Spark Cast

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, holding the tension of the hosanna and the hallelujah can be joyfully wearisome. As we remember the work of our humble King on a donkey, Revelation 17-20 helps us grasp what it means for him to also be Faithful and True.

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 urgency with which the original audience felt this story playing out literally in front of them. Placing us into that story we realize that our ‘judgment day’ is also near (and already here).

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 associate with the book today. As we are guided through the densest section of symbols in what feels like the most enigmatic book of the Bible, we ought not worry. We can handle it. (That’s actually the point).

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 letter, as he weaves nine different songs throughout the book.

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 to be together, to practice the peace and love and hope found in Christ.