Spark Cast

What is your metric of success? That question helps frame your responses to the experiences of your life. In Acts, there are immediate challenges, persecutions, etc. But these early followers of Jesus held to a "long view" of God's redemptive work.

Each name and pronoun in our narrative highlights aspects of this early movement. In this study, we'll dig into the name Mnason, and the pronoun "we," and how that informs our practice today.

The story of Eutychus is a strange narrative in the middle of what appears to be a travelogue. What is this story doing in there? Drawing from Homer's Odyssey, we consider the possibility that Luke is doing something profound, which is retelling an ancient story in light of the new movement of Jesus, infusing the hearers with a new set of principles, lessons, and values. Really brilliant of Luke!

The early church wrestled with the question of who's "in" and who's "out," regarding their engagement with this community. As we discover, this has been a human expression since the beginning of time. The Jesus Way is one of radical welcome, that ALL are truly welcome, not just at the table, but at the PARTY!

Sparker, Tom Arrington, continues our series with an impassioned encouragement for followers of Jesus to actually trust, and then actually obey.

We are not to sit on the sidelines. Indeed, we cannot, because we ARE NOT on the sidelines. Engaging with the realities of our world, both the light and the dark, is simply an embrace of our true selves, our real identity, and our central calling.

What are the pathways from terrorism to truth, from fear to faith? A reexamination of Saul's encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus reveals blindness as a necessary component of that transformation. As it turns out, blindness is a theme we see throughout the biblical narrative. Rather than "I once was blind but NOW I see," this idea embraces "I once was blind SO I could see."

The Q&R with Pastor Danielle after Lauren's message.

Sparker Lauren Chan reflects on life, and leaving for college. While many are thrilled to be departing from home, this is not something Lauren is looking forward to. Yet, throughout her life, and throughout the biblical story, "leaving home" is a dominant theme of a growing faith.

Acts 19 finds Paul in Ephesus where he incites a famous riot. It is not, however, by traditional means. This riot, is caused by love.

If we are really going to be the kind of church that Jesus calls us to, then we should really consider if we are truly committed to loving and welcoming those who are not like us. In this message, Pastor Marcus challenges us from Acts 15 to "get comfortable, being uncomfortable."

A follow-up interview from Omair's talk, "Mars Hill."

The Q&R session after Omair's talk, "Mars Hill."

The discussion that we see at the Aeropagus, also known as Mars Hill, in Athens highlights two main features of the Jesus movement. First, that followers of Jesus, and the message of the Gospel is comfortable and conversant with intellectual thought. Second, that women play a significant role in the expansion of the movement. Both are often missed and misunderstood through Christian tradition, a misconception that Omair helps to redeem in this message.

A follow-up interview from Marcus's talk "What Are You Going To Do, Are You About That Life?"

Chapters 8 and 9 of Acts introduces us to a series of three people who were confronted with the emerging spread of the Good News. In addition to these stories being about everyone's welcome to this movement, the structure of this triad also points out the things that need to be left behind once you begin following Jesus into a new world.

The stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 is not a story that simply illustrates the past. It is a model for the present as many Christians today are still facing persecution. We honor Stephen, and pray for the same strength of witness.

The disparity between two distinct people groups in the first church in Acts, the Greeks and the Hebrews, created an early challenge for this growing community. How do we care for our diverse community? This lesson is no less powerful or important for today.

Far from an apologetic argument for the validity of the Jesus movement, this passage highlights how an open, progressive, capacious, and welcoming faith, can devolve into a restrictive, fearful, and regressive faith. Listen carefully to Gamaliel, and consider, remember, and recommit to the faith of our ancestors.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira lying to the Holy Spirit and being struck dead is one of those complicated, challenging, and perplexing stories in the Bible. Yet, set in the whole context of the grand narrative of the Jesus movement within Jewish understandings of faith help make meaning and sense of this event. Sharing personally, and historically, Omair helps us navigate this story, and challenges us to live the lessons in the here and now.