PODCAST · religion
Spark Cast
by Spark.Church
Inspiring People to Live The Way of Jesus | The podcast of Spark.Church in Palo Alto, CA
Episodes
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How To Spark Church | Pass It On [Omair Akhtar]
What will it look like "to Spark Church" for the next generation, when its founders and day-ones have passed the torch?" We shall explore living out our Sparky vision of following Jesus in ways that last beyond us.
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How To Spark Church | Rescue & Resurrection [Danielle Parish, Kevin Neuner, Debby Chang]
Rescue, one of Spark's five core values, is an outpouring of the freedom and hope we experience through Christ's sacrifice and Resurrection. As a people who have been set free, rescued from sin and death, we are called to extend that rescue and justice to all we meet.
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How To Spark Church | Reputation & Reconciliation [Danielle Parish & Kevin Neuner]
Our tradition recognizes that the reputation of God through the reputation of disciples of Jesus is paramount to the Gospel. That reputation comes through a deep and profound understanding of our text and tradition that can only come through study, which is, according to some Jewish traditions…
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How To Spark Church | For God So Loved [Danielle Parish & Kevin Neuner]
Of the 613 commandments found in the scriptures, for followers of Jesus, there really is only one commandment: Love God and love others. The rest is commentary. Why? "For God so loved the world." This covenantal love is the foundation for the entire Grand Narrative of the biblical story. When we...
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How To Spark Church | Introduction & Get Dusty [Kevin Neuner & Danielle Parish]
Most people know WHAT a church does. Few understand WHY. In this series, we are exploring the core WHY of Spark, our mission, and our values and the teachings, perspectives, and texts that form the foundation of our community. To state it plainly, Spark exists to inspire people to live the Way of...
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Because of Jesus... | We Have A Kingdom, Not An Empire (We Have Our Morals & Ethics) [Kevin Neuner & Danielle Parish]
History tells us that something revolutionary happened that transformed the moral and ethical landscape of Western civilization. That heritage is now encoded in the fabric of our society, and yet, we are unaware of its origins. As audacious as it may sound, we have our morals and ethics because…
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Because of Jesus... | Others Matter More [Omair Akhtar]
Since the beginning of humanity (and before), Nature has pushed us to look out for ourselves and our kin, at all costs. We reinforce that push in subtle and obvious ways today – “protect your peace”, “mama bear”, “you do you”. But Jesus draws us to a completely different way. Jesus causes us to…
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Because of Jesus... | We Swim With Both Turtles & Rocks [Karis Tai]
Because of Jesus, we can live in a world of both answered and unanswered prayers, confident that in the end, the world will be put to right. But that hope doesn't always make it easy to navigate the ups and downs of our lives in the meantime. Our special guest speaker, Sparker and Stanford Law...
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Because of Jesus... | We Can Be Wise Humans [Kevin Neuner]
Humans have been disrupted by advanced information and media technologies for thousands of years. Each time we have experienced disruption, division, and a fracturing of who we are and how we live in the world. One of the radical shifts of the Jesus Way is to "rehuman" ourselves and "recovenant"...
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Because of Jesus... | We Know How To Live [Danielle Parish]
Because of Jesus, we know how to live. The Gospels tell of Jesus' life, his teachings, and of his interactions with others. Jesus not only gives instructions on how to live, but his very life serves as an example for us all. [Testimony by Fanny]
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Because of Jesus... | We Are Seen [Kristin Young]
A personal testimony of being seen by Jesus.
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Because of Jesus... | We Are Not Alone [Danielle Parish w/Felicia Larson]
Because of Jesus, we are not alone. We are brought into the big family of God, as sons and daughters, finding ourselves with sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers from every tongue and every nation.
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Because of Jesus... | I Can Live With Uncertainty [Mark Arevalo]
There are times and seasons in life "when you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right." This testimony speaks of learning to live through moments and seasons of uncertainty.
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Because of Jesus... | Heaven Leaking Into Earth [Tom Arrington]
Pastor Tom shares his "Because of Jesus story … what he's seen — in Ethiopia, in a Bay Area shelter, at Spark Church, and in his own hardest season — and why it's convinced him that the kingdom of God is not someday. It's here. It's now. And the invitation is open to everyone.
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Because of Jesus... [Danielle Parish]
How has Jesus changed our lives? What is different as a result? And how has Jesus transformed our Story, our Community, and our Purpose?
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Story, Community, Purpose [Kevin Neuner]
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...
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James/Jacob | Fractal Discipleship [Kevin Neuner]
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...
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Pentecost | From Every Nation Under Heaven [Omair Akhtar]
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...
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James/Jacob | The Power (and Responsibility) of Prayer [Kristin Young]
"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...
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James/Jacob | Wealth Rots [Marcus Randolph]
[Due to technical difficulties, we are missing the first few minutes of the talk. We apologize for the inconvenience.] What happens when it appears we have all the material wealth according to the cultural standard? When it appears that our nation, zip codes, professions, and investment…
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James/Jacob | Peace in a Divided World [Tom Arrington]
When everything around us is polarized and divided, what does it actually look like to follow Jesus — not just believe in him?
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James/Jacob | Be Humble Or Be Quiet [Omair Akhtar]
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...
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James/Jacob | The Fifth Dysfunction of Discipleship—Inattention To Results [Kevin Neuner]
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...
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James/Jacob | Consider It Pure Joy! [Danielle Parish]
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.
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Resurrection Sunday | Hope in the Garden [Danielle Parish]
To quote the prophet Bono, "The rule has been disproved, the stone it has been moved, the grave is now a groove, all debts are removed!" What a glorious reason to rejoice as we conclude our series on Revelation in the Garden and celebrate the empty tomb found in a garden 2000 years ago.
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Palm Sunday | Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem [Kristin Young]
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday elicited a chorus of “Hosanna” (Help/Save us now!) from the crowd following him. In his vision, John hears the multitudes in heaven loudly celebrating with “Hallelujah” (Praise the Lord!) after the fall of Babylon. For many of us Christ followers now,...
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Revelation | Armageddon—Final Boss [Omair Akhtar]
The central part of Revelation reveals the central characters in the central conflict in God’s story. We encounter the Woman and her Son, the Dragon and his Beasts, and their ultimate collision at Armageddon. Making this battle about some far-off, abstract ‘end of the world’ cataclysm removes the...
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Revelation | Hallelujah! It's Raining...Blood?! [Omair Akhtar]
The Four Horsemen. The Destroyer from the Abyss and his demon locusts. Scrolls, seals, trumpets. The Lamb, the Elders, the Angels, the Martyrs. Revelation abruptly escalates from grounded words of advice to a handful of churches to the iconically ‘apocalyptic’ cosmic battle that we tend to...
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Revelation | Holy, Holy, Holy [Danielle Parish]
Concluding the last letter to the seven churches, the author of Revelation ushers us into the throne room of God, where we encounter four living creatures singing unceasingly, "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come." Worship takes a primary place in John's...
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Revelation | Pillars, Doors & Tables [Danielle Parish]
As we look at the letters to the churches in Philadelphia and Laodicea, we do so needing hope ... and there is hope to be found in these letters. We long for peace and we seek a world where empires no longer rage in vain but where we all dine at the banqueting table together with the King. Come…
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I Desire Mercy—Jesus' Call to a Divided Nation Q&R [Dr. R. Steven Notley]
Based upon decades of study on the cultural and rabbinic context of the Gospels, Dr. Steven Notley will reveal fresh insights into Luke 4 and Jesus’ public pronouncement of his ministry at his hometown synagogue in Nazareth. Jesus' message of mercy marks the entire Gospel of Luke though it did…
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I Desire Mercy—Jesus' Call to a Divided Nation [Dr. R. Steven Notley]
Based upon decades of study on the cultural and rabbinic context of the Gospels, Dr. Steven Notley will reveal fresh insights into Luke 4 and Jesus’ public pronouncement of his ministry at his hometown synagogue in Nazareth. Jesus' message of mercy marks the entire Gospel of Luke though it did…
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Revelation | Hold On & Wake Up [Danielle Parish & Kevin Neuner]
A closer look at the churches in Thyatira and Sardis reveals that they are encouraged to wake up and repent, and persevere, even when everything around them looks hopeless.
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Revelation | First Loves & White Stones [Danielle Parish]
Looking closely at the letters to the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamum, John the Revelator speaks to the specific context of the churches in these three cities using the language of first loves and white stones.
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Revelation | The Church's Bi-Millennial Performance Review [Kevin Neuner]
Seven cities. Seven churches. Why? A clue is found in the preface, that John, a brother to the people to whom he writes, shares, in Jesus, in the persecution, the kingdom, and resistance. This triad formulates the foundational agenda for John's exhortations and prepares these disciples for the...
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Revelation | Let's Talk Rome [Danielle Parish]
Do you find yourself thinking about the Roman Empire lately? The people of the first century did too! Far removed from the Land of Israel, Jesus followers sought to live faithfully while surrounded by the powers and principalities of their day. A close look at the cultural and imperial context of...
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Revelation | See Hear Look [Danielle Parish]
Over the centuries, the book of Revelation has been used to instill fear and confusion in many readers, but the first hearers experienced hope unveiled with the anticipation of justice on the horizon. Let’s take a fresh look at all that John saw and heard, embracing the unveiled hope that still...
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The Lord Hears [Danielle Parish]
The world feels heavy these days. Amidst the joys of new births and hopes fulfilled, we also hold loss, disappointment, fear, grief and anger. We are exhausted and brokenhearted. We are numb and overwhelmed. We are shocked and not surprised at humanity's inclination to do evil or rejoice over...
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Epiphany | Gifts Fit for a King [Danielle Parish]
According to the Gospel of Matthew, Magi arrive in Jerusalem looking to worship the one born King of the Jews. Following prophecy, they continue on to Bethlehem, the city of David, and following the star, they find Jesus, with Mary and Joseph. Overjoyed, they worship him and present him with…
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Peace On Earth—When? [Mark Arevalo]
The Christmas story is good, but it wasn't meant to be safe.
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Advent | Joy [Danielle Parish]
Third Sunday of Advent
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Advent | Peace [Kristin Young]
We reflect on the peace of God that arrives with the birth of Jesus. It is a supernatural peace that transcends above and sustains us through the woes of this world.
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Advent | Hope [Tom Arrington]
God meets real-life pain with surprising possibility, a hope that endures when nothing feels changeable.
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Gratitude [Marcus Randolph]
The importance of practicing gratitude and giving thanks as we follow the way of Jesus.
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Garden to Garden | The Grand Narrative [Danielle Parish]
Travel from Garden to Garden, from Genesis to Revelation, and discover the beautiful story of rescue, grace and love. Discover how God continues to tell this story to us today.
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Deconstruction, Reconstruction, and Following Rabbie Jesus, pt2 | Adam Thomason, Lois Tverberg, and Lecrae in Conversation
Part 1: Spark Church is excited to host a very special conversation between world-renowned, Grammy Award-winning hip hop artist, activist, and CEO, Lecrae, and theologian, author, and chaplain, Adam Thomason, as they discuss their journey of studying Jesus in his first-century Jewish world…
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Deconstruction, Reconstruction, and Following Rabbie Jesus, pt1 | Adam Thomason and Lecrae in Conversation
Part 1: Spark Church is excited to host a very special conversation between world-renowned, Grammy Award-winning hip hop artist, activist, and CEO, Lecrae, and theologian, author, and chaplain, Adam Thomason, as they discuss their journey of studying Jesus in his first-century Jewish world…
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George Shinhoster, part 2
George E. Shinhoster came of age in the civil turbulence of the 1960s. A native of Savannah, Ga., he was one of the first African Americans to desegregate a high school and college there. He worked with the Chatham County Crusade for Voters to register black citizens to become voters. In the heat...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Inspiring People to Live The Way of Jesus | The podcast of Spark.Church in Palo Alto, CA
HOSTED BY
Spark.Church
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Spark Cast have?
Spark Cast currently has 774 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Spark Cast about?
Inspiring People to Live The Way of Jesus | The podcast of Spark.Church in Palo Alto, CA
How often does Spark Cast release new episodes?
Spark Cast releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 774 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Spark Cast?
You can listen to Spark Cast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Spark Cast?
Spark Cast is created and hosted by Spark.Church.
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