Denver Community Church

April 8, 2012: This Can Happen – Michael Hidalgo

April 1, 2012: How It Ends – Michael Hidalgo

The prophet Isaiah speaks about God’s renewal, restoration, and redemption. He tells the people of Israel that they will be “mighty oak trees, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” One thing that many forget is the decimation and destruction that had come to the people of Israel before they were planted for the display of God’s splendor. They were accused of being greedy, corrupt, and oppressive – so God took them out. 

But destruction is not where the story ends. In the midst your biggest mistakes, sins, and regrets we must always remember “that’s not where the story ends.” It ends in restoration, healing, and wholeness, which is the story that we tell of God that display his splendor.

March 25, 2012: The Geography of Grace – Dave Neuhausel

March 18, 2012: Drop the Debt – Michael Hidalgo

Forgiveness, it has been said, is a supernatural endeavor, for it is impossible for humans to do something this difficult in their own strength. Perhaps then we ought to try and understand God’s forgiveness, so that we can ask him to perform the same miracle in our lives. But we don’t do we? We hold on to the hurt, and think about the pain. We become bitter, angry, and resentful as we dwell in the place of unforgiveness.

In the end we are the one’s who end up imprisoned behind the bars of our own hatred. Forgiveness is not letting the person off the hook, but rather giving up demands as to what should happen to that person. It is dropping the debt so that we can walk in a new freedom. 

This is the kind of forgiveness that is available to us, and is the kind of forgiveness we can supernaturally give to others. 

March 11, 2012: The Freedom of What's True – Michael Hidalgo

Confession is simply a statement of what is true about you. That’s it. It is saying, “I lied.” “I cheated.” It is saying, “I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth.” That’s what confession is. So why in the world is it so hard to confess anything? Why is it so hard to talk about what is true about you?

 

Maybe it’s because we really know what’s inside. Maybe it’s because we really know what we think, feel, did, or said – and we can’t talk about it because we don’t want anyone to know. We don’t want anyone to know because of what they might think of us, do to us, or say about us when we are around. And we know what they might think, do or say because we have seen what happens to other people when they confess. They become the object of scorn. 

So we bury it. But the truth is still in there. So we live in captivity to lies. The reality is the truth needs to be stated fully and clearly if we are ever to move forward in our lives and toward deeper intimacy with God and others. If this is the case, then truth (which includes confession) should always be celebrated – even if the truth brings pain.

March 4, 2012: Positive Negativity – Michael Hidalgo

Paul once said that he was “not ashamed of the gospel.” This is simply another way of saying, “I confess …” He can do this because he realizes that there is no shame in the truth because as he says, “Hope does not put to shame.” Paul is telling those who listen – not that “he isn’t embarrassed to share the gospel with other people.” He is stating emphatically that “with the gospel he will not be put to shame.” This is because of the power of the gospel. 

All of this means one thing: for the Christian there is no place for shame. This is why Jesus is never ashamed to call humans his brothers. When God looks at us he is not disappointed, ashamed, embarrassed – he can’t be because he took that shame with him to the cross. 

February 26, 2012: Jon Gettings

What happens when you have hidden shame, guilt, and sin in your life?

February 22, 2012: Ash Wednesday – Michael Hidalgo

February 19, 2012: A Vision for DCC – Michael Hidalgo

There is something about religion that is almost competitive. We all seem to want to appear good, right, attractive, and “holy” in our own way. This is often the result of submitting ourselves to “group think” or accepted collective thinking. This is what Jesus points out about the “religious” in his day. As soon as the words leave his lips, an illustration happens right in front of them. Two offerings: one big but small and one small but big.

Many immediately want to contrast this woman’s faithfulness in giving all she had. And we should, for Jesus points to her faith. But some suggest a dark side to this story given Jesus’ declaration about the religious “devouring widows’ houses.” There is a sense that there is something wrong

February 12, 2012: David's Son – Michael Hidalgo

Imagine telling and retelling a story that you knew nothing about. This is more than talking about the good ‘ol days. This is telling a story about a legendary king named David. Yet as you talked about him you felt the breath of the Romans over your shoulder. At the same time, you had to tell these stories, because you knew that one day a son of David would come, and things would be like they used to be. 

Jesus asks a question as to whether or not the Messiah would in fact be the Son of David. He seems to say no. Not in the sense of one who is descended from David, but more so in the sense that the Messiah would not be like David – a warrior king who was known for being a “man of blood.” Jesus quotes this Psalm pointing out that he in fact is David’s Lord. He is not just different, he is greater.