In this episode of Lamp Lighters, Jan Skaggs and Lynn Adams step back to take a wide-angle view of Mark 10:1–30, where Jesus intensifies his teaching as he and the disciples move steadily toward Jerusalem.

Through three vivid encounters—questions about divorce, the blessing of children, and the challenge given to a rich young man—Jesus reveals the deeper values of God’s kingdom. Each scene touches on a controversial issue, delivers a truth that can feel offensive or convicting, and yet is marked by Jesus’ unwavering gaze of love and compassion.

Jan and Lynn explore how these stories are not isolated moral lessons, but interconnected illustrations of what it truly means to follow Jesus with humility, dependence, and trust. As Jesus confronts cultural assumptions about power, status, self-reliance, and worth, listeners are invited to reflect on where God may be calling them toward deeper obedience—and what it might cost.

This episode reminds us that discipleship is not about being “good enough,” but about surrendering every part of our lives to Christ and receiving the transforming grace of God’s kingdom.

Welcome back from the holiday break—this is our first Lamplighters episode of 2026! In Lesson 12, Meredith Weatherby and Lynn Adams walk through Mark 9:30–50 as Jesus shifts from public ministry to focused, intentional teaching of the Twelve. Jesus predicts His death again, and the disciples respond… by arguing about who’s the greatest.

Jesus turns their definition of greatness upside down: the first must be last, the greatest must be servant of all, and welcoming the “least” matters more than winning status. The conversation then moves to a surprising moment of gatekeeping (“He’s not one of us”), and Jesus dismantles the disciples’ hierarchy mindset—reminding them that God’s kingdom is bigger than their circle. Finally, Jesus uses vivid, sobering imagery to press the seriousness of sin and stumbling blocks, calling His followers to spiritual clarity, humility, and faithful living.

Meredith closes with a simple challenge: don’t aim to be impressive—aim to be faithful. This week, pray for one name and one tangible way to serve.

In this final Lamplighters lesson before our Advent break, Laura Tuma and Lynn Adams explore the theme of spiritual vision through two powerful moments in Mark 9: the Transfiguration and the healing of a boy with an impure spirit. On the mountaintop, Peter, James, and John catch a breathtaking glimpse of Jesus in his glory, alongside Moses and Elijah. Laura and Lynn unpack the rich Old Testament connections, the contrast between living glory and lifeless idols, and God’s command to the disciples: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

From there, the story moves straight into the valley of suffering, where a desperate father pleads for his son’s healing. Jesus responds with both authority and compassion, leading to the honest, enduring prayer of the father: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” Laura and Lynn reflect on how belief and unbelief can coexist, what it means to develop spiritual vision, and why prayer and regular spiritual practices keep us “prayed up” for the struggles we face. As we enter the season of Advent, this episode invites us to remember that the baby we await in Bethlehem is the same radiant Christ of the mountaintop—and to consider how we will listen and respond to Him in this season.

In this pivotal lesson, Beth Feger and Lynn Adams explore Mark 8:1–9:1, where Jesus feeds the four thousand, heals a blind man, and asks his disciples one of the most defining questions in Scripture: “Who do you say I am?” Through moments of misunderstanding, revelation, and rebuke, this passage marks a turning point in the Gospel as Jesus begins to reveal the cost of discipleship. Beth and Lynn discuss the expanding table of God’s compassion, the danger of spiritual blindness, and the invitation to follow Christ—even when it challenges our expectations or comfort.

ChatGPT said:In this episode, Lynn Adams and Beth Feger explore what it truly means to be clean or unclean in God’s eyes. Through three encounters—the confrontation with the Pharisees, the faith of a Gentile woman, and the healing of a deaf and mute man—Jesus reveals that purity is a matter of the heart, not external rituals. Lynn and Beth trace how these stories connect to one another, showing how Jesus breaks down barriers, opens ears and hearts, and invites all people into God’s redeeming love.

In this week’s episode, Catherine and Lynn explore Mark 6:30–56, where Jesus invites the disciples to rest—only to be met by yet another pressing crowd. Through the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus walking on water, and the healings at Gennesaret, we see his deep compassion even in the face of interruption and exhaustion. The conversation invites us to consider how Jesus reveals himself in our own storms and how we are called to partner with him in faith and prayer to bring healing to the world.

Lynn Adams welcomes a new voice to the podcast, Kathryn Sedberry, as they explore Mark 6:1–29—a passage that moves from Jesus’ rejection in his hometown to the sending of the Twelve, and finally to the story of John the Baptist’s death. Together, they unpack the differences between belief and faith, and reflect on how a hardened heart can close us off from God’s transforming work. Through the contrasts of unbelief, obedience, and misplaced pride, Lynn and Kathryn invite listeners to consider where our own hearts might need softening to live more fully in faith and trust.

Meredith Weatherby returns with Lynn Adams to trace Mark 5’s arc of restoration—from the storm-stilled sea to the storm inside a man haunted by a “legion,” and onward to Jairus’s dying daughter and the woman healed after 12 long years. Together they explore Jesus’ absolute authority over nature, evil, disease, and death; how this scene in Gentile territory signals that God’s reign reaches every corner; and why Jesus won’t let the healed woman remain anonymous—inviting her (and us) into seen-and-known, shalom-shaped relationship. Meredith also shares a personal reflection on “cooperating” with God’s transforming work in us while we wait for healing in others. Discussion prompts surface naturally in the contrasts and links between Jairus and the bleeding woman (status, desperation, “12 years,” faith, and interruption), and in the townspeople’s fear-driven request for Jesus to leave. It’s a rich conversation about restoration, reconciliation, and the courage to let Jesus make us whole.

Jan Skaggs and Lynn Adams explore why Jesus shifts to parables in Mark 4—and how these deceptively simple stories invite “heart, not head” understanding. Jan explains what a parable is (a story set alongside the kingdom for clarity), why Jesus speaks of insiders and outsiders, and how listening with open hearts reorders our lives around kingdom priorities.

In a twist, Jan challenges listeners to sit with the parables themselves this week—leaning on the Holy Spirit and small-group community rather than a guided teaching. The conversation then turns to the storm on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus’ authority over wind and wave leads into a practical “storm theology”: turn to Christ in the chaos, remember He’s in the boat, and practice trust—with journaled reminders and a simple, embodied prayer of open hands.

In Lesson 4 of this season of the Lamp Lighters Podcast, Lynn Adams and Laura Tuma continue the journey through the Gospel of Mark with chapter 3. They explore Jesus’ authority over the Sabbath, the growing opposition from religious leaders, and the significance of his healing ministry. This lesson highlights the vast crowds drawn to Jesus, the calling of the twelve disciples, and Mark’s distinctive “sandwich” structure that deepens our understanding of true discipleship and family in God’s kingdom.