Denver Community Church

June 7, 2015: Leaving at Last – Landon Lynch

Simeon holds the newborn Jesus and says he is a light for the nations. There is something bigger going on here – echoes of a man called out of Ur to be a blessing for all nations. Simeon points toward the reality of the salvation that came with Jesus. He was so sure of it he did not have to stick around to see the salvation fulfilled.

Which raises the question: saved from what? Simeon had far more in mind than the modern Western idea of salvation (meaning going to heaven). This salvation was about things happening here and now on this earth.

June 7, 2015: Leaving at Last – Dave Neuhausel

Simeon holds the newborn Jesus and says he is a light for the nations. There is something bigger going on here – echoes of a man called out of Ur to be a blessing for all nations. Simeon points toward the reality of the salvation that came with Jesus. He was so sure of it he did not have to stick around to see the salvation fulfilled.

Which raises the question: saved from what? Simeon had far more in mind than the modern Western idea of salvation (meaning going to heaven). This salvation was about things happening here and now on this earth.

May 31, 2015: If God Would Send His Angels – Michael Hidalgo

On a sleepy, quiet night in Bethlehem, a few shepherds were tending their sheep. Nothing ever happened in Bethlehem in the evenings, except for this night. This night was different and would forever be known because of what happened. 

In the midst of the darkness the glory of God broke in and lit up the fields where the shepherds tended their sheep. An angel told the shepherds everything was about to change. Of course, that’s not exactly what they said, but the words indicated something new was born. Peace would come to all humanity.

And what exactly is this peace? It’s God’s shalom. It’s all things being reconciled. Wholeness. Healing. Connection. This is what was promised. It’s about the hope that everything that is right here and right now can be and will be repaired.

May 31, 2015: If God Would Send HIs Angels – Landon Lynch

On a sleepy, quiet night in Bethlehem, a few shepherds were tending their sheep. Nothing ever happened in Bethlehem in the evenings, except for this night. This night was different and would forever be known because of what happened. 

In the midst of the darkness the glory of God broke in and lit up the fields where the shepherds tended their sheep. An angel told the shepherds everything was about to change. Of course, that’s not exactly what they said, but the words indicated something new was born. Peace would come to all humanity.

And what exactly is this peace? It’s God’s shalom. It’s all things being reconciled. Wholeness. Healing. Connection. This is what was promised. It’s about the hope that everything that is right here and right now can be and will be repaired.

May 24, 2015: Magnificentt – Landon Lynch

We don’t often consider the influence Mary, the mother of Jesus, had on her son. But her song can tell us much about what she knew. Her song was far more than a woman who was excited about the impending birth of her child. For Mary, the birth of Jesus would prove to reshape the very world we live in.

This is a political song, which makes sense, since the gospel was a political term. Mary knew that the birth of a king would surely shake the earth to its very foundations. The birth of Jesus was about all of life and involved all people. It would be a threat to the powers and liberation for the oppressed. These are the first words we hear that reshape the way we think of good news.

May 24, 2015: Magnificat – Nick Elio

We don’t often consider the influence Mary, the mother of Jesus, had on her son. But her song can tell us much about what she knew. Her song was far more than a woman who was excited about the impending birth of her child. For Mary, the birth of Jesus would prove to reshape the very world we live in.

This is a political song, which makes sense, since the gospel was a political term. Mary knew that the birth of a king would surely shake the earth to its very foundations. The birth of Jesus was about all of life and involved all people. It would be a threat to the powers and liberation for the oppressed. These are the first words we hear that reshape the way we think of good news.

May 17, 2015: A New Thing Happening – Scott Oppliger

“The Kingdom of Heaven is near! Repent and believe this good news.” These are the first words Jesus preached according the Mark’s gospel. Which of course raises all kinds of questions. Questions like:

Is this David’s son?

Will he restore the fortunes of Israel?

When will he take the throne?

These questions and more swirled around Jesus in a time when the expectancy of the people were at an all time high. They had waited, hope and longed for this day. And now it was here. Jesus had come to fulfill the vocation given to Israel, but it was not what everyone expected it would be. It would be far more, but it would be sure to disappoint many.

May 17, 2015: A New Thing Happening – Michael Hidalgo

“The Kingdom of Heaven is near! Repent and believe this good news.” These are the first words Jesus preached according the Mark’s gospel. Which of course raises all kinds of questions. Questions like:

Is this David’s son?

Will he restore the fortunes of Israel?

When will he take the throne?

These questions and more swirled around Jesus in a time when the expectancy of the people were at an all time high. They had waited, hope and longed for this day. And now it was here. Jesus had come to fulfill the vocation given to Israel, but it was not what everyone expected it would be. It would be far more, but it would be sure to disappoint many.

May 10, 2015: Who Can Sing At a Time Like This? – Landon Lynch

The sons of David did not follow in the way of their father. Solomon, though wise, was drawn to the gods of his many wives. He became an arms dealer and forced many into slavery. And it went downhill from there. The Kingdom of Israel was divided into Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Baal and Asherah worship were rampant. The people forgot the God who brought them out of Egypt – so much so they turned to other kings for help.

So God gave them what they wanted, which led to their downfall. Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah was sacked by the Babylonians. Many of God’s people were exiled. And there they sat unable to sing as they remembered Jerusalem. 

Seventy Years after exile those from Judah were allowed to return, but things were not the same. The people of Israel considered themselves to be “slaves in their own land.” For nearly 400 years they waited and hoped for the one who would come in the name of David. They longed for the day the Kingdom of God would once again come to this earth. 

May 3, 2015: Watch the Throne – Michael Hidalgo

David is riding a wave of success as far as kings go. He has united the people. He has subdued the Philistines. He has established the new capital, Jerusalem. He has brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem – signifying that God reigns. As Eugene Peterson says, “David takes his place as king, not in the usual sense, but as a witness that God is King.”

David’s kingship is marked by his being a servant of God, and he uses his throne to proclaim the rule of God. In fact, God’s rule and reign is often found in the Psalms of David. His time on earth served to point others to the fact that God was in really the One in charge. Which brings new light to the promise that God made to David. He told him his throne would be “established forever.” It’s not just a benefit for David, but for the world. Because it’s the kind of king David was that makes this promise so amazing.

The promise to David is far more about God’s rule and reign than it is those tied to the Davidic line. We know that the son’s of David wandered far from the tradition of their father. However, there still was the promise the people waited for. A son of David – “a shoot from the stump of Jesse” would come.