflects on the story of Martin Niemöller, a pastor who initially supported Hitler but later repented and spoke out, reminding us that resistance can take many forms. This teaching invites us to examine our own discipleship, the communities that shape us, and how we are called to live out faith in ways that challenge oppression.

Review Leah’s notes here and listen to or watch the teaching below.

A Journey of Resistance with Bonhoeffer

As Lent begins, Leah launches a special series within “Earthly Empire & Divine Kin-dom,” focusing on the life and resistance of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. She examines how Bonhoeffer’s time in New York—studying at Union Theological Seminary, worshiping at Abyssinian Baptist Church, and confronting American racism—transformed his understanding of Jesus and justice. These experiences sharpened his resistance to Hitler’s rise in Germany, as he saw faith not as mere platitudes but as a radical call to action. Leah challenges us to reflect on our own lives: How have our experiences shaped our faith? How do we discern our personal path of resistance to injustice? This teaching invites us to step into Lent with renewed awareness, courage, and commitment to the work of Divine kin-dom.

Review Leah’s notes here and listen to or watch the teaching below.

Resistance Stories

In this next installment of the “Empire and Kin-dom” series, Leah examines how resistance stories have shaped movements for justice and survival. She highlights Harriet Tubman’s unwavering faith in liberation and the ways enslaved people found hope in the Exodus story. Turning to the Book of Daniel, Leah unpacks how the Jewish court tales provided strength and defiance against empire, offering a vision of divine kinship over domination. These stories have empowered communities to hold onto their identity and resist empire. In a time when authoritarianism seeks to erase and control, Leah challenges us to reclaim the stories that sustain us and imagine a different future.

Review Leah’s notes here and listen to or watch the teaching below.

The Widest Possible Difference

Leah launches the “Earthly Empire and Divine Kin-dom” series by exploring the stark contrast between earthly power and God’s vision for community. Drawing on the story of Frederick Douglass, the warnings of the prophet Samuel, and Jesus’ proclamation of the “Kin-dom of God,” she challenges us to discern the difference between empire and divine kinship. This teaching invites us to resist systems of oppression and build a faith rooted in justice, solidarity, and love.

Review Leah’s notes here and listen to or watch the teaching below.