Denver Community Church

June 25, 2017: Imagine That – Michael Hidalgo

If you could ask for anything in the world, what would it be? Go ahead, I mean anything. I am sure if that question was posed to us we could come up with some pretty far out, intense things to say. Our dreams may run wild. However, God is able to do more than that. Moreover, I am betting our desires and the things we long for would fall short of what God can do. 

So what if we asked for the impossible? What if we asked for that which was far above anything we could ever think to ask for? It’s possible those things may actually happen – after all God is able to do far more than even that.

June 18, 2017: The One Who Jesus Loves – Amanda Lum

June 18, 2017: Now That is Big – Landon Lynch

Is it possible that the way we live our lives together here and now can help us understand God more? What if, by rooting ourselves in love, we may actually begin to grasp how “wide and long and high and deep” the love of Christ actually is? That would be a major game changer for all of us, wouldn’t it? And Paul suggests that we can actually do this. We are often rooted in other things besides love, because it is costly and difficult. But this is the invitation.

June 11, 2017: You Are Like Me – Landon Lynch

There is something sacred about being human, and that begins with the fact that we are all from the same source – God. We are his image and bear his imprint. It does not matter where we are from, what language we speak, what skin color we are, what our sexual orientation is … every single family derives its name from one God. This alone ought to bring humans to a place of unity. But for some reason it does not.

 

We find reasons for disunity and separation and division. But this is not how families should operate, ever. So what would happen if we came together and recognized we all have the same name? We all have the same source. We are all brothers and sisters. Because of this simple fact alone, we can, like Christ unite with all people because we have the same Father.

June 4, 2017: You're a Shining Star – Michael Hidalgo

The Psalmist proclaims, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim his handiwork …” What we gather from this is that when people look at the stars and the heavens they are awed by the work of God – his handiwork. Which is exactly what we are, according to Paul. We are God’s work, his art, the things on this earth that declare his glory. And what were we created to do? More good work!

Think about the beauty in that. The opportunity we have been given! We are hand crafted by God to do work that is good on this earth – just like the work he did that he called good! I could keep gushing because this is amazing news! What if we looked at ourselves as those who were created to create – so all would have the same amazement they do when they see the stars!

May 28, 2017: It is All a Gift – Landon Lynch

The conversation surrounding works and grace is a long-standing one. Many different biblical authors refer to a distinction between grace and works, and many church fathers/mothers interpret the text in an effort to sort out the spiritual weight of both. The Reformation still has this faith/works distinction as one of it’s more available explanations—even though this oversimplifies things. What’s fascinating is how quickly, even in the protestant circles who were supposed to be reforming the supposed “works-based Catholics,” we still make our way back to our focus being the work of the receiver (faith) instead of the giver (grace). 

 

For the Ephesians, Artemis needed to be appeased through works or else plague and famine would result. These works were everything from regular temple rituals, to offerings, to timely parades, to pre-marital sexual abstinence for women…just to name a few. Gifts from Artemis were really only gifts in the sense that she could choose to do evil to people, but she could be appeased and give good things instead. Gifts, or grace, from the gods in this sense was little more than a transaction, a cosmic math problem resulting in winners and losers, those who could boast for getting it right and those who could not. But for Paul, divine grace in its truest form is all about divine initiative. 

 

Interestingly, the distinction between grace and work has often turned into a Christian debate between faith and work, and many people use this very verse as ammunition in the debate about the value of faith of the believer vs the value of the work of the believer. But Paul’s assertion to the Ephesians transcends such debates and changes the focus of the conversation. Where we often want to focus on what we can control, Paul invites us to focus on that which is uncontrollable, unmanageable and untamable: God’s grace. It isn’t that works don’t matter (v. 10), it’s just that when it comes to getting grace and gifts from God our works are moot. God’s grace always beats our best works to the punch. We could never earn something he hasn’t freely given (Lk 15). And if we understand this we could possibly find ourselves in receipt of grace and having a very different conversation about what our works in this world might work towards.

May 28, 2017: It is All a Gift – Amanda Lum

The conversation surrounding works and grace is a long-standing one. Many different biblical authors refer to a distinction between grace and works, and many church fathers/mothers interpret the text in an effort to sort out the spiritual weight of both. The Reformation still has this faith/works distinction as one of it’s more available explanations—even though this oversimplifies things. What’s fascinating is how quickly, even in the protestant circles who were supposed to be reforming the supposed “works-based Catholics,” we still make our way back to our focus being the work of the receiver (faith) instead of the giver (grace). 

 

For the Ephesians, Artemis needed to be appeased through works or else plague and famine would result. These works were everything from regular temple rituals, to offerings, to timely parades, to pre-marital sexual abstinence for women…just to name a few. Gifts from Artemis were really only gifts in the sense that she could choose to do evil to people, but she could be appeased and give good things instead. Gifts, or grace, from the gods in this sense was little more than a transaction, a cosmic math problem resulting in winners and losers, those who could boast for getting it right and those who could not. But for Paul, divine grace in its truest form is all about divine initiative. 

 

Interestingly, the distinction between grace and work has often turned into a Christian debate between faith and work, and many people use this very verse as ammunition in the debate about the value of faith of the believer vs the value of the work of the believer. But Paul’s assertion to the Ephesians transcends such debates and changes the focus of the conversation. Where we often want to focus on what we can control, Paul invites us to focus on that which is uncontrollable, unmanageable and untamable: God’s grace. It isn’t that works don’t matter (v. 10), it’s just that when it comes to getting grace and gifts from God our works are moot. God’s grace always beats our best works to the punch. We could never earn something he hasn’t freely given (Lk 15). And if we understand this we could possibly find ourselves in receipt of grace and having a very different conversation about what our works in this world might work towards.

May 21, 2017: Alive, Saved and Seated – Michael Hidalgo

While we were dead we were made alive. Before we did anything God, in Christ, did everything. And what he has done is still happening, even right now. We do not have to wait for it. The verbs Paul uses here are amazing as he speaks in the present tense. We are raised, we are seated and we are saved – NOW. 

 

So, why do we keep living like we are not yet? Why do we keep striving and trying and thinking we can somehow earn something that has already been given? It doesn’t make sense on the face of it, does it? So what if we understood who we are now. So often there are all kinds of people and stories and reputations that follow us around … but Paul eschews all of that. He tells us you are alive, saved and seated. 

May 7, 2017: Far Above and Far Below – Landon Lynch

Jesus is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” This is an astounding statement for Paul to make because in Ephesus there was a lot of power. They were a major player for trade, culture and religion in the empire. However, Paul tells this church that the power of Jesus is “far above” all of that. His statement is an exaltation of Jesus! But, anything that is exalted and held up, can also be brought low and torn down. How?

 

By associating the name of Jesus with powers that are far below him. So many of us mix Jesus and the Kingdom up with empires, nations and kingdoms of this earth. And anytime we do this we subject Jesus’ name to powers that are below him. This is why we must pledge allegiance to God alone – and not to any nation.

May 7, 2017: Far Above and Far Below – Jon Gettings

Jesus is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” This is an astounding statement for Paul to make because in Ephesus there was a lot of power. They were a major player for trade, culture and religion in the empire. However, Paul tells this church that the power of Jesus is “far above” all of that. His statement is an exaltation of Jesus! But, anything that is exalted and held up, can also be brought low and torn down. How?

 

By associating the name of Jesus with powers that are far below him. So many of us mix Jesus and the Kingdom up with empires, nations and kingdoms of this earth. And anytime we do this we subject Jesus’ name to powers that are below him. This is why we must pledge allegiance to God alone – and not to any nation.