Spark Cast

This is the audio from our online liturgical service. Merry Christmas everyone, and a happy new year! We'll see you in 2023!

This advent Sunday we are invited to pause to consider the “el” in the word “immanuEL.” As arrival is drawing near, we consider the long and deep history of what is understood as the presence of “God,” in Hebrew, “EL.”

While we expect kings to be born in luxury, this king is born in a cave, and his announcement is to shepherds. GROUP QUESTIONS: 1. Compare and contrast the luxury of then to the luxury of now. Have things changed? What's different? What's the same? 2. When you think of "good news" what do you think of? What category, or area of life is that thought? What category is the good news of Jesus in? 3. I...

This is not a gospel of gain or wealth. This is a gospel of trust. Mary’s song is one of remembrance of God’s promises of mercy and faithfulness to Israel, to Abraham and his descendants. And Jesus is how God is going to continue this covenantal song. GROUP QUESTIONS: 1. What are the traditional ways "songs" have been understood in Christian practice? How does that compare with these biblical song...

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent ... "Advent" means coming or arrival, and this is the time of year when we remember and anticipate Christ's coming into the world. GROUP QUESTIONS: 1. What expectations do you have for this advent season? 2. What does the "arrival" of Jesus mean? 3. Advent implies "not yet" but "is coming." What observations, feelings, or questions do you have in-between t...

The radical nature of God's love is a story of diversity and inclusion where everyone is welcomed and loved. It's a story of forgiveness with second chances and two hundredth chances where you don't ever lose your place and you are never finished. It's a story that reveals Jesus as Israel's long expected Messiah and that he indeed is the Son of God. GROUP QUESTIONS 1. What does "messiah" mean, bot...

The climax of the gospel according to John are when women who followed Jesus find his tomb empty just days after the government oversaw his execution. What follows is a series of bizarre and unprecedented encounters with Jesus. Then the way Jesus' followers try to make sense of these encounters offers us ways to make sense of Jesus' resurrection too. GROUP QUESTIONS 1. Imagine yourself going to "a...

The theme of kingship runs throughout our Scriptures. Every Sunday, we pray the words Jesus taught us, "Your kingdom come, your will be done." Who is our King? And where is this Kingdom? In whom do we place our trust and hope? Here we GROUP QUESTIONS 1. How do we translate ancient monarchies into modern democracies? How shall we think about "royal rule" in today's language and concepts? 2. In many...

In John 18, the trials and interrogations of Jesus intensify, and they culminate in a dialogue with Pontius Pilate, the governor of the Roman Province of Judea. But this trial, as it is told, is not simply about Jesus' violations against the Roman Empire. This is much more about a clash of kingdoms, of authorities, and of worldviews. At its most profound, this is an epistemological inquisition. In...

In John 17, Jesus prays that his followers will be united, but it doesn't take much to recognize that the Church is very much divided along social, political, and theological lines. Why are we divided, and how can Jesus's teachings on the Kingdom of God provide insights into how we might find common ground once again?

When Jesus speaks of sending the spirit when he departs, in addition to being a comfort, this spirit of truth is an Advocate, someone who will not just stand with you, but for you. Comfort, in this view is not mere sentimentality, but results from God's advocacy. GROUP QUESTIONS: 1. What kind of meaning does this teaching give to the "Trinity" in Christian understanding? 2. If God the Father, Son,...

Vines are a symbol of God's blessing and provision. What happens when vines do not grow or bear fruit? What about when they do bear fruit? In it all, the vinedresser works to ensure that the vine remains connected. GROUP QUESTIONS: 1. What is the difference between being "cut off" versus being "lifted up?" 2. How does this understanding change our Christian identity and life? 3. Can we see this ki...

Spark celebrates 10 years. We host Rabbi Chaim Koritzinsky and his welcome, and Pastor Danielle shares reflections of the past and exhortations for the future. (Videos can be seen at www.spark.church/events)

Jesus promises to prepare a place for us, for in his "Father's house are many rooms," a phrase to describe the expansive inclusivity of Jesus' call and welcome. GROUP QUESTIONS: 1. "The way," "the truth" and "the life" are abstract concepts. What does it mean that Jesus points to himself, as a human person who IS those things? What radical shifts in thinking is Jesus calling us toward? 2. Could it...

Jesus is all about the love. Jesus loves us and calls us to love one another. GROUP QUESTIONS: 1. Pastor Danielle talked about "experiencing" vs. "knowing" love. What truly is the difference and does it matter? 2. In philosophy this is called a "phenomenology"; that is, an "experience." Do you think this kind of "experience" is central to being a Christian / Follower of Jesus or not? 3. Apply this...

We live in a world that seems to be full of hate, greed and jealousy. We see lies and betrayal and it hurts. Something is messed up and broken. In fact, in many cases it is shattered and reconciliation can seem impossible. We want to set it right, but we can’t seem to get it right. With God, there is a hope of reconciliation that is bigger than human wisdom. GROUP QUESTIONS: 1. Is reconciliation a...

We all have an innate impulse to assess and judge others. It is almost second nature. This may be part of the reason why the Way of Jesus is tremendously frustrating. Rather than accept any labeling, opinions, or condemnations, Jesus defers to observation, experience, and the “truth of the matter” as the judge, and focuses on what he (and we) can do, rather, to bring salvation, “rescue” to the cos...

As is often the case, our familiarity with these teachings of Jesus can blind us to the real challenge of His call to lay down our lives.

Mary's extravagant act of anointing Jesus with perfume is an ode to a much broader movement of Jesus and the Gospel elevating the presence and voices of women.

People were puzzled about Jesus’ identity in the Gospels and are still today. In John 10, people ask Jesus, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

In the thick of a debate with religious leaders about Jesus’ identity, he claims, “Before Abraham was, I am.” They disagreed (and tried to execute him on the spot for it). Was Jesus saying he was God? What person in their right mind could possibly believe that about themselves?

In John 9 Jesus heals a blind man. It's a miracle! Yet, not everyone who was there saw Jesus for who he is - The Messiah. They were blind. But there is more to this text for those who are willing to consider digging deeper into the biblical story, for people who are disabled, and how non-disabled people may be blind.

When we think of Jesus as the “light of the world”, we often think of the sharp contrast between light and dark, true and false, and whether we’re saved in the light or lost out in the darkness. Jesus’ claim that he is the light of the world is actually much bigger than that, and it tells us deep truths not just about who Jesus is, but about who we are and what our purpose on earth is.

The radical nature of Jesus' love protects a woman that was caught with a man who wasn't her husband. Some religious leaders want to stone her to death. This text raises many questions: What does this story mean? Why does Jesus help this woman? What was Jesus writing in the dust? What caused the religious leaders to walk away? We will learn that Jesus helps those that are having stones thrown at t...