Kindred Podcast

In this timely and challenging message, Ron Toft reflects on the early church’s response to oppression in the book of Acts—and asks what it means for us today. As progressive Christians navigating a shifting cultural landscape, are we preparing to grasp power or lay it down? Drawing on Jesus’ teachings and the actions of the apostles, Ron explores what it looks like to resist the cycle of retaliation and instead build resilient communities grounded in love, witness, and Spirit-led courage. A powerful word for anyone wondering how to live faithfully in the face of injustice.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.

In this powerful message, Brandon Evans explores the tension between religious tradition and the surprising, uncontainable movement of the Holy Spirit—both in the early church and today. Drawing from Acts 15, Brandon highlights a pattern throughout church history: whenever institutions tighten their grip, the Spirit moves in fresh, unexpected ways through those previously pushed to the margins. If you’ve ever felt excluded by tradition or unsure where you fit in modern Christianity, this episode offers both historical insight and heartfelt encouragement: the Spirit of God keeps showing up where we least expect—and always has.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.

In this episode, Alison Berreman reflects on what the early church’s response to empire can teach us today. Using Acts 11 and 12, she contrasts the resilience of Christian communities with the dependence and idolatry of state power. With honesty and nuance, Alison explores the tension of living faithfully in a time when empire and Christianity are deeply entangled. What does it look like to create systems of care that reflect our values—without losing sight of our modern responsibility to those harmed in Christ’s name? Join us as we sit with these questions together.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.

In this eye-opening episode, Grace Nichols shares reflections from her recent trip to Cuba, weaving personal experience, historical context, and biblical insight into a powerful conversation about poverty, justice, and generosity. Grace explores the stark contrast between tourist luxury and local scarcity, and invites us to reflect on what it really means to be "open-handed" in a world marked by inequality. Through scripture, storytelling, and community dialogue, this episode challenges us to reexamine our assumptions and consider how we can respond with compassion, humility, and courage.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.

In this thought-provoking episode of the Kindred podcast, Garrett McGeein dives deep into the tension between divine omniscience and human free will, exploring the philosophical and theological implications of middle knowledge. Using passages from the book of Acts as a springboard, Garrett unpacks how God's foreknowledge and human agency coexist, challenging traditional views while inviting open discussion and thoughtful reflection. Tune in as we navigate this complex but crucial aspect of faith and theology.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.

In this heartfelt and theologically rich reflection, Alison Berreman explores the difference between sacrificial love and generative giving. Drawing on the teachings of Jesus, the writings of philosopher Erich Fromm, and personal insights, Alison challenges the common Christian framing of self-sacrifice as the highest virtue. Instead, she offers a vision of love rooted in wholeness, vitality, and mutual transformation. This message invites listeners to reconsider what it means to love like Christ—not by disappearing, but by showing up fully.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.

In this Easter message, Kristine Caliger explores the multifaceted nature of the gospel—not as a single answer or formula, but as a mosaic of stories and perspectives. Drawing from parables, scripture, and the writings of Rachel Held Evans and Paul, she weaves a compelling vision of Jesus as both radically generous and courageously just. This episode invites us to embrace the tension in our stories, trust in the harmony of our diversity, and find unity in love, justice, and grace.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.

In this Palm Sunday message, Garrett McGeein reflects on Jesus’ so-called “triumphal entry” and reclaims it as something far more subversive and quiet: an anti-empire act of kingdom imagination. Drawing from Mark 11 and Zechariah 9, Garrett explores how Jesus resists power-grabbing and spectacle in favor of patient, self-giving love. The kingdom of God, he says, isn’t built with swords—it’s built through the undeniable witness of a community committed to restoration.

Listen in as we explore what it really means to be kingdom people.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.

In this episode, Ron Toft walks us through Acts 10 and 11 in a powerful, personal teaching about one of the most pivotal turning points in the New Testament—the moment the gospel reaches beyond the Jewish world and into the life of a Roman centurion named Cornelius. Ron unpacks Peter’s vision, the surprising work of the Holy Spirit, and what it means for us today when God says, “What I have made clean, you must not call unclean.”

From ancient tensions between Jews and Gentiles to our own modern-day boundaries, this episode invites us to ask: Who are our Gentiles? Who do we still see as outside the reach of grace?

Join the conversation as we reflect on God’s expansive love, the challenge of welcoming “even them,” and how this story continues to shape our identity as a community.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.

Rob teaches from Acts 2 and reflects on the Pentecost story as a moment of radical inclusion and spiritual clarity. Instead of focusing on the spectacle of tongues, we explore what this passage reveals about God’s heart—speaking directly to the outsider, the marginalized, the ones who don’t usually get a seat at the table. We also ask what this means for how we understand the Holy Spirit today, and how the Church might carry that same spirit of unity and welcome into the world.

Kindred Church is a Christian community gathering in Reno, Nevada.

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. If you believe in the ministry of Kindred Church and would like to support our efforts, visit kindredchurchreno.com/donate to make a contribution.

If you'd like to join us for a gathering, please visit kindredchurchreno.com/gatherings for our location and service times.

Thanks for listening.