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When the comedy series Ted Lasso first aired, audiences were charmed by its upbeat humor, heartwarming moments, and messages of kindness. It was an unlikely hit, telling the story of an American football coach who moves to England to manage a soccer team — a game he knows nothing about. But fans soon realized there was something deeper going on in the show.
Surprisingly, Ted Lasso resonates powerfully with the themes found in the New Testament gospels, bringing forward messages that echo Jesus' teachings in ways that feel fresh and relevant to today's world. And for progressive faith communities in particular, the show offers something rare in popular culture: a vision of love that is radically inclusive, structurally humble, and stubbornly hopeful. Here, we'll look at some of the central themes both share — kindness, forgiveness, humility, unconditional love, and faith — and why they matter especially now.
From the outset, Ted Lasso's approach to life is simple but powerful: he chooses kindness. Rather than tearing people down or seeking revenge, Ted makes a point to see the best in others, sometimes even to his own detriment. This mirrors Jesus' message in the Gospels, where kindness and compassion are celebrated as core values. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls on people to love their enemies and bless those who curse them (Matthew 5:44).
Ted's operating philosophy — "be curious, not judgmental" — is a secular restatement of that same impulse. It's not naive. It's a posture of active, intentional grace toward people who haven't earned it. For progressive Christians, this is more than a feel-good mantra; it's a call to practice the kind of radical openness Jesus modeled when he welcomed tax collectors, Samaritans, and sinners to the table.
Throughout the New Testament, forgiveness is a cornerstone of Jesus' teachings. His message is clear: to forgive is to free oneself from resentment and allow healing to begin. This lesson is powerfully embodied in Ted Lasso, where nearly every character must learn to forgive both themselves and others.
Ted forgives Rebecca — his boss — even after she admits to sabotaging the team, having hired him specifically to make AFC Richmond fail. Instead of holding onto bitterness, Ted forgives her, which ultimately transforms their relationship into one of the show's deepest friendships. This echoes Jesus' parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) — a story that celebrates grace over punishment, and return over rejection.
But Ted Lasso doesn't oversimplify forgiveness, and neither should we. The show makes clear that forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing. Rebecca's confession is painful. Ted's response takes time to process. Progressive theology has long made room for this complexity — understanding that genuine forgiveness is not the same as pretending harm didn't happen. The show models the messy, grace-filled work of actually forgiving, which is far more honest than the "forgive and forget" version so often preached.
Ted's leadership style isn't about control or authority — he leads by example, with humility. Much like the way Jesus washed the feet of his disciples to demonstrate that true leadership is rooted in service (John 13:1-17), Ted shows that a leader's role is to support and uplift others, not to dominate them.
Whether he's cleaning up after his team or offering advice with a sense of humor and modesty, Ted reflects a servant leadership mindset where the needs of others come before personal ambition. This is the anti-hierarchy ethic that runs through both the Gospels and progressive faith — the idea that power is most faithfully exercised when it is given away.
In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly crosses social and cultural barriers to embrace those who feel unloved or unworthy. He heals the outcast, eats with the despised, and dignifies the overlooked. Likewise, Ted has a way of making each character feel seen and accepted, regardless of their past or insecurities.
His treatment of Jamie Tartt is a masterclass in this. Jamie begins the series as an entitled, self-absorbed player who shows little interest in the team. Ted doesn't write him off. He stays curious. He stays present. And over time, the unconditional nature of that attention transforms Jamie in ways no amount of punishment or pressure ever could.
This is especially resonant for progressive faith communities who understand inclusion not as tolerance, but as an active, costly practice of welcome. Ted's love isn't conditional on Jamie becoming easier to love first. That's the point. And it's one of the most genuinely gospel-shaped things the show does.
While Ted Lasso isn't explicitly religious, it is saturated with the language of faith. Ted's hand-lettered "Believe" sign — taped to the locker room door — functions almost as a congregational creed. It's simple enough to dismiss and deep enough to carry a team through a season.
His message is about believing in oneself, in others, and in the value of perseverance. This aligns with the New Testament's consistent encouragement to hold onto hope in the face of hardship. As James writes, "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (James 1:2-3). Ted's journey — marked by panic attacks, a dissolving marriage, and genuine self-doubt — reminds us that faith is not the absence of struggle. It's what you do inside the struggle.
It's worth noting that the show is secular, and some critics have pointed out that it borrows Christian ethics while leaving out Christ. That's a fair observation. But for progressive faith communities, it can also be read the other way: here is a show that demonstrates, without religious language, that the values of the Sermon on the Mount are not outdated. They work. They transform people. The gospel themes in Ted Lasso don't prove the show is Christian — they show that these values are deep enough to be recognized across traditions.
For churches that emphasize inclusion, justice, and the radical welcome of all people, Ted Lasso offers something surprisingly useful: a cultural touchpoint that makes the Sermon on the Mount feel accessible to people who might never have opened a Bible. Ted's character demonstrates that kindness is not weakness, that forgiveness is not defeat, and that love without conditions is not naive — it's actually the most powerful force in the room.
By exploring these themes through a beloved, widely-watched show, progressive faith communities can open conversations about what it means to live the gospel in everyday life — in workplaces, locker rooms, and living rooms, not just sanctuaries.
Is Ted Lasso based on Christian values? The show is secular, but its central themes — unconditional love, forgiveness, servant leadership, and resilience — closely parallel the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament gospels. Many faith communities, including progressive churches, have used it as a conversation starter about living out gospel values in everyday life.
What does Ted Lasso teach about forgiveness? Ted Lasso presents a nuanced view of forgiveness: it is possible, it is transformative, but it takes time and doesn't require pretending harm never happened. This aligns with progressive Christian theology, which distinguishes between forgiveness (releasing resentment) and reconciliation (restoring relationship), recognizing both as real and distinct processes.
What Bible passages connect to Ted Lasso? Several passages resonate strongly with the show's themes: the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) on loving enemies and choosing kindness; the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) on grace and return; Jesus washing the disciples' feet (John 13:1-17) on servant leadership; and James 1:2-3 on faith and perseverance.
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