Denver Community Church

September 8, 2013: Wind and Water – Michael Hidalgo

Jesus promised his disciples they would be baptized in the Spirit – comparing it directly to John’s baptism with water. John’s baptism was a tradition of inauguration. For those who participated in John’s baptism, it was a symbol of their repentance and readiness for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus evokes this language to speak of what will happen to his disciples, and to all people. We will be immersed in the Spirit so that we can participate together with all believers in the new covenant that God has made with humanity. For John, it was a symbol of what was to come. Jesus speaks of the new reality that will come from the Spirit of the Living God.

September 1, 2013: All Things New – Jon Gettings

The Spirit of God is as close as our next breath, because he is the one who gives us our life and our breath and everything else. So we breathe and have life, and when we stop breathing we have death. Which means for us there is a continual process of renewal within us. With each new breath we experience the life of God.

But what’s really fascinating is that to breathe in, we need to breathe out. And the stuff we breathe out is poisonous to us. It would kill us to only breathe the air we are breathing out. Which raises the question, “What do we need to breathe out?” What are the things in our life we need to get rid of to open up space for the breath of God? The breath that gives life.

August 25, 2013: Life, Wind, Breath – Michael Hidalgo

The Spirit of God is first seen in the biblical narrative as one who hovers over the waters – the chaos. It is this spirit of God that gives life through the breath of God to all living creatures. He is the wind, the life, the breath, the Spirit of God. So how do we understand the Holy Spirit? Who is he and why is he important? If he is so important then why have we heard so little about him.

As an introduction to spending some time learning about the Spirit of God we will begin at the beginning. We will contemplate the Spirit’s presence from chaos into creation – the one who gives life and how that same Spirit is here today.

August 11, 2013: The Facts About a Story – Michael Hidalgo

August 4, 2013: Lord's Prayer; Thy Kingdom Come – Fran Blomberg

July 28, 2013: Lord's Prayer; Right In Front of You – Doug Paul

July 21, 2013: Lord's Prayer; Hearing God's Voice – Margaret Feinberg

July 14, 2013: Lord's Prayer; Our Father – Brian Gray

July 7, 2013: Lord's Prayer; Our Daily Bread – Ryan Taylor

June 30, 2013: Study – Michael Hidalgo

“I just want to hear what the Bible says.” This is fairly common refrain from people who have spent many years in the Church when speaking about the teachers and preachers who are part of the community. But, who dictates what the “Bible says.” 

 

A particular tradition? A person? Anyone? Our experiences? And what we do then with who understand the text differently than us, but still love Jesus? And what about those who leave out massive parts of Scripture and therefore reach different conclusions? Can anyone really study the Bible with any certainty?

Study, in an of itself is good and necessary. But we also must remember that the Bible is a vehicle through which the Holy Spirit speaks. And the Spirit of God is like the wind. It blows where it pleases. God’s Spirit is also breath – it gives life. And this word is living and active. Which means we can’t always make it say what we want, but we can be confident that the Scripture will give life.