Denver Community Church

June 30, 2019: A Spiritual Teacher – Michael Hidalgo

We don’t really need teachers. At least that’s what John tells this community because we possess an inner witness. And growth and maturity are the process of learning to trust that inner voice. We needn’t be alarmed by this kind of thinking, this is exactly what Jesus promised his followers. He said that the Spirit will come and “he will guide you into all the truth.” It is this same Spirit that pays witness and corroborates the matter with our spirits (See Romans 8.16).

 

Perhaps what we need to learn it to listen, because this voice is already within us. If we do that, then we must learn to trust. For if we do that, we will be led and guided toward what is true. And to think, all of this is already within each of us!

June 23, 2019: Held, Kept, Embraced – Amanda Lum

Jesus, in John’s Gospel, prays for those who will believe in him because of the message of his disciples. John records his words, saying, “… that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” There’s that language that John frequently uses, “in me” and “in you” and “in Christ” and “in God.” Of course, we can be so familiar with a term or phrase that we may not even know what it means or think to ask what it means at all.

And sometimes it proves difficult to consider and define what it actually means. So what if, in this case, we learn by doing? What if we better understand ways we can rest in Christ and in God – develop a deep relationship – so that we can understand something at a deeper level, maybe a place beyond words?

June 16, 2019: Truth and Lies and Oil – Paula Williams

Those to whom John writes are those who already know the truth. This is not then, his correcting them, rather it is his encouragement to remain strong and rooted. And what is this truth he speaks of? And where did they come upon this truth? The truth is that Jesus was the Word made flesh – that he is the Christ.

As for where they got it, well that came from an anointing. This conjures images of a king who was anointed with oil when he was ready to take the throne. It is this word that is used of John’s audience: chrisma. They’ve been given something, and in receiving it, they become something new, something holy, something sacred. And this is the gift that enables them to know.

June 9, 2019: Love Says – Michael Hidalgo, Hannah Thom

When talking about antichrists it would make sense to mention the “last hour.” These two things have often gone together when Christians talk about the end of the world. John is the only one to use the term antichrist, and he is not speaking about someone at the end of the world who has yet to come. He speaks about those who were a part of his community of faith, but had left, moved on. Much has been made about the division that existed here.

Some assume it was all doctrine, others opine that perhaps the Gnostics infiltrated the church and worked from the inside. However, there is something noteworthy about what we know from what John writes: whoever theywere they were destroying unity within the Church. “This sin is as bad as, if not worse than, the actual doctrinal error, because … they disregarded the cardinal and foundational command of Jesus to ‘love each other.’”

June 2, 2019: What's Not to Love? – Jon Gettings

If one were to talk about an oppressive systemwe would understand what she was talking about. Systems of oppression and domination are everywhere. This is a helpful way of thinking about the word “world” – it is this system that is against God. The very system we are told not to love. Why? Because of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life that come from it: three ways of talking about the evil of it. And this is not the first time we have heard this.

Jesus, when in the desert for 40 days, was tempted in all three of these ways. His response? To remember who God is and was and trust that. Because, that will never pass away.

May 26, 2019: The War is Over – Bekah Stewart

John pauses and addresses children, fathers and young men, which is to say everyone who is listening. You are forgiven. You know God. You have overcome the evil one. He says it not just one, but twice. You are forgiven. You know God. You have overcome the evil one. This is such a deep and pastoral moment for John. In the midst of hate, division, anger, confusion and people leaving the Church, he encourages them by telling them who they are and what they know.

 

Often when it comes to conflict we insert ourselves into it to take sides and dress down the opposition. We tell our allies why they and we are right and how we can win. John doesn’t do any of that. He simple reminds them of who they are. You are forgiven. You know God. You have overcome the evil one. There is nothing divisive here, only truth that offers a grounding for the listeners. Perhaps, in the midst of division we need to remember who we are.

April 28th, 2019 - The Three Loves - Michael Hidalgo

May 19, 2019: A Very Thin Line – Michael Hidalgo

Don’t hate, love. Love, don’t hate. These are the two commands given here in the midst of incredible division for John’s community. It was being ripped apart by warring factions, and where there was once love, hate emerged. How does this so often happen? Two groups or two people who once enjoyed sweet fellowship and deep love can move so quickly toward abject hatred. Well, it’s because these two emotions are not opposites – the opposite of love is indifference, not hate.

This is important, because it may actually be a key toward overcoming hate. Rather than telling people to stop hating, we can be those who learn to love in practice. By seeking to name and recognize and own the way we have wounded, have been wounded and the fear we carry within us. In this, we will learn that our hate often simmers on the fires of something done to us by those we love. And if that’s the case, then we can take a step toward understanding where our relationship is between love and hate, and it will be worth it because of the love that has been there the whole time. After all, love and hate are only separated by a very thin line.

May 12, 2019: The Difficulty of Simplicity – Paula Williams

Jesus was asked about the most important commands and he responded with two: love God and love others. “All Scripture hangs on these two things,” he concluded. Another rabbi was asked to explain Torah while the questioner stood on one foot. The rabbi replied, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the commentary; go and study.” Several commentators suggest that these are the old and new rules John refers to here in chapter 2. It’s really that simple, isn’t it?

Simplicity is something we’ve mostly lost today. Perhaps that is because simplicity is incredibly difficult to pull off. It takes far more understanding, knowledge, depth and vision than even the most complex of all things. This is revealed by the simple command: LOVE. Is there anything more difficult than that?

May 5, 2019: Learning and Doing – Dave Neuhausel

We will learn about steps we can take to learn about the complexity of immigration in the US and what we can do to be a part of the solution.