We Wonder

Welcome to We Wonder: Lent. Long ago, Jesus said to his friends, "Come: follow me," and during Lent we are following Jesus all the way through the gospel of Mark. Today we are at the beginning of Mark chapter 2, and Jesus is pretty clear about who he has come to find: sinners, sick people, and everyone in need of forgiveness.

📖 Read:

Mark 2:1-17 (NIRV) 

❔Wonder:

I wonder what it was like to be in that crowded house in Capernaum? So many people were gathered that you couldn't even squeeze through the door! Can I picture myself in that crowd? What do I smell? What do I hear? Is someone pushed up against me? Can I see Jesus?

I picture Jesus looking at the man lying on the mat, and at his friends who have lowered the man before him. I wonder what expression Jesus had on his face? I wonder how his voice sounded when he said, "Son, your sins are forgiven"?

Can I imagine seeing the man who was lying in front of of Jesus stand up, take his mat, and walk away? How does watching this story play out make me feel?

Levi was a tax collector. In those days, a tax collector was like a traitor: they helped the Roman soldiers who had taken over the land of Israel. People feared and disliked them, and they weren't allowed to come into the temple or come close to God. I wonder how Levi, the tax collector, felt when Jesus looked right at him and said, "Follow me"?

I wonder how Jesus's friends felt, when Levi the tax collector came to join them as they followed Jesus?

Now I picture Jesus at Levi's house, having dinner with all sorts of people you aren't supposed to come close to. How do I respond when I see Jesus sharing his meal with a crowd of people who broke God's ways?

I wonder why Jesus says that he came not for good people, but for sinners? 

Are there any words, or pictures, or moments from this story that I want to ask God about right now?

Are there any words, or pictures, or moments from this story that I want to take with me and hold close?

🙏🏾 Pray:

Jesus of Nazareth, son of God: thank you that we have a book filled with your words and deed. Give us the wisdom and understanding that comes from your Holy Spirit, so that we can know you better and follow you all the days of our lives. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

💌 Keep in touch!

You can follow us on Instagram and Twitter @wewonderpod for updates throughout the season, or you can shoot me an email at [email protected] Thanks so much for listening, and I'll see you tomorrow!

Welcome to We Wonder: Lent. Long ago, Jesus said to his friends, "Come: follow me," and during Lent we will follow him all the way through the gospel of Mark. Today we are finishing the first chapter of Mark's book, and already all sorts of people who are sick, hurting, or being hurt by evil spirits are coming to find Jesus for help.  

📖 Read:

Mark 1:29-45 (NIRV)

❔Wonder:

Do any of Jesus's words or actions that I heard today comfort me, or make me feel good? Can I hold those words as a gift from God?

Do any of Jesus's words or actions that I heard today upset me, or confuse me? Can I talk to God about that right now?

I wonder how Peter's mother-in-law felt when the fever left her body?

I wonder why people brought others who were sick, or who were being hurt by evil spirits, to the place where Jesus was staying? I wonder how they knew Jesus could help them?

I wonder why Jesus got up early, and went to find a place where he could be alone and pray?

When the man with the skin disease came to Jesus, Jesus was moved deep inside: he felt sad and sorry for the man all the way down in his belly. I wonder what his face looked like, as he gazed down at the man on his knees?

I wonder why Jesus told the man not to tell anyone after he healed him?

Are there any words, or pictures, or moments from this story that I want to ask God about right now?

Are there any words, or pictures, or moments from this story that I want to take with me and hold close?

🙏🏾 Pray:

Jesus of Nazareth, son of God: thank you that we have a book filled with your words and deed. Give us the wisdom and understanding that comes from your Holy Spirit, so that we can know you better and follow you all the days of our lives. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

💌 Keep in touch!

You can follow us on Instagram and Twitter @wewonderpod for updates throughout the season, or you can shoot me an email at [email protected] Thanks so much for listening, and I'll see you tomorrow!

Welcome to We Wonder: Lent. Long ago, Jesus said to his friends, "Come: follow me," and during Lent we are following Jesus all the way through the gospel of Mark. We're only 16 verses in, but things are happening quickly: Jesus calls his first followers, teaches in the synagogue, and is already showing a power no one expected. 

📖 Read:

Mark 1:16-28 (NIRV)  

❔Wonder:

Can I imagine myself on the shore of the sea of Galilee, watching Jesus make his way down to the water? I wonder what Jesus looked like when he walked up to Andrew and Peter? I wonder what his voice sounded like when he said, "Follow me"? 

I wonder why Peter, Andrew, James and John were so ready to leave their boats and follow Jesus? I wonder what they saw in his face? I wonder what they hoped he would do?

The synagogue was the place you would go to hear someone read out loud from Moses's laws, or from the writings of the prophets. Then someone would teach you about them, to help you understand. Can I imagine Jesus, standing up the front with the scroll? I wonder if I would have felt amazed, too?

I wonder why the man with the evil spirit cried out when he came close to Jesus? I wonder how the evil spirit knew who Jesus was?

Can I picture Jesus firmly sending this evil spirit away? How does this part of the story make me feel? 

Are there any words, or pictures, or moments from this story that I want to ask God about right now?

Are there any words, or pictures, or moments from this story that I want to take with me and hold close?

🙏🏾 Pray:

Jesus of Nazareth, son of God: thank you that we have a book filled with your words and deeds. Give us the wisdom and understanding that comes from your Holy Spirit, so that we can know you better and follow you all the days of our lives. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

💌 Keep in touch!

You can follow us on Instagram and Twitter @wewonderpod for updates throughout the season, or you can shoot me an email at [email protected] Thanks so much for listening, and I'll see you tomorrow!

Welcome to We Wonder: Lent. Long ago, Jesus said to his friends, "Come: follow me," and during Lent, we are following Jesus all the way through the gospel of Mark. Today we are at the very beginning of Mark's book: he wants to introduce us to the good news about Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Messiah. 

📖 Read:

 Mark 1:1-15 (NIRV)

❔Wonder:

I wonder if I can imagine myself on the shore, watching John baptize Jesus? What does it feel like to be in that crowd? I wonder why we have all come out to see John?

I wonder what I would have seen when Jesus came up, dripping, from under the river water? What is happening in the sky? How does it make me feel?

Can I imagine Jesus's face in any part of the story I heard today? How does he look to me?

I wonder what Jesus's voice sounds like when he says, "The time has come; the kingdom of God has come near"? How would I feel if I were there, and he was speaking to me?

Are there any words, or pictures, or moments from this story that I want to ask God about right now?

Are there any words, or pictures, or moments from this story that I want to take with me and hold close?

🙏 Pray:

Jesus of Nazareth, son of God: thank you that we have a book filled with your words and deeds. Give us the wisdom and understanding that comes from your Holy Spirit, so that we can know you better and follow you all the days of our lives. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

💌 Keep in touch!

You can follow us on Instagram and Twitter @wewonderpod for updates throughout the season, or you can shoot me an email at [email protected] Thanks so much for listening, and I'll see you tomorrow!

Welcome to We Wonder: Lent. Today is Ash Wednesday, and it is the beginning of the season that helps us get ready for Easter. Just as Israel wandered in the desert for forty years, and Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days, we will spend the next forty days following Jesus toward the cross.

Today, though, we begin by remembering that apart from Jesus, we are like fires that have gone out. Some of us will mark our foreheads with ashes as a reminder. Ash Wednesday gives us a time for sitting still, making ourselves quiet, and waiting on God to come and help us. And then we get ready to walk with Jesus all the way to the cross, because we hope to share in the new life he will bring on the other side. Join me, as we prepare to follow him this season.

📖 READ:

Psalm 51

❔WONDER:

*I wonder if I have ever felt like a blown-out candle, or like cold ashes that can’t spark to life? What do I want to say to God about that?*

*I wonder if God is still close to me when I feel far away? I wonder if I can trust that faithful love is always waiting for me?*

*David says to God, “you will gladly accept a heart that is broken because of sadness over sin.” I wonder: what things do I see in myself and in the world that break my heart? Can I trust God to be kind to my sad heart?*

*Lent happens in springtime: the earth that was frozen and dead blossoms into life again. Dry, helpless seeds are planted in the ground, and plants push up out of the ground. Jesus goes into the grave, and is raised to new life. It is a time of sadness for all that is wrong in us and in the world, and also of hope that it can all be made new. Can I ask God to come close to me in the sadness? Can I ask God’s Spirit to whisper words of hope to me in the dark?*

💌 Keep in touch!

You can follow us on Instagram and Twitter @wewonderpod for updates throughout the season, or you can shoot me an email at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Thanks so much for listening, and I'll see you tomorrow!

Check out another show on the Area Code Network, No Chill Enneagram: Watch Party:

We can't stop talking about the enneagram, so we started a podcast to get it all out of our system. No Chill Enneagram: Watch Party is a safe space for ennegram and pop culture fanatics. Each week, pop culture expert, Richard Clark, and enneagram expert, Bethany Perkins watch a movie or tv show and talk about it through the lens of the enneagram.

Happy Feast of the Epiphany!

Our reading today is Matthew 2:1-12.

I wonder why the Wise Men wanted to travel to find the king of the Jews? I wonder what they said to their friends and family when they left home? And I wonder what they hoped to find?

I wonder why the Wise Men were full of joy when they came to the house where Jesus and his family were staying? I wonder what they saw, and what they heard, that showed them this was the king they were looking for?

I wonder how Mary felt when these strange visitors came inside to worship her son? I wonder what she thought as they unpacked their treasures and gave them to her child?

The word “epiphany” means “to reveal” or “to bring forth.” An epiphany is when something that was hidden comes out for everyone to see. I wonder why Jesus’s birth was hidden and unnoticed by the people in Jerusalem? I wonder why the Wise Men, from another country and far away, were the ones who saw his star, and who found him so they could worship?

I wonder if today, still, Jesus can feel hidden or hard to see? I wonder if he is sometimes in people or places I don’t expect? What do I want to say to God about that?

Can I ask God right now to give me a searching heart, like the Wise Men, ready to see Jesus's glory and rejoice in his presence wherever it is revealed, even in people and places where I don’t expect to find him?

O God, you hung a star in the sky. By that star, you revealed your only Son to people who were far off, and led them to his mother’s house so they could worship him. Lead us now into your presence throughout this season, and open our eyes to encounter your glory in all the places where it is hidden among us. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

We Wonder is written and hosted by me, Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. To keep in touch with us and hear about future episodes and seasons, you can follow us on Instagram and Twitter @wewonderpod; you can read more about the podcast at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening: happy Epiphany to you all!

Today is the last day of our season: it is Christmas Eve. Today, we celebrate that the light of the world was born, and came to live with us. And we celebrate that his light will never go out, and he will come to us and shine on us again. 

Our readings today are John 1:1-4, 9-14 and Revelation 21:1-5

I wonder if I can imagine Jesus, the light of the world, as an ordinary human baby swaddled up and sleeping in the place where animals eat? How does this picture make me feel?

Another way to read John’s words is, “The Word became a human being, and he pitched his tent -- his tabernacle -- among us.” The first tabernacle was a tent of cloth, with the Holy of Holies hidden behind a curtain inside. I wonder how Jesus is like the tabernacle?

God loves us so much. The whole story of the Bible, from the beginning to the end, is about God creating, and saving, our world so that it will be a place where he can dwell with us. Can I believe, just for a moment, that this love is for me? That God wants, so much, to be close to me?

I wonder: can I hear the love in the voice that John heard from the throne? Can I believe that no matter what, Jesus has come to live among us so that he can make all things new?

Almighty God, on this holy night we thank you and praise you with joy. In Christ, you have become one with us so that we might become one with you; you made your home with us so that we might dwell in your kingdom forever. You have brought us out of darkness and into your glorious light. Help us to welcome you and celebrate with full hearts. And as we do, help us to look with your eyes of love and kindness on all people, so that your light will shine through us and our lives. 

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

We Wonder is written and hosted by me, Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. Today’s episode also includes music from the album O Night Divine by City Church Music, featuring Karl Digerness and Brandi Thompson. You can purchase the album -- which you can enjoy through all 12 days of Christmas! -- at https://music.citychurchsf.org/album/o-night-divine. 

Thanks so much for listening along during this season. We’ll be back with a special Epiphany episode on January 6; in the meantime, you can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Merry Christmas, everyone, and I wish you joy.

O Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver,

the hope of the nations and their savior:

Come and save us, O Lord our God! 

Today’s reading is Matthew 1:18-25

I wonder how Joseph felt when he woke up from his dream. I wonder how he came to trust the words that he heard in his dream?

I wonder if it was ever hard for Joseph to believe that his son was from the Holy Spirit. I wonder if it’s ever hard for me to believe that Jesus really is God with us? What do I want to say to Jesus about that?

Can I ask God to help me believe that Jesus really is fully human, just like me? That he knows what it is like to be a person: all the good and beautiful parts, and all the sad, scary, and hard parts too?

Can I ask God to help me believe that Jesus is also fully God? That he is strong and able to save, because he is the fullness of God’s love and life and light?

This is a great mystery. I wonder if it is too hard for me to understand. I wonder if that’s okay?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!