Changing our relationship with money is one of the first and most important steps of living as followers of Jesus. In this episode, John Mark explores Jesus' teachings on generosity to the poor. He challenges us to reexamine our preference for accumulation and offers practical ways to share our resources with those in need.

Key Scripture Passage: Luke 12v13-34

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Pam from Thornton, Colorado; Jeremy from Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Courtney from Fayetteville, Arkansas; Kevin from Richardson, Texas; and Joshua from Huntington Beach, California. Thank you all so much!

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"What does it mean to steward God's resources?" John Mark explores Jesus’ countercultural teachings on generosity and stewardship, challenging us to view everything we own as a gift from God, meant to be managed with wisdom and love.

Key Scripture Passages: Luke 12v13-48, 2 Corinthians 9v7-11

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Farzad from San Diego, California; Abigail from Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Heather from Lexington, Kentucky; Julie from Dallas, Texas; Emily from Verona, Virginia. Thank you all so much!

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John Mark explores Jesus and the New Testament authors warning against the love of money and greed, showing us that money is often an obstacle, not a boon, to the good life. He argues us that true happiness is found not in more money, but in being content with what we have.

Key Scripture Passage: 1 Timothy 6v6-19

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Kyle from Fountain Valley, California; Ian from Melbourne, Florida; Clay from Randleman, North Carolina; Alan from Sacramento, California; and Karen from Chicago, Illinois. Thank you all so much!

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Does more money mean more happiness? John Mark walks through some of Jesus's surprising teachings on money, showing us how social science affirms the fact that generosity, not accumulation, leads to joy. He challenges us to reflect on whether we have an abundance or scarcity mindset, and invites us to deepen our trust in God's generosity.

Key Scripture Passage: Matthew 6v19-24, Acts 20v35

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Stephanie from Castle Rock, Colorado; Amy from Salem, Oregon; Stephanie from Nashville, Tennessee; Grant from Polk City, Iowa; and Kalan from Crofton, British Columbia. Thank you all so much!

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Why is there such a disconnect between who we want to be and what we actually do? In this second of two conversations with Ger Jones of Vintage Church LA, John Mark and Ger discuss the practice of contemplation. John Mark argues that we overestimate the ability of willpower and insight to change us. Instead, he offers us three doorways into the practice of contemplation and practical suggestions for integrating this practice in our lives.

You can read more in the expanded hardcover edition of John Mark’s book God Has a Name, now available wherever books are sold.

Key Scripture Passage: 2 Corinthians 3v18

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Jana from Richardson, Texas; Janet from Liberty Lake, Washington; Allysa from Nipomo, California; Ryan from Dallas, Texas; and Anita from Anchorage, Alaska. Thank you all so much!

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Do we project our own ideas onto God? In this first of two conversations with Ger Jones of Vintage Church LA, John Mark and Ger explore the significance of God having a name and how God's self-disclosure often contradicts our assumptions. They challenge us to re-examine and adjust our implicit knowledge of God by reckoning with God's character revealed in Scripture.

You can read more in the expanded hardcover edition of John Mark’s book God Has a Name, now available wherever books are sold.

Key Scripture Passage: Exodus 34v6-7

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Kathryn from Amarillo, Texas; Kristen from Brentwood, Tennessee; Cole from Brush Prairie, Washington; Sarah from Waco, Texas; and Ian from Whitestown, Indiana. Thank you all so much!

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Do you represent God well? John Mark explores God's final characteristic: jealous, like a passionate husband protecting his bride. As he tracks this theme throughout the Scriptures, he leaves us with a prophetic invitation to carry the name of Yahweh into every sphere of our lives.

Key Scripture Passages: Exodus 34v6-14, Deuteronomy 28v1-10, Exodus 19v1-6, Leviticus 19v1-18, Exodus 20v1-7, Ezekiel 36v16-23

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Gracey from Chicago, Illinois; Andrew from Madison, Wisconsin; Tracy from Cape Town, South Africa; Anders from Hood River, Oregon; and Chuck from Springfield, Illinois. Thank you all so much!

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Does God punish children for their parent's sin? John Mark explores the final section of Exodus 34v6-7, highlighting the beauty of God's justice, the gravity of sin, and God's overwhelming proclivity towards forgiveness and mercy over wrath and judgment.

Key Scripture Passage: Exodus 34v6-7, Numbers 14v11-23, Matthew 18v21-35

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Camie from Roswell, Georgia; Violet from Dayton, Ohio; Alayna from Inman, South Carolina; John from Raleigh, North Carolina; and John from Omaha, Nebraska. Thank you all so much!

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"We think of God's love and God's anger as at odds with one another. That's because we don't understand God's love or God's anger."

John Mark challenges our perceptions of God, both the God who is always angry and the God who never gets angry, by showing in the Scriptures how God is both patient and wrathful, and why both are important for our understanding of who God is and what that means for us in our lives.

Key Scripture Passages: Exodus 34v6-7, Matthew 21v12-14, James 1v19-20, 5v7-8

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Melody from Cerritos, California; Jason from Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Merideth from Carrollton, Georgia; Jordan from Falls Church, Virginia; and Kai from Costa Mesa, California. Thank you all so much!

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"We all love that God is compassionate and gracious, but what about when God is compassionate and gracious to people you hate?" John Mark walks us through the passages demonstrating the scandalous compassion and graciousness of God, inviting us to imitate God by extending compassion and grace to others in our lives.

Key Scripture Passages: Exodus 34v6-7, Jonah 1-4, Luke 17v11-19, Luke 18v35-43, Luke 15v11-32, Luke 6v35-36

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Carma from Columbus, Ohio; Sam from Sioux Center, Iowa; Kathy from Coupeville, Washington; Joshua from Holt, Michigan; and Jeannette from Chichester, West Sussex. Thank you all so much!

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Why does God need a name in the first place? John Mark argues that it's because there are many "gods". He surveys scripture passages relating to gods and demonic beings, not only warning us that they are real and should never be worshipped, but that Yahweh is the one true creator God and is higher than them all.

Key Scripture Passages: Exodus 34v6-7, Exodus 12v12, Exodus 15v11, Exodus 20v2-4, Psalm 82, Mark 5v1-13, Ephesians 6v10-12

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Kayla from Nanaimo, British Columbia; Ross & Allison from Salem, Oregon; Josiah from Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Church on the Rock in Huntley, Illinois; and Jenna from Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Thank you all so much!

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