How has Jesus changed our lives? What is different as a result? And how has Jesus transformed our Story, our Community, and our Purpose?

Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing feedback loop. Fractals form the underlying pattern of all of life (in our bodies and in our food!) What does this have to do with discipleship? Everything! Understanding "Fractal Discipleship" not only tunes us in to the deep and natural realities of God's design of the universe, but it also exhorts us to expand our consciousness and our behavior as followers of Jesus.

It has been said that the ultimate aim of Christian faith is not to make people "believers" in the faith (per se), but rather to make exemplars of the very best of humanity. (God did create "humanity" after all, in the very beginning.) If this is true, understanding what it means to be human is part and parcel of faithful discipleship. In short, everyone needs a story by which they live, a community with whom they belong, and a purpose to which they contribute. That's it. Followers of Jesus can be invigorated by their faith as one of the most powerful and life-transforming conduits for these three most important needs of being human.

What the Spirit did through the multi-national gathering of Jewish followers of Jesus on Pentecost in Acts 2 is perhaps one of the most jarring demonstrations of God’s love for the whole world. Even so, it was just the beginning. Hear our communal Pentecost tradition of proclaiming Jesus in languages from all over the world, and the Spirit’s relentless push to love everyone as if they were family.

"Thoughts and Prayers" commonly inundate our social media feeds in the advent of tragedy. “I’m praying for you” is equally spoken towards our own suffering or seeing the suffering of others. But what does it actually mean to pray for ourselves and others? What should we, as believers, be praying for? How should prayer push us into action for the sake of ourselves, our community, and our world?

When everything around us is polarized and divided, what does it actually look like to follow Jesus — not just believe in him?

Considering becoming a teacher? Don’t. James' wisdom on what a true teacher looks like in a world full of influencers and grifters comes in hot with a stern warning for people who want authority and influence but aren’t willing to back it up with exceptional integrity. Words have power. They can save or destroy. So if you’re not willing to be pure, righteous, and peaceable...maybe don’t talk so much?

Every human organization has a natural tendency toward entropy, the gradual degradation of the organization's originally inspiring mission into chaos and dysfunction. When Spark was launched, we intentionally prioritized focusing on being a healthy church, and growth would simply be whatever God granted. For us, this meant tending to the core principles of organizational health and our core values. The book of Jacob is in many ways a "how-to manual" for disciples to reverse entropy, correct dysfunctions, and foster healthy and long-lasting discipleship.

The letter of James/Jacob opens with an exhortation for the scattered twelve tribes to persevere during times of trial, discovering joy in the midst of challenges. This wisdom from millennia ago provides guidance for us during these difficult days.