Spark Cast

The Judah and Tamar story of Genesis 38 interrupts our Joseph narrative, and for good reason. It points out a contrast of righteousness that will be thematic throughout the rest of the Bible. However, we need a little historical and contextual help to understand what is really going on in a story that is often perplexing and confusing for modern readers.

We come to chapter 37, the beginning of the Joseph story, which does not start off really well. If this story were to take place today, we would invest in serious therapy for the parties involved. Yet, these dysfunctions are the very vehicles through which God is continuing to write His story. We too, therefore, can see our pasts, histories, and current dysfunctions as avenues of God's grace and r...

Why does the Bible tell so much of the complicated, sordid, and frankly embarrassing elements of dysfunctional family life? Well, perhaps it is because the Biblical view of family and story are really important to describing our place and calling in this world. This message encourages us to take into full consideration all of our family's stories to bring fresh meaning to our identities and our le...

If we're going to do a Genesis series, we can't skip over the "tricky bits," as in Chapter 34 and the "ravishing of Dinah." In this message, Pastor Danielle explains why this story is in the Bible and how it is illustrating the delinquency and consequences of irresponsible caretakers. We can all agree that today, as it was back then, abdicating our responsibility to care for our girls is most defi...

On this Mother's Day, we reflect on the feminine side of God as described in the Bible. We are challenged to think of gender, not as two, as reflected in humanity, but as one, as in God. As we do, we are drawn into an understanding that a compassionate God carries each of us deep within God's womb. It is by believing in this that we hear God's heartbeat, become familiar with God's voice, conform o...

Special guest musician Tyson Motsenbocker shares a special song, "Path in the Weeds." Visit www. TysonMotsenbocker.com for more on his music.

Pastor Mark Arevalo shares a wild and crazy teaching full of lots of interaction, making the case for Church as an intergenerational experience. We are reminded of how God has created each generation to serve the Church and how we need each other to experience the fullest expression of our faith.

Human dysfunction begins when a person feels unloved, and unworthy of love (shame). As a result, the ways in which we function in this world lead us to blame others and game systems in order to protect our hearts and souls. This is poignantly illustrated in the narrative of Genesis 3. But what is also there is God's redemption, speaking deep into our identity, grounding us once again in love and w...

The celebration of Palm Sunday was not a happy event, but rather one deeply imbued in the soul's cry for freedom. Just as Passover was being celebrated, commemorating freedom from Egypt, Jesus's entry during this festival evoked a similar cry for freedom, now from under the oppression of Rome. Through a variety of historical events, we see that this is actually a cry that is deeply embedded in sou...

This audio clip includes the introduction before the sermon, "Encountering God," and then a brief Q&A after the sermon.

When Jacob encounters Esau, he says that seeing his brother is like "seeing the face of God," the same language used when Jacob wrestled with God. This story teaches us to not simply look for God in moments that seem "out of this world," but to recognize the human moments of relational reconciliation to be truly divine encounters. It is in a mended relationship, an apology, and a reunification of...

Spark's ethic of wrestling is grounded in Genesis 32, the account of Jacob wrestling with both God and humankind on his way to meet Esau. This story challenges our disengagement from the difficult and often painful struggles in our lives, and exhorts us to never let go unless there is a blessing. This teaching will help us overcome the laziness, apathy, disillusionments, distractions, and certaint...

As we look at this next chapter in the Jacob drama with Laban, chapter 31, we begin to unfold additional layers and complexities that are often missed by seeing only the major players. In this message we discover that there are always two sides of every story.

Have you ever been "stuck in a moment, and you can't get out of it?" The characters in our Biblical stories most definitely have. In this talk we are encouraged and challenged to "lift up our feet," and move on. There is another moment in this redemptive story that God is writing, and it's our privilege to journey towards it, in love, in joy, in hope, and in Jesus.

The story of "Jacob's ladder," in Genesis 28 awakens us to the Divine reality that is always around us, yet we are so frequently unaware. Here we discover that God is found in the everyday, mundane, and routine areas of life, in addition to the big and major moments. As we embrace this truth, perhaps the meaning and purpose we have in this world could be utterly transformed.

From Genesis 27 we study the blessing of Isaac to his sons, Jacob and Esau. We learn that even in spite of the deceitfulness of Jacob and the earthiness of Esau, Isaac still blesses both of them equally. What is it about this grace that could transform our understanding of God's blessing upon us, and our commission to bless those around us? A chart of Jacob's blessing is available at www.sparkchur...

In this message we peer into a the symbolism behind Rebekah's pregnancy with Jacob and Esau. As two nations "jostled" inside Rebekah (a preview of the history of Israel), so two impulses jostle inside each of us.

Continuing our Genesis series, this teaching looks at the story of Abraham, sending his servant to seek out a wife for his son Isaac. Given that this story takes place between the death of Sarah and the death of Abraham, we not only witness the amazing character of Rebekah, we find strength in holding on to God's promises and faithfulness in the midst of death.

As we continue our series in Genesis, we come to the story of Abraham heeding the request of God to sacrifice his son, Isaac. More appropriately known as the "binding of Isaac," (in Hebrew, the Akedah), we learn that this request of God is not a command, but an entreaty that seeks to embolden the mutual and reciprocal trust between God and Abraham. It is that trust that strengthens and confirms th...

Drawing from their personal experience, Marcus and Kendra share stories from their coaching and their philosophy of sports. Through their teaching, we discover how sports is a beautiful illustration of God's commission to all of us to influence the world.

This talk is a continuation of our Genesis series from chapter 18 on the Three Visitors and juxtaposed with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in chapter 19. May we extend our hand of hospitality to those around us, exemplifying the care and community of God with everyone. May "all four sides of our tent" continually be open.

A continuation of our Genesis series from chapter 17 on the covenant of circumcision. What does this odd practice have to do with this overarching story of Genesis? And really, why circumcision? Understanding the metaphorical power of imagery and the cultural context of the Ancient Near East may illuminate for us an insight into this practice that points to something deep and hidden inside of each...

A continuation of our Genesis series, looking at the story of Abraham and Hagar. Through this message we discover that there are strangers all around us. As followers of Jesus, and as descendants of Abraham, may we welcome all the strangers in our lives. Why? Because God has welcomed us.

Pastors Danielle and Kevin and the Advisory Board gave Spark a brief update on the finances, staff, vision, hopes, dreams, and philosophy of Spark. Thank you to all of our Spark participants, here in Palo Alto, and around the world, for your support and partnership in this ministry. We hope this update not only strengthens our relationship, but inspires us all as we move into 2014.

From Genesis all the way through to Jesus, God has been telling a story of coming down here to earth, to enter into the chaos and dysfunction of life, in new times, new places, new cultures, and in new ways. In the convergence of the season of Christmas, the New Year, and Spark's second year, we ask again, what would happen if God came down, again?! The video of the message is available at www.spa...