Denver Community Church

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.

April 30, 2017: Eyes That Can See What's There – Landon Lynch

It so often seems that what is real and here and right in front of us is the very thing we miss. Perhaps this is because there are things we cannot see with our eyes; only with our heart. This is Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus. That the eyes of their heart would be given light – so they can see what is already there for them. And what is there? The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead – here and now. 

So how would our lives be different if we trusted this kind of power as something we already have? We would fear nothing – not even death itself! Nothing could stand in our way as we, in the power of God – work alongside him to make his kingdom a reality here on earth as it is in heaven. Having these kind of eyes has the power to change the way we live. No longer would we hesitate wondering what the outcomes may be … because the power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us and in our world.

April 30, 2017: Eyes That Can See What's There – Bekah Stewart

It so often seems that what is real and here and right in front of us is the very thing we miss. Perhaps this is because there are things we cannot see with our eyes; only with our heart. This is Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus. That the eyes of their heart would be given light – so they can see what is already there for them. And what is there? The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead – here and now. 

So how would our lives be different if we trusted this kind of power as something we already have? We would fear nothing – not even death itself! Nothing could stand in our way as we, in the power of God – work alongside him to make his kingdom a reality here on earth as it is in heaven. Having these kind of eyes has the power to change the way we live. No longer would we hesitate wondering what the outcomes may be … because the power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us and in our world.

April 23, 2017: We Need Both – Landon Lynch

Paul longs for the church to have the spirit of wisdom and revelation – and he should. However, he speaks these words into a time when the Gnostics believed that knowledge was salvation. For them, knowing the right thing was the end in itself. Before we roll our eyes over that we may want to pause and reflect on how we view these same things. We have, at times, feared the idea of wisdom and even more revelation. Especially revelation found outside the words of Scripture – of course with a qualified interpreter with us to assist. 

 

But Paul does not seem to share our concern – not in the least. We have been invited to understand and grasp the resurrection that is happening each and everyday. We need wisdom to see this, with God as our source, and we need to speak prophetically when we see it, which is our need for Revelation. Perhaps our hesitance around this centers on our fear of what someone will do. Ah, we must remember the central role of community here. We need to be those who pursue wisdom and revelation together. Seeing they go hand in hand.

April 16, 2017: Resurrection In All Things – Michael Hidalgo

Every Easter, we encounter the debate over whether the resurrection is a historic or mythic event. Both sides seem to want to be able to verify, through evidence, their reason for their beliefs. But here’s the thing; one can believe either side of the debate, and still not recognize what God is and was doing by rising Christ from the dead. 

 

The question for us, is do we believe what the resurrection teaches us? That all things are made new in Christ? Do we believe, trust and have faith in God that life is found the resurrection? Do we believe that power and life is available now and has always been?

April 12, 2017: What Life Really Is – Michael Hidalgo

April 9, 2017: What Life Really Is – Michael Hidalgo

“Behold, I make all things new …” This is the promise that we cling to, uttered from the mouth of God. The question is will our life be found in Jesus? You see there are two realities we can cling to. The reality of God – that is happening right here and right now. One that transcends being proven and can only be trusted. Or we can default to the reality we can create. 

And honestly, when we look at our world we have to ask, how well has humanity done in creating our reality? Our new world? This was what was at stake during the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday. Some wanted Jesus to be this or that – they made him in their image to suit their vision of the world. They trusted in themselves. Yet Jesus came to invite others to trust in the world he has created and sustained. 

April 2, 2017: The Law of Love – Scott Oppliger

Our universe, many say, is governed by laws. From scientific laws like gravity or the speed of light or philosophical laws like karma or attraction … we are reared to believe in certain realities that are immutable. We grow up living according to these laws and understand there is a cause and effect to all we do in relation to them. Not to be overcome however, humans learn not only to understand these laws but also how to use them for our benefit. We become masters of our fate, control outcomes and give direction to our lives.

 

But this way of living and seeing the world falls short, for we often import this way of thinking and living into our faith in God. We miss the massive difference between laws and love, which is this: laws cannot love you, nor can you love laws. The same cannot be said of God who is love. God loves us and we can love God, and are invited to do so. The struggle for us in this is that we have no control whatsoever – and that is the Law of Love.