Denver Community Church

January 30, 2011: Ripped Apart, Riddled with Death, and Bursting Forth with Life – Michael Hidalgo

Jesus tells a story about a sower throwing seed down. The sower seems indiscriminate in how he spreads the seed. He simply throws it everywhere. But it only grows up in one place. The seed only takes root in fertile soil. 

Any good gardener knows that good soil contains a lot of death and is tilled up, ready for planting. Fertile soil is not something that just happens, but something that takes a lot of work. Perhaps this is the secret of the Kingdom that Jesus speaks of. It is only through death, tilling, and ripping apart that we ever get to the place where we are fertile and ready for the word.

January 23, 2011: An Interesting Family Tree – Michael Hidalgo

Jesus’ family thinks he is crazy. They come to get him and take him away, presumably for a time of rest. This would not be something far outside the norm. Family was the central social unit in Jesus’ day … which is what makes his assertion all the more amazing. 

His reply to his mother’s and brothers’ concern was, “Who are they?” He then responds to his own question by saying, “All of you are my family.” This was a foundation shifting statement to make. Jesus is asserting that there is a commitment higher than that of family, namely the Kingdom of Heaven. 

January 16, 2011: Bindin' and Stealin' – Michael Hidalgo

Jesus presents the religious with a new vision of who he was and what he was going to do in their midst. He uses violent language – break-in, tie up, plunder. All illegal activities. Yet this is the metaphor, the parable Jesus uses. Jesus is digging into his opponents with this language. He is not simply disagreeing … he is pointing out that they are complicit in the Kingdom that will fall … along with its “house” (a seeming reference to the temple).

It was believed that when Israel lost its independence that God relegated the rule of Israel to earthly powers – to the devil and his angels. While it seems that Jesus is speaking philosophically and myth logically, he may also be making a bold statement about the coming destruction of Israel. Jesus, it seems, is going about binding up the strong man, and cleaning house. And what exactly is he “plundering” – Jesus is answering a question posed by the prophet Isaiah in Isa 49: “Can plunder be taken from a warrior …?” God’s reply is a firm “yes.” And the plunder are the captives who are set free.

January 9, 2011: Near. Far. – Michael Hidalgo

There is a massive crowd following Jesus. His popularity and power seem to be at an all time high. Out of these throngs of people, he calls hisHere we have a list of the 12 disciples. At the end of the list is Judas Iscariot. Mark tells us that he is the one who betrayed Jesus. Fair enough. But Mark says this in hindsight, which is always 20/20. What was it like before Judas betrayed Jesus?

 

What was in Judas’ heart, that at some point in his life he would betray Jesus? When Jesus gives power, he gives this to all of them, even Judas. Yet farther down the road Judas seems to be miles away from everyone else. So far in fact that he ends up betraying Jesus, and then hanging himself. 

January 2, 2011: Inside, Outside – Dave Neuhausel

December 26, 2010: Open – Jon Gettings

December 24, 2010: Christmas Eve – Michael Hidalgo

December 12, 2010: God Is Here – Michael Hidalgo

King Ahaz, King of Israel, was in a tight spot. Jerusalem was under siege, and he needed help. Isaiah gives him assurance that God is with him … a child will be born. His name is Immanu El (lit. “With You is God”). We have come to speak of Jesus being Emmanuel – “God with Us.” One might think that Ahaz would take refuge in this sign, this miracle, but he does not. Instead he turns toward Tiglath-Pileser and worships him. 

This story that is often referred to in the infancy narratives during the Christmas season paint an interesting picture. For just as Isaiah points toward a child being born as a sign of God being with us, so it is that Jesus was born as a sign of God being with us. Yet, so often we are like Ahaz. We are the ones who – even though God is in our midst – place our hope and trust in something else. 

December 5, 2010: Stars, the Zodiac, and Astrologers – Michael Hidalgo

“In the beginning God created the heavens …” let’s just stop right there. He created the heavens. Which means the stars, planets, orbital paths, comets, and all sorts of heavenly bodies. But we rarely talk about them. But it has not always been this way. From the foundation of the world, God created these heavenly bodies to act as signs. Signs for what? Well, as signs that point to him … which in one biblical story it seems more than obvious.

The Magi follow a star to Bethlehem. Why did they know this was a star of a king? Was there a history with this particular star? Some believe it is the planet Jupiter that “rose in the east” … if this is the case, then it makes sense. For Jupiter was the god who gave kings their throne. If a star rose and came to rest in Bethlehem and it was the star of the god who gave kings their throne … then this would have been the star of the King of the Jews.

November 28, 2010: The Gospel of Striking and Crushing – Dave Neuhausel

It all begins in the garden - it’s in this scene in the first few chapters of the bible that the reality of all humanity is established.  This seemingly insignificant verse is our first hint that this creator/God is in fact committed to our thriving as much as he is justice in the garden.  Scholars have often called this passage the “proto-evangel” or “first gospel” because it points to the primary work of what Jesus’ life and ministry would one day be all about, namely, goodnews!  There is a sense that from the moment sin entered the world, so did God’s commitment to redeem humanity from their poor choices.  God is so committed to our life over our death that he will even use our journey, our experience and even our sin and failings to transform us.  If that is not good news I don’t know what is…