Denver Community Church

January 10, 2016: Give It Away Now – Landon Lynch

How much is enough? How do we know? How do we recognize it when we have it? And what if we have more than enough? What then? These are questions humans have considered for centuries and one that did not escape Jesus. In fact, several times he gives a very direct suggestion about what to do with not only our excess, but with all we have. His command was simple: Give It Away.

 

In Jesus’ day, many believed one showed their righteousness by their willingness to give toward the needy and display a generous heart. Jesus went further and encouraged his people to take their giving to new heights. He seemed to believe the single best thing anyone can do with their wealth is give to the poor. This giving is ultimately an “investment” into the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

This is important for us to consider as we live in a culture that frequently encourages us to consider what we will do with excess. Not only that, many of us have disposable income. And the question begs, “What are we doing with the extra?”

January 3, 2016: It's Not All Good – Michael Hidalgo

In Jesus’ day there were basically two socio-economic groups: the rich and the poor. As much as the Hebrew Scriptures allude to the fact that those who were righteous were given many blessings by God – that tune had changed by the time Jesus was born. Due to the political climate in the first century, many in the Jewish world questioned whether or not one could actually be rich and righteous.

 

Jesus furthered this question by observing that it is impossible for someone to serve both God and Mammon (possessions but also functions much like idols did in the OT). By doing this he marks out that far from being a mark of Divine favor, wealth actually is the thing that makes it hard for one to enter the kingdom of God.

 

Jesus frequently points out that wealth is dangerous and should be treated as such. A message we must heed today. From the shouts of “God Bless America” to the assumption that making money and career success is always a good thing … we are blindly steeped in the belief that wealth is good. Jesus warns otherwise.

January 3, 2016: It's Not All Good - Landon Lynch

In Jesus’ day there were basically two socio-economic groups: the rich and the poor. As much as the Hebrew Scriptures allude to the fact that those who were righteous were given many blessings by God – that tune had changed by the time Jesus was born. Due to the political climate in the first century, many in the Jewish world questioned whether or not one could actually be rich and righteous.

 

Jesus furthered this question by observing that it is impossible for someone to serve both God and Mammon (possessions but also functions much like idols did in the OT). By doing this he marks out that far from being a mark of Divine favor, wealth actually is the thing that makes it hard for one to enter the kingdom of God.

 

Jesus frequently points out that wealth is dangerous and should be treated as such. A message we must heed today. From the shouts of “God Bless America” to the assumption that making money and career success is always a good thing … we are blindly steeped in the belief that wealth is good. Jesus warns otherwise.

December 24, 2015: Christmas Eve Homily – Michael Hidalgo

December 20, 2015: Surpassing Joy – Landon Lynch

A story about the birth of a divine king who would be a hero was nothing new. In fact, there were a lot of them. Which is precisely why Luke told the story the way he did – because he saw Jesus as a divine king who would be a hero. He would be one who would rescue and save the world. How else could you begin a story this big, this massive, without telling about the miraculous birth of Jesus? It is all here, in the infancy of Jesus, that we are set up for the rest of the story. He is the one who was to come.

December 20, 2015: It's a Boy – Michael Hidalgo

A story about the birth of a divine king who would be a hero was nothing new. In fact, there were a lot of them. Which is precisely why Luke told the story the way he did – because he saw Jesus as a divine king who would be a hero. He would be one who would rescue and save the world. How else could you begin a story this big, this massive, without telling about the miraculous birth of Jesus? It is all here, in the infancy of Jesus, that we are set up for the rest of the story. He is the one who was to come.

December 13, 2015: A Star, A King and Wise Men – Landon Lynch

Herod was the King of the Jews – a title he begged and connived from Rome itself. He, in fact, was not a Jew, but an Edomite. Everything about him suggested he was not the real king of Israel and even the wise men from the East. Why? Because when they went to Herod they assumed the king of the Jews had not been born in the house of Herod, but somewhere else.

And it was this recognition that angered and terrified Herod and would have thrilled those reading Matthew’s gospel. The star pointing to Jesus as King told Herod he was not. Because this is what Jesus – in his very existence – does. In being King he simply shows others they are not. He does not need to oppose or argue or fight them. He is simply born. Perhaps this is what Mary meant when she sang her song about toppling leaders.

December 13, 2015: A Star, A King and Wise Men – Jon Gettings

Herod was the King of the Jews – a title he begged and connived from Rome itself. He, in fact, was not a Jew, but an Edomite. Everything about him suggested he was not the real king of Israel and even the wise men from the East. Why? Because when they went to Herod they assumed the king of the Jews had not been born in the house of Herod, but somewhere else.

And it was this recognition that angered and terrified Herod and would have thrilled those reading Matthew’s gospel. The star pointing to Jesus as King told Herod he was not. Because this is what Jesus – in his very existence – does. In being King he simply shows others they are not. He does not need to oppose or argue or fight them. He is simply born. Perhaps this is what Mary meant when she sang her song about toppling leaders.

December 6, 2015: Getting Ready for the Showdown – Michael Hidalgo

On the surface, taking a census does not seem to matter much. It’s just a government counting its people, right? Not exactly. A census was directly connected to paying tribute (taxes) to the Roman Empire. And few things rubbed against Jewish sensibility like paying tribute to Caesar. The tribute paid to Caesar financed imperial domination and the income of the oppressor (this gives a small insight into why tax collectors were so reviled). If one were so inclined to not pay tribute – or encourage others to do the same – it was considered high treason. 

Still, many rebelled. Judas of Gamla refused to pay tribute based on the belief that God, and God alone, was their King. When his movement was countered by Joazar (the High Priest) Joazar was overrun by the crowds. Why? Because tribute posed not just a heavy burden on the people of Israel, but a religio-political question: Who is your God and King?

December 6, 2015: Getting Ready for the Showdown – Scott Oppliger

On the surface, taking a census does not seem to matter much. It’s just a government counting its people, right? Not exactly. A census was directly connected to paying tribute (taxes) to the Roman Empire. And few things rubbed against Jewish sensibility like paying tribute to Caesar. The tribute paid to Caesar financed imperial domination and the income of the oppressor (this gives a small insight into why tax collectors were so reviled). If one were so inclined to not pay tribute – or encourage others to do the same – it was considered high treason. 

Still, many rebelled. Judas of Gamla refused to pay tribute based on the belief that God, and God alone, was their King. When his movement was countered by Joazar (the High Priest) Joazar was overrun by the crowds. Why? Because tribute posed not just a heavy burden on the people of Israel, but a religio-political question: Who is your God and King?