Denver Community Church

February 2, 2014: Simple Math – Michael Hidalgo

“People were added to their number daily.” This was not accidental it was a way of viewing the world. The believers understood they existed for the people that were, as of yet, “unbelievers.” This is why there is story after story of people learning about the gospel of Jesus, and then joining the movement he started.

And the beauty of it is, they did this by living life together. It was for them, natural. People saw their life and wanted in. They seemed to live in a balance of life together and life on mission. This is the very thing we are all about here at DCC. They weren’t doing more and adding more to their plate. Rather, they were living with greater intention in the world they always inhabited.

January 26, 2014: That Which Is Central – Michael Hidalgo

One thing that marks the community in the book of Acts is prayer. They prayed all the time. Constantly. It was one of the few things they devoted themselves to, and something that was central to the Apostolic ministry. It was, for them, it seems as natural as breathing.

 

It was a lifeline to God for the community, and the way they were able to ask for, recognize and receive the power of the spirit. In our lives today we pray when we can, and overall seem somewhat indifferent to prayer. What could life look like for us if this changed?

January 19, 2014: Follow Watch Do Make – Jon Gettings

The word “discipleship” is a buzzword in the church these days. Often we wonder exactly what it means. Perhaps this is the reason so few even “make disciples” anymore. Rather we build the church – as an organization and an institution. At least we know how to do that. Which raises the question, “How would our world be different if we dedicated our time and energy toward making disciples?”

It’s possible that if we did that we would see the church flourish like never before. In fact, that’s what the early believers did, and in a very short time the Church influenced the Roman Empire to the point where it became the dominant religion. Sounds good, doesn’t it? So, let’s then look at what “making disciples” really means and why you can do it.

January 12, 2014: Bread and Wine – Kent Dobson

One of the things the believers devoted themselves to was the “breaking of bread.” How strange. Of all the things they were devoted to … it was Eucharist? Why was this meal so central to the life of that early community? Perhaps because they recognized that in the death and resurrection of Jesus there was a whole new world that came about. One that changed all things – the way they thought, lived, saw the world, etc. It had to be central, because the death of Jesus itself was completely central.

As such this was one of a few things that mattered to them. What would it be like to return to this? We find so many things to say “yes” to and “no” to. We find so many things to disagree on. But what if we took the bread and took the wine. We just might find we can say yes to that.

January 5, 2014: Scattered About – Scott Oppliger

January 5, 2014: Bearing Witness – Michael Hidalgo

Has is ever occurred to you to ask the question why God has chosen, since the dawn of time, to reveal himself to this world through people like you and me? Has it ever occurred to you to consider that God’s greatest revelation was through the person of Jesus – one who was flesh and blood? If it has occurred to you, have you ever stopped to wonder, why?

Perhaps it’s because God has wanted all people to know from the earliest times that he is one who is not an unmoved mover who stands at a distance. But one who is close. One who is here. We just finished Christmas – celebrating the time of God being here. Immanuel. This is what God has always wanted us to know. He has chosen to use a us, his body, to show the world that he is near.

December 29, 2013: Life In the In Between – Landon Lynch

December 22, 2013: Advent Week Four: Love – Michael Hidalgo

The 13^th Century mystic Marguerite Porete once wrote, “’I am God,’ says Love.” For God is love. And this is exactly what we see displayed in the person and birth of Jesus. A God who is love. How do we know? Because of what this God has done, is doing and will do for us. Which means that love is not just a noun. It is a verb. Love is something that we do as much as it is the essence of a loving God.

The love spoken of in the Scriptures is a practice, a way of living toward others, that one chooses. We see this when we understand that we are commanded to “love their neighbor” and it is always in the context of vengeance, grudges, and division. Not a very romantic setting in which to speak of love. But it does bear the reality of it. We choose to love. And love is not a disposition as much as it is a practice, a way one chooses to live toward another.

December 15, 2013: Advent Week Three: Joy – Michael Hidalgo

In the songs of Zechariah, Mary and the angels there words like “glorify” and “praise” and “glory” are all used to express the sheer joy at seeing the coming of Jesus.  They expressed joy (which is the Greek word chairo) because they had joy (which is the Greek word chara) because God showed them grace (which is the Greek word charis) in sending his son Jesus to be with us. 

And this is the basis of joy – grace. All from the same root. Grace, it is said, “is that which delights” or “that which causes joy” … grace herself is a “joyous being.” And so we come, to a baby in a manger, the Savior of the world. A symbol of grace, which brings us joy.

December 8, 2013: Advent Week Two: Peace – Dave Neuhausel

Peace is far more than the absence of conflict. It speaks to being whole. It speaks toward things being put together the way they were always supposed to be. This is the essence of peace, of shalom. But is this even possible? How many of us feel frayed, worn out, broken? 

Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. The one who would come to not only eradicate conflict, but to bring the wholeness back to this earth and to the hearts of those on whom his favor rests.