In this closing teaching of the “Hurt to Whole” series, Leah introduces the concept of post-traumatic growth (PTG), the remarkable capacity of the human spirit to find resilience and even transformation after trauma. She reflects on her own personal journey and draws from trauma studies, explaining how adversity can lead us to new strengths, values, and connections. By examining stories of resilience from the Bible, Leah reminds us of a Divine presence that partners with us to bring good from harm. Encouraging the community to explore “What else is true?” she offers practical steps for cultivating resilience, including a radical self-love exercise. This final session is an invitation to embrace hope, wholeness, and the sacred growth that can arise from our deepest wounds.
Storytelling in Saftey
In this insightful teaching, Leah delves into the significance of sharing our untold stories as part of the “Hurt to Whole” series. She begins with a powerful quote from Maya Angelou, connecting it to the process of trauma recovery that involves safety, remembrance, and reconnection. Leah explains how the Christian faith itself can be seen as a post-traumatic tradition, rooted in the shared experiences of Jesus’ followers after his crucifixion. By revisiting the story of Jesus and Peter on the shore, she shows how safe, compassionate spaces allow stories of pain to be voiced, received, and reimagined. Leah encourages the community to build a trauma-informed culture, where healing can emerge through both spoken and creative expressions.
Review Leah’s notes here and listen to or watch the teaching below.
The Gospel Truths
In today’s teaching, Leah unpacks the complexities of the New Testament Gospels as part of the summer series, “Sacred Sources.” During seminary, many students face a pivotal moment when they realize the Bible’s formation is more complex than previously imagined. This often leads to a crisis of faith, but it can also lead to a more mature and nuanced understanding of these sacred texts. In this teaching, Leah explores what the Gospels are, how they came to be, and their significance. While the Gospels aren’t eyewitness accounts or direct transcripts of Jesus’ words, they are powerful, faith-driven narratives that offer us a profound connection to Jesus. By understanding the historical and literary context of these texts, we can approach them with fresh eyes and deeper reverence, finding new ways to connect with the life and teachings of Jesus.
Review Leah’s notes here and listen to or watch the teaching below.
Cultivate Generosity
This week Leah presented on cultivating generosity with our money and our time. View the audio slideshow, listen to mp3 audio, or read the typed sermon notes below. Presented on May 22, 2016, this is the third in our series called "Cultivate."
Download sermon notes here.
Beauty In Belonging
The following is audio with images, plain audio, and notes from the teaching given by Leah on April 3, 2016. Feel free to listen online, download, or read the notes. This teaching is the second in our series, "In Search of Beauty."
