Progressive Kristian
Theology Shirt Concepts
26 concepts · 6 batches · From actual sermons
Priority order — start here
- "Death is the mechanism, not the obstacle." — Matt's original language
- "Come kick it with the losers." + crucifix — most shareable
- "God chose the things that are not." — 1 Cor 1:28, scripture-verbatim
- "Progressive Kristian — est. 33 AD" — brand anchor
- "The path goes through, not around." — universal, crosses audiences
Batch 1 — The Seed Must Die
#101"Death is the mechanism, not the obstacle."
Original — from sermon prep
Small centered type · back: John 12:24
02"The path goes through, not around."
Universal — crosses audiences
Arc text or single centered line
03"The grain doesn't try harder. It falls."
Contemplative · John 12:24
Two lines · tight leading
04"When there was nothing left to hold onto, something opened up."
Personal — hospitalization sequence
Small serif · longer format
Batch 2 — The Loser Sermon · Paul + Jelly Roll
05"God chose the things that are not."
1 Cor 1:28 · Scripture-verbatim
Bold clean sans-serif
06"Right here with the losers."
Matt 16:25 · 1 Cor 1:27 · Jelly Roll
Horizontal banner or stacked
07"I count it all garbage."
Phil 3:8 · Provocative · Faithful
One line · flat delivery
08"Church: the gathering of losers."
1 Cor 1:27
Collegiate arch or straight
Batch 3 — Verse-Based · Scripture Flipped
09"Love thy neighbor. All of them."
Matthew 22:39
Two lines · second line slightly smaller
10"Feed the hungry. House the stranger. (That's it. That's the verse.)"
Matthew 25
Three-line stack · parenthetical italic
11"The meek shall inherit the earth. Still waiting."
Matthew 5:5
Two lines · second in lighter weight
12"Whatsoever you do to the least of these."
Matthew 25:40 · Let it hang unfinished
Single line · nothing else
Batch 4 — Identity · Wearable
13"I read the red letters."
Signals without explaining
Minimal · no framing
14"Deny yourself. (That's the whole thing.)"
Mark 8:34
Parenthetical italic
15"The false self dies. The true self remains."
Rohr / Merton
Two lines
16"Spinning plates is not a strategy. It's a symptom."
For the burned-out
Two lines · equal weight
17"Grace came through. I didn't earn it."
Personal · quiet · honest
Small type · centered
#418"Progressive Kristian — est. 33 AD"
Brand anchor · dates the movement to Jesus
Vintage collegiate · distressed
Batch 5 — Sharp · Theological
19"The cross is not an aesthetic."
Direct critique · wearable
Flat sans-serif · no decoration
20"Signed the papers from a hospital bed. Still here."
Most personal · most powerful
Two lines · small serif
21"Ask what Jesus would do. Be prepared for the answer."
Gentle provocation
One long line or two
22"Christ was not a capitalist."
Political edge · will find a tribe
Bold · clean
Batch 6 — Added June 2026
New23"The grain doesn't try harder. It falls."
A Seed Must Die sermon
Contemplative · tight leading
New24"The grace came through. I didn't earn it."
Personal · quiet
Small type · centered
#2New25"Come kick it with the losers."
1 Corinthians 1:27–28
With crucifix graphic · most shareable
New26"God builds with the things that are not."
1 Cor 1:28 · Active verb form
Bold sans-serif · declarative
Design Concept · #25
"Come kick it with the losers."
1 Cor 1:27 · Woodcut crucifix · White on black
Woodcut/letterpress-style crucifix above, phrase below. White on black, forest green on cream, or burgundy on white. For people burned by church but not by Jesus.
