Spark Cast

During the teaching time of our Sparkiversary Party, we took some time to simply remember, and honor the work that God has been doing in and through this amazing community. We then invite you to join us in living The Way of Jesus.

In chapter 15 the Israelites are commanded to make "tassels" and put them on the "fringes" of their garments. In this teaching, Pastor Danielle is joined with Rabbi Ari to help explain why.

(We apologize for the poor audio quality this week, due to technical difficulties). There are giants in the land. Many of us either deny or despair that reality. But we don't really have a choice. The battle is before us. Let us believe, not in what is seen, but rather in what is unseen.

The story of sibling rivalry is a lesson in how to redeem difficult and challenging relationships with the most difficult people in the world with whom to reconcile, our family.

Do we want God's blessing, provision, and goodness without God's judgment? We pick up on our series in Numbers that we began a while ago to dive deeper into these questions and lessons from the desert.

One of our young adult Sparkers discusses his upbringing, journey through education and creative work.

The follow-up live public conversation Q&R (Question & Response) time.

From birth control and abortion, to sexual harassment and sex education, R. Marie Griffith's most recent work Moral Combat is a sweeping historical account of the people and ideas that shaped how American Christianity taught, lived, and legislated sex over the last hundred years. We have asked Dr. Griffith to come share on the topic "Moral Combat: How Sex Formed and Fractured American Christianity" to help us better understand Christianity's past ideas of sex in relation with power, gender, race, education, etc. Perhaps we can then forge a redemptive and life giving way forward.

Some more direct thoughts on how the Way of Jesus needs to move forward into the future.

As we look to the past to help us guide our future, Pastor Danielle shares insights and stories from the lesser known figures of history to inspire us that there is a long tradition of social engagement in our Christian tradition.

This short series begins with some thoughts on how the Way of Jesus is moving forward into the future. As an introduction, Pastor Kevin shares some musings on what kind of thinking is required to help us even frame the conversation.

After the journey of re-inquiring about basic Christian beliefs, so what? What does it matter? What does it mean? And how does it answer the most important questions and inquiries of our existence?

The most widely distributed book in the world is also widely misunderstood and misused. In this talk, Pastor Tom helps us grasp an understanding of the Bible on its own terms, not on ours.

The word "heaven" is seen as a distinctly separate, better, and personally centered location outside of this world. It is popularly understood as "the place where we go when we die." However, the way in which the Bible uses the word "heaven" is far closer to us than we think.

Far from the standard version of hell that is so common in our current cultural context, the Biblical teaching is far more nuanced, visceral, and "real" for right here, and right now.

For many, "salvation" is an "event," that happens. While the moment of transformation is absolutely meaningful, the Scriptures seem to teach that salvation is something that we are committed to keep working out.

There are lots of images and metaphors that we use to describe what actually happened. By revisiting the way the Biblical authors used those metaphors, perhaps we can see with greater depth the upside-down way Christianity thought of Jesus' death.

In short, he didn't. Understanding what crucifixion is and was, helps expose the injustices of today, and why they also don't need to happen.

Our next teaching attempts to revisit the idea of sin, in light of creation.

We begin a new teaching series as an inquiry of Christian beliefs.