Paradox Redlands Podcast

Jeremiah and Martin Luther King Jr.

Pastor Craig Hadley discusses two stories about prophets getting punched, what the villains can teach us, how these stories are similar, how these stories are different, and how all of it can teach us what it means to have faith in 2026.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Jeremiah's Dirty Underwear

Pastor Craig Hadley discusses the overwhelming anger in the book of Jeremiah and what it teaches us about the anger we hold today.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

More Questions from Paradox Unscripted

On Saturday, January 3, Pastor Craig Hadley took questions from the congregation and attempted to answer them. He had several leftover questions that he never got to respond to, so he took all of them and did his best on this podcast.

 

He has not seen any of these questions prior to this podcast. 

Paradox Unscripted (2026)

Pastor Craig Hadley invited the congregation to write down questions on paper airplanes and throw them on the stage. He then attempted to answer as many of these questions as he could.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Dear Christmas

Madison Brown and Mario Sanchez, Erin and Alex McMullen, Sara and Eric Schilt, and Minori and Miko Tsukimoto all write letters to their children about the Christmas story, gratitude, joy, hope, openness, generosity, and just about everything in-between.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Joseph's Princess Dress

Esther Loewen teaches on the story of Joseph and reveals that a lot of things we assume about Joseph's story become more gender-expansive when we take a closer look at the text.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Joseph and His Brothers

Genesis Ford asks a question which considers Joseph's story from his brothers' perspective, and Craig talks about the character development of Joseph throughout his story.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Jacob Wrestles with God

Krystl Fabella wonders why God felt the need to hold a jiu jitsu match with Jacob in the middle of the night, and Craig responds by sharing Jacob's entire story. And Jacob, Craig says, is NOT the hero of this story.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Rebekah and Isaac

Lucca Estrella read through the story of Rebekah and Isaac, and asked three questions from his eleven year-old perspective. Pastor Craig responded to his curiosity with illustrations about Piggly Wiggly, Disney movies, and a story about bandits.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

What It Means to Be a Man

Khari Washington, Rory Smith, Christian Barrera-Sandri, Yi Shen Ma, Chris Glevy, and Jordan Kattenhorn discuss what it means to be a man in the year 2025 and beyond.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Hagar & Ishmael

Pastor Craig Hadley looks at how three different story tellers remember the lives of Hagar and Ishmael, and what they can teach us about how we live in a multi-religious global society.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

The Infertility of Sarah (Sarai)

Coco Ma, age 6, asked Pastor Craig a question about Sarah's Infertility in the book of Genesis. Craig responded by talking about her favorite movie, K Pop Demon Hunters, and told Sarah's story through the lens of Rumi, Zoey, and Mira.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

The Curse of Ham

Pastor Craig Hadley responds to Jeff Bullington's questions after reading the story of the curse of Ham, and how we have a responsibility to be humble, be informed, and be great story tellers. Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA.

 

We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

The Book of Obadiah (Revisited)

Pastor Craig Hadley gives the historical context of Obadiah, reads through the entire book of Obadiah, discusses the thesis of Obadiah, tells a story in which he is the bad guy, shows a picture of a cute dog, points out something on In-N-Out Burger cups, and then asks what all of it means for us today.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Creation and Evolution

Mattie Kattenhorn asks about how we can reconcile the apparent discrepancies between evolution and creation, and how we can find God in the presence of so much death.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Who Wrote Genesis?

Padmini Davamony shares a story about her discovering the author of Genesis, and then

 

Pastor Craig Hadley discusses who wrote it and what we do with this information. Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Paradox 101 (2025)

Pastor Craig Hadley discusses the necessity, the calling, the history, the leadership, and the community of Paradox Church.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

What Communion Means to Me

Pastor Kim Krogstad shares what communion has meant to her in over 41 years of serving this sacrament to people under her care.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Galatians 6 (Reimagined)

Pastor Craig Hadley reimagines the sixth chapter of Galatians as a letter Paul might write to the Christian churches of America today. After the letter, he offers a commentary on the artistic liberties he took to bring this letter to life.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Galatians 5 (Reimagined)

What is Paul wrote a letter to the churches in America today? Pastor Craig Hadley imagine this letter would discuss the improper use of the Bible by modern Christians and call them to refocus on a faith that counts. He then offers a commentary explaining why he made the artistic choices for this reimagined letter.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Galatians 4 (Reimagined)

What if Paul wrote the churches in America a letter today? Pastor Craig Hadley reimagines this alternate reality based on the fourth chapter of Galatians and then offers a commentary on the artistic choices he made.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Galatians 2-3 (Reimagined)

What if Paul wrote the churches in America a letter today? Pastor Craig Hadley imagines this alternate reality based on the second and third chapters of Galatians and then offers a commentary on his creative choices.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Sacred Anarchy

Yi Shen Ma talks about a short passage at the end of Galatians, and how it calls all of us to a sacred kind of anarchy.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

An Introduction to Galatians

Pastor Craig Hadley offers a commentary on the book of Galatians, and discusses how these first two chapters set up the theology which fills the rest of the book.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Living with Our Thorns

Christian Barrera-Sandri takes an in-depth look at the life of Paul and explores how these writings impact our lives today.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

My Journey Toward Trans Affirmation by Braeden Storkersen

Braeden shares his journey through deconstruction when his friend came out to him as trans.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Letting Love Echo

Allura shares her story about learning to love the person God created her to be. She then goes on to challenge each of us to let love echo in all of our lives.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Poetry and Prophets--Scripture and Sensuality

Christian discusses the humanity at the heart of the poetry in Song of Songs, and compares it to other erotic poems throughout church history.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

A Commentary on 3 John

Pastor Craig Hadley opens the book of 3 John and discusses how this book doesn't provide a lot of answers... which is why it's perfect for us to discuss in the year 2025.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Resilience

Pastor Kim Krogstad tells the story of Peter and Jesus Christ, and how she has experienced resilience firsthand through heartache and joy.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Jonah Chapter 1--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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

The Transformative Power of Repair in Community

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.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

 

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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

 

Paul Did Not Write This

Part 1 (of 5) in our series on the book of 1 Timothy.

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.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Unscripted: Sex & Spirituality 2025

Intended for audiences ages 18 and older, Pastor Craig Hadley sits down with Briana Chapman and host Christian Barrera-Sandri to discuss sex and spirituality in 2025.

 

Find out more about our church by visiting us online at paradoxredlands.com

Esther Part 3--Queen Esther and 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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Paradox Is Nine Years Old Today!

Nine years ago TODAY, on February 20, 2016, Paradox Church held its first church service. Jasmine Bilbao and Craig Hadley discuss several questions from the congregation and look back on this crazy and fun journey as a community together!

Esther Part 2--Mordecai and Bayard Rustin

Pastor Craig discusses the brilliant and courageous challenge of Mordecai and compares it to the life of Bayard Rustin.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Esther Part 1--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.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Amos Part 3: The Prophet & 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.

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Amos Part 2: Amos & 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

 

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com

Amos Part 1: Three Atrocities...No, Four

Pastor Craig Hadley talks about the first two chapters of Amos, the thesis of Amos, and how it all raises questions about how we relate to the temptation of greed.

Paradox Church was founded in 2016 in Redlands, CA. We are currently in a nine-year, 66-part sermon series through the entire Bible. We are affirming for all LGBTQIA persons, we celebrate and empower women, and we prioritize the sacred work of anti-racism. If you'd like to know more about our church, please visit our website at www.paradoxredlands.com