Spark Cast

In the well-known "cleansing of the temple" story, Jesus makes reference to two passages in the prophetic tradition that speak quite forcefully about who we exclude, and what we include in our worship. The answer to both is predicated on one principle. This is not our house. This is God's house.

In the story of the blind man from Luke 18, we will consider what this precious gem of scripture has to offer, and try to determine what we can "see" in the text, what the blind man "saw," and how we are "seen" by Jesus.

The good news of Jesus asks us not just what is possible with our resources, but with our souls.

Lightning covering the sky from end-to-end, fire and sulfur raining down from heaven, people taken away while sleeping or at work, vultures circling dead bodies. These are all images Jesus associates with “the coming of the Son of Man”. But what is a Son of Man? And when will this mysterious figure come? And why the (seemingly) world-ending language to describe his arrival? How do we unpack and discern Jesus' apocalyptic warning, and what does it look like to heed those warnings two thousand years after Jesus issued them?

The two parables in Luke 16 magnify Jesus's perspective on money. As expected, what we think, and how we use our resources are central to understanding the gospel message.

In discussing the events of Jesus, two disciples, after the crucifixion and before they knew anything of the resurrection, declared their inner desire, that they had hoped that Jesus was going to be the one to redeem Israel. In this story, we find Jesus walking with us in our disappointment.

Our hope springs from the well of the stories we tell. Let us reconsider day three of the creation story and the gathered waters, an etymological connection to biblical hope and how that image and metaphor speaks of the great potential of God's love poured out on each of us.

Jesus is a dinner guest at the household of a religious leader on the Sabbath. Under their watchful eye, Jesus takes the opportunity to heal the sick and teach about the kingdom of God. His actions and stories about dinner parties are a challenge to his audience—and us today—to rethink what (and who) we prioritize in our lives.

A live, public conversation on the topics and intersection of race, faith, and science.