Spark Cast

In an effort to make Spark Cast even better in 2017, we're adding new content which will be in conversation with all of you, our Spark Family! Send in your thoughts, feedback, questions, recommendations, etc., to kevin@sparkchurch.net!

Have you ever drawn a picture of God? While not physically, we all actually have images of God in our minds. And throughout history, people have been making depictions of God, both concrete and abstract, that communicate something about what we believe about the deity. The Good News of Jesus speaks directly to this, declaring that regardless of the philosophical arguments we may have about "God," the God of the Gospel is Love.

We forget that the Good News was forged in the fires of agony. While there's much more than what is presented here, this talk surveys a few of the wars and tragedies that the early Jews and Christians faced throughout the years. This humanity forms the context from which the good news took shape and form.

This podcast begins our series on "the Gospel," the "good news" of Jesus. We start by simply asking the question, What is news? What is the nature of news? And by asking, we discover that news is value neutral; that the same news can be good for one, but bad for another. We hope this is good news, for you.

Optimism and pessimism are both forms of distorted reality. The Biblical story offers neither. It does not play with our emotions. Rather, it stars darkness right in the face, and says, "You exist, but you will not be exalted. You persist, but you will not persuade." In this final installment of our H5 series, we consider the Christmas story's approach to darkness which is not to ignore it, nor to succumb to it. Rather, it is to see the emerging possibilities through new life being born in the midst of the darkness.

Identity and purpose are shaped, not so much by what we achieve, but rather by the commitments we make. What if we could change our esteem, and our behavior, by changing what or who we are most deeply committed to?

A few reflections on this week of Advent, with an urgent call by Questscope for emergency aid as they are on the front lines of the Syrian refugee crisis.

Where there is no vision... It is possible that the reason why many of us feel that we are disheveled, uncontrolled, or that we are simply running around, wild and crazy, is because we have forgotten our story, and therefore have lost "vision."

A few reflections on this week of Advent.

As we resume our H5 series on seeking wholeness from the wisdom traditions, this week, we ask, What Do You Want?

A few reflections on this week of Advent.

Pastor Mark shares his reflections on the story of Daniel and his friends in a foreign land, relevant to how many of us feel in this current circumstance. Rather than being frightened, these faithful Israelites committed themselves to being true to their identity as children of God. As such, our true identity, as lovers of God and our neighbor, whoever they may be.

In the wake of the US election news, many in our community are now living with some significant questions about this world, our nation, our faith community, and our place within it all. In an effort to provide a safe place with a vision for the future of our existence, Pastor Danielle shares the renewed power of our values.

Our first installment of a 5 part series on what it means to be whole. We will journey through a few piercing questions that help get at the root of our pain, the source of our joy, and the power for our work in this world. This week, "Where does it hurt?"

This Sunday, we reflect, celebrate, say a lot of "thank you's," and look forward to what is to come. AND, to all of our distance listeners, please know how much we love and appreciate YOU also being a part of our family!

Q&A after her talk, "Grounded."

In churches all across the nation and the world, there exists a dominant theology of God who sits in the clouds, who is "up there," above us, often at a distance, looking down. In Grounded, Dr. Bass shares her journey of rethinking this "elevator" conception of God, and discovering a God with us, here, and now.

If you feel as if the current state of affairs is like the wilderness, then perhaps, like many of us, you need a voice, calling in the wilderness, to prepare the way for the Lord.

In part 2, Dr. Balmer highlights the rise of the Religious Right, and surveys the involvement and role of Evangelicals in politics.

A Q&A session with Dr. Balmer after Evangelicalism & Politics talk.