Susan and Crystal Sparks share a powerful conversation about God’s redeeming grace, the importance of family, and the call to truly see people where they are. Crystal opens up about her journey through brokenness, addiction, and abuse—and how God met her in the middle of it all with a new beginning. Together they remind us that no one is too far gone, everyone matters, and everyone needs a Day One with Jesus.

QUESTIONS:

1. What would you describe as your “Day 1” moment with God?
2. How has brokenness in your past shaped the way you see people who are far from God today?
3. In what ways can you slow down enough to really see people as image-bearers of God?

READ MORE:

• Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4:1–42
• “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy” in John 10:10
• God’s heart for family in Genesis 1:27–28 and Ephesians 5:21–33
• “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” in Romans 10:13
• Luke’s emphasis on Jesus reaching the overlooked in Luke 4:16–21

We explore the reality of miracles and healing today and share why we believe all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still active and available today. From N.T. Wright’s theology of miracles as “appetizers” to true healing stories at Keystone, we discuss the now-and-not-yet tension of living in a broken world while anticipating God’s miraculous power. We talk about demonic oppression, sin’s impact on sickness, and how to pray boldly for healing.

QUESTIONS:

1. Do you truly believe miracles can happen today, or have you unintentionally adopted a view that limits what God can do?
2. When was the last time you prayed boldly for someone’s healing instead of couching your prayer in safe, comfortable language?
3. How can you see physical healing as a signpost pointing to the ultimate spiritual healing we all need through Jesus?

READ MORE:

• Jesus’ mission to heal and proclaim the Kingdom in Luke 4:18–19
• The connection between mission and miracles in Acts 3:1–10
• Miracles as signposts to God’s coming Kingdom in Matthew 4:23–24
• The ten lepers and the one who returned in Luke 17:11–19
• Prayer, anointing with oil, and healing in James 5:13–16

A wave of questions about Israel has been hitting us in our church, conversations with friends, and the wider culture. In this episode, Brandon and Susan unpack the biblical, historical, and current-day reasons Christians wrestle with their views on Israel. They break down the Old Testament covenant, end-times perspectives, Paul’s teaching in Romans 9–11, the meaning of “chosen people,” whether it’s ever appropriate to criticize Israel, and how to think about war, genocide claims, and modern geopolitics as followers of Jesus.

QUESTIONS:
1. What does the Bible teach about God’s covenant with Israel, and how should that shape the way Christians think about modern Israel?
2. Brandon and Susan talked about loving Israel while still being able to critique its government. How do we apply this same “both/and” approach to nations, politics, or leaders today?
3. Romans 11 describes a remnant, grafting in, and God’s heart for Israel. What does this passage teach us about God’s character and about our responsibility toward both Jews and Gentiles today?

READ MORE:

• Genesis 12:1–3
• Genesis 22:17
• 2 Chronicles 33
• Psalm 122:6
• Matthew 1
• Romans 10:1–4, 9–13
• Romans 11:1–24
• Romans 11:25–32

We dive into what it means to bring our best to God as an act of worship in every part of life. Excellence is not about perfection but about honoring God with gratitude for His greatest gift, Jesus. We explore the “best-bandits” that keep us from wholehearted worship and how to live as image bearers who reflect God’s character.

QUESTIONS:

1. What are the “best-bandits” (like laziness, greed, or misplaced priorities) that most often steal your focus from giving God your best?
2. How does remembering that Jesus is God’s best change the way you approach your daily work and worship?
3. In what areas of your life—home, church, or career—do you sense God calling you to raise the standard of excellence?

READ MORE:

• Offering God pure sacrifices in Malachi 1:6–14
• “Do everything as unto the Lord” in Colossians 3:23
• Honoring the Lord with your firstfruits in Proverbs 3:9–10
• Jesus as the perfect sacrifice in Hebrews 10:10–14
• Living sacrifices and spiritual worship in Romans 12:1–2

We explore the power of communication in shaping family culture and discipling children. Drawing from the Shema in Deuteronomy 6, we emphasize speaking God’s truth intentionally and consistently in everyday life. When parents prioritize authentic faith and regular conversations, they set their children up to love God deeply and walk in His ways.

QUESTIONS:

1. How did the communication style in your family of origin shape the way you connect with others today?
2. What intentional practices could you adopt to saturate your home with God’s truth in everyday conversations?
3. How can you model authentic faith for your children without slipping into legalism?

READ MORE:

• The Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4–9
• “Train up a child in the way he should go” in Proverbs 22:6
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” in Proverbs 3:5–6
• Parents teaching God’s commands in Ephesians 6:4
• God working in us to will and to act in Philippians 2:13

What if one truth about money could change your life and your marriage? In this episode of The Overflow, Brandon and Susan open up about how learning God’s design for money transformed their family and deepened their faith. Together, they unpack the biblical principle of the tithe, the difference between obedience and sacrifice, and why generosity is far more than a financial act.

READ MORE:

• Malachi 3:8–12
• Malachi 1:6–8
• Luke 12:34
• Matthew 23:23
• 1 Corinthians 16:1–2
• Luke 16:10–13
• Acts 2:44–45
• Acts 4:36–37
• Acts 5:1–11
• Romans 12:1
• Matthew 5:17
• Genesis 3

We unpack about the difference between a Bible study and a church, emphasizing how the seven marks of a local body of Christ set it apart from small groups or friendships. When we minimize God’s plan for the church, we miss the life-changing work of His people gathered together.

QUESTIONS:

1. Which of the seven marks of a church do you see most clearly in your current church experience? What about least clearly?
2. How can you shift from a casual view of church attendance to making it a life-giving rhythm in your family?
3. In what ways does belonging to a local body of Christ strengthen your faith beyond what a friend group or Bible study can provide?

READ MORE:

• “I will build my church” in Matthew 16:18
• Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17:20–23
• “Do not neglect meeting together” in Hebrews 10:24–25
• Spiritual authority and leadership in Hebrews 13:17
• The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20

We sit down with our friends Kevin and Sheila Gerald, pastors of Champion Center Church in the Pacific Northwest and leaders of TEAM Church. We talk about honor, marriage, and having a big, bold, biblical truth. This conversation reminded us that lasting love, spiritual authority, and truth-telling all start with the heart and a deep commitment to God's way.

QUESTIONS

1. Where in your life do you struggle to show honor—whether up, down, or all around—and what steps can you take to realign with God’s call?
2. Are you treating your marriage as a life-giving gift or as a duty? How would a mindset shift change how you show up in your relationship?
3. When it comes to standing for biblical truth in a culture that often disagrees, what does “truth in love” look like for you?

READ MORE

• Dishonor limits God’s work in your life in Mark 6:4–5
• Superficial vs. authentic honor in Isaiah 29:13
• Marriage and mutual honor in 1 Peter 3:7
• God’s design for gender and marriage in Genesis 1:27
• “The truth will set you free” in John 8:32