Spark Cast

Pastor Tom shares this week on Jesus' announcement in Luke 4. This mission is a global reordering of values, systems and power structures whereby freedom and healing will be good news for the poor and the primary markers of his calling. And, as followers of Jesus, as “hearers” of his message, that’s our calling too, in our time and in our context.

What is going on in with Jesus's temptation in the wilderness, and why is Jesus specifically tempted with bread, fame/worship, and putting God to the test? Perhaps this story leads us to trust in Jesus to do for us what we ourselves cannot do for ourselves.

There is tremendous value and importance in the genealogy, going all the way back to Adam, including all of humanity. This Jesus story is rooted in both Israel's ancestry and in world history. In other words, the Kingdom of God is a “Family Affair.”

The behavior of the people are setting the groundwork for the full expression of the Kingdom of God through the ministry of Jesus. Life is about to change, and that has implications for how we live, and condemnations for those who oppress.

This talk looks at the dedication of Jesus in Jerusalem, and his worship experiences at the Temple throughout his childhood years. What we learn about Jesus, his identity and his religious practice, shapes our own practices today. Like Jesus, may we be found in our Father's house.

This week Pastor Danielle dives into chapter two of the Gospel According to Luke. While the birth of Jesus is commonly known as merely a Christmas story, here we see that this event is surrounded by the ominous presence of Empire and the subtle rumblings of the revolution being birthed right under Caesar's nose. Who's rule and kingdom will we choose?

Zechariah's "Benedictus," (Latin for "blessed be") is his prophetic utterance after Elizabeth gives birth to John the Baptist. In this recitation we discover the usage of Scripture for the sake of paving a pathway of peace, mercy, and justice.

This week Pastor Omair dives into the "song of Mary." Also known as "The Magnificat,” many see this song as a delightful praise. However, we frequently miss the subversive declaration of the usurpation of powers, the announcement of victory over rulers and thrones, and the proclamation of good news to the lowly, the hungry, etc. Also, this comes in a long tradition of women singing victoriously over oppression. So, when women sing, it is more than a mere tune, it’s a declaration, and a warning, to the powers that be, things are about to change. We'll see you soon, online.

The stories of Zechariah and Mary are not just characters in a story. They represent the larger frameworks of religion and politics as the areas of human organization that need to be transformed by the lordship of Jesus.

In this introduction to the Gospel According to Luke, we set the groundwork and framework for how we are to even read this text. Recognizing the importance of genre, and the relationship that genre invites us into is critical for centering Jesus and inquiring whether or not Jesus is worthy of imitating.