Denver Community Church

May 30, 2021: I've Heard of You – Jon Gettings

Habakkuk is interesting as there is no direct message given to the people of Judah. Rather, it is a record of the prophet’s conversation with God. One could even say it is an argument with God. The prophet cries out against the way things have played out in his nation; believing them to be unjust. God replies to the prophet two times, which leads to a response - one of trust.

This trust expressed is not because everything is going to work out well or because things are suddenly all better. Not even close. Habakkuk says, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (3.17,18). This is the conclusion Habakkuk comes to.  

May 23, 2021: This is Not Comforting - Michael Hidalgo

This week we will focus on Nahum and take a look at why we might find it hard to hear of the anger and outrage in our world today. Could it be that we might be complicit in the pain and oppression that has brought about this anger?

May 16, 2021: Walk This Way –Dave Neuhausel

Micah begins on a tear against the leaders of Israel and he goes on for some time. He announces God’s fierce anger against them for their constant injustice. He says, “Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right; who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness” (3:9,10). As you read his poetry, his words spoken it is sobering and upsetting. Sobering because of its seriousness. Upsetting because of the injustice spoken against. If there is any prophetic book that speaks in a way to stir up the anger of the reader, it is Micah. But then something happens … kindness, compassion. 

This comes not from Micah, but from God. There is a certain sorrow in God’s anger. Like a loving parent who watches their child head down a destructive path, there is an ache, a love, a longing that things will change. Because the parent knows, if things do not change destruction will be the outcome. This is the heart of God reflected here. Anger with ache. It is from this place that God invites the people back to relationship - not through religious ritual but through a life, a way of walking (See: Halachah) - one that reflects justice, loving-kindness and humility.

May 9, 2021: And Now for the 6th Act! – Michael Hidalgo

The prophets are bizarre books, and among them the most bizarre is the book of Jonah. Is this historic or a parable? Is it based on an actual person named Jonah or is Jonah a name that refers to one who is “senseless” (see the Hebrew word meaning: “dove”)? Even more, is this a prophet? We seem comfortable saying he is, the book is even counted among the prophetic books of the Hebrew Scriptures, but the book itself does not call Jonah a prophet. So, what do we do with this odd, seemingly out-of-place book that tells a story that is wildly popular? 

Regardless of what we believe about the story, one thing the reader observes is Jonah is a story about his failure. He fails in his response to God’s call, he fails in his attempted escape and he fails in the message he delivers to Nineveh (at least he thought so). He believed his message would bring about the doom he prophesied. Instead, it stirred God’s compassion. And this was Jonah’s greatest failure. He failed to appreciate the compassion of God.

May 2, 2021: Scott Oppliger - That's Not How You Treat Family

This week we'll look at the book of Obadiah, where the prophet speaks to a people who are rejoicing in their enemy's calamity, asking "Is this how you treat family?"

April 25, 2021: Tov! – Michael Hidalgo

When Amos, a shepherd, came around the people of Israel were enjoying the good life (6:1-7). Well, not all of them. The ones enjoying the good life were on the “top” of the social order; the ones oppressing those on the bottom. And those on the bottom were the ones working to ensure the good life remained for those at the top. They enjoyed safety, security, wealth and allowed their places of worship to become pagan centers of worship. The women even told the men, “Bring us some drinks!” (4:1), while others went hungry and thirsty. Of course, they did all of this with impunity believing that as long as they worshipped God and performed some religious rites, they were pretty much good to go. 

God’s response? ““I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them …” (5:21,22). You see, God never says, “I reject your justice because of your lack of worship!” Rather God insists, “I reject your worship because of your lack of justice.” This is what the people of God got backward, and what unhealthy religion gets backward constantly. Religion is not to serve our comforts, but to lead us to seek the healing and justice of our world. This is why Amos cries out, “Let justice roll down like a river!”

April 18, 2021: Bugs, Wrestlers and Faces – Bekah Stewart

Joel speaks of an army invading and the coming destruction it will bring. The army here are locusts and ancient people understood the power of such an army. They would devour everything in their path until nothing is left. Famine and drought would follow close behind. So what are the people to do? Well, according to the prophet, now is a time for wailing, mourning, weeping, despair, sackcloth, fasting and repentance. For this is a time, when all is stripped away, they are able to see things more clearly. And when they can see, they can repent. 

 

It is then that there will be restoration. God has compassion on God’s people (2:18), will restore their land (2:25) and will pour out God’s spirit (2:28). Which raises the question, “Is this how it all works?” Because it seems like, according to Joel, God punishes to get our attention, and when we repent, then God relents. Perhaps. It’s also possible that when we turn (the literal meaning of the Hebrew word for repent) toward God we recognize the God who has been there the whole time. In this, we are able to recalibrate the way we live and move in this world.

April 11, 2021: About a Homer for Gomer – Michael Hidalgo

Perhaps there is not better prophet to speak to the United States in 2021 than Hosea. He spoke mostly to the Northern Kingdom of Israel addressing its religion, its morality and its politics. His chief metaphor for the people of Israel was that of a “harlot.” To feel the impact of this, we may want to use the word “hooker.” As a people they were promiscuous; fooling around with anyone or anything that they believed would serve their interests. Corruption and oppression were rampant, and they people of God pinned their hopes on their allies rather than God. Hosea, speaks to the people and remind them, not of God’s great anger, but of God’s great love. 

This picture of Israel’s promiscuity is expressed in Hosea’s own household. His wife, Gomer, is an adulteress, one who has been with many others. This leads to divorce in his marriage - and in that culture it is Gomer who would have been seen as one who is a disgrace. But the story of Hosea and Gomer reflects God’s heart, not our attitudes. This is why Hosea brings Gomer back to be his wife and renews their marriage. 

The idea that this story of Hosea and Gomer actually happened was unacceptable in the minds of many. This is why many have suggested maybe this didn’t really happen - maybe it was a dream, a vision or a picture, but not a historical fact. Perhaps what’s more unacceptable is the way God continues to return to God’s people; reaching out to us again and again to renew a relationship for which God’s heart longs. 

Apri 4, 2021: This isNot Resuscitation – Amanda Lum

In the church we are familiar with Good Friday, when Jesus gave His life on the cross. We also know that Friday was not the end of the story; that the story does not end in death. We gather every year on Easter to celebrate and cling to the hope found in the resurrection. We are familiar with Friday and possibly even more familiar with Resurrection Sunday, but what about Saturday? Rarely do we talk about the day that the family, friends, and followers of Jesus lived through between His death on the cross, and His resurrection. Even though we rarely talk about Saturday, all of us at some point in our lives will sit in our own Saturdays.

 

Saturday and the pain it holds is a reality all of us will face in this life, but Sunday is coming. Resurrection is coming, and it will be beyond anything we could have ever dreamed or imagined. Today we hold the promise of Resurrection because we know the story does not end in death, but the disciples didn’t know that, in fact they never saw it coming. When you read about the resurrection and about the encounters Jesus has with people following His resurrection, there is one common theme, confusion. They are utterly confused, filled with fear, and doubt; none of them saw it coming.  That’s because in the ancient world the followers of Jesus never thought of or even dreamed of the possibility of their Messiah being resurrected. There was no category in their thoughts, lives, or beliefs for the Messiah to be resurrected. This was brand new. And that’s what resurrection is, something completely brand new. Resurrection invites us to open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to possibilities we never thought would ever have existed. Resurrection invites us to see that God is doing a new thing, bringing new life, and it is beyond anything we could have ever imagined. 

March 28, 2021: It is Finished – Michael Hidalgo

Of all the words Jesus spoke on the cross these three: “It is finished,” may be among the most well-known. However, it is possible we can overlook the nuance of Jesus’ words, as in some ways something new had just begun. The words John records echo the end of the creation poem in Genesis 2.2 when “God had finished the work” of bringing the universe into existence. Of course, these words of Jesus that John records have even greater connection to the creation poem because of how the gospel begins: “In the beginning …” A clear reference to Genesis 1.1, and the connections do not stop there. The next scene is in a garden, where Jesus is thought to be the gardener. Another reference to the first human whose job was the care for the garden. 

All of these references to the creation poem are meant to lead us to see a beginning of sorts. In the case of Jesus, it is a new beginning. Though for Jesus it was finished, for his followers the work to which he called them had just begun. And how would they go about doing this? And here there is one last detail John offers us. After Jesus spoke these words, he “he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Except the Greek does not indicate it was “his spirit” but “the spirit.” It is the Spirit Jesus had promised them when he said, “ … very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). And this is exactly what John says happened when he died. Which is no surprise because Zechariah had prophesied “… I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child … On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 12.10, 13.1). So here we are then, at the end, which is the beginning of the work the Spirit has empowered us to do.