Denver Community Church

October 3, 2010: Caring For Your Own Soul – Michael Hidalgo

There is a temptation to be all things to all people. But ultimately our biggest concern must be our own spiritual and emotional health. This means sometimes saying “no.” This means going places where people cannot find you.

Jesus wakes up before his disciples, apparently does not tell them where he is going, and spends time in solitude. His disciples want him to do what the masses are demanding, yet Jesus seems to remain calm and not too wrapped up in people’s opinions. Which leads us to a question, “How many people did Jesus disappoint?” For all the people Jesus healed, were there parents who were upset because Jesus didn’t heal their kids?

September 26, 2010: Take Two of These and Call Me in the Morning – Dave Neuhausel

The group Christian Aid has a slogan that states: “We believe in life before death.” In these verses, Mark is still introducing the person of Jesus. Who he is and more importantly what he does. Jesus, it seems is a healer. Jesus, it seems came not only to save souls, but humans as wholes. In light of this we begin to see his holistic mission.

September 19, 2010: When Church Gets Crazy – Michael Hidalgo

When we speak about Jesus healing a person who is demon possessed – this is more than a simple healing – it is a clash of kingdoms. When Jesus engages in this kind of healing it is a picture of the end of all things. The spirit within the man begins by acknowledging who Jesus is. This is interesting because the religious in their midst miss it completely. Jesus then show his absolute authority over the spirit by commanding him to come out and to be silent – both commands are immediately followed. This action then raises the question of authority.

The authority that they speak of can commonly be misconstrued as power or enforcement. One who is able to force his or her will on another. However, as we come to see in Jesus, authority, connotes responsibility. What would life be like if those in a position of authority recognized not simply power – but the responsibility that comes with it?

September 12, 2010: Drop Outs – Michael Hidalgo

What was it about the call of Jesus that the disciples would simply pick up and leave everything? What would it take for you to leave home and walk around a dry dusty land with an itinerant Rabbi? It is interesting to note that the disciples are plying their trade. Some suggest this means they had completed their education, been tested, and had not “made the cut” with other rabbis. In other words – they were “good kids” but not the cream of the crop. 

Yet Jesus calls them. One of two rabbis in recorded history who called his disciples, instead of allowing disciples ask to follow him. This is the pattern we see throughout Scripture – God calling the underdog, the least, the lowly (Israel, Gideon, Mary) – and using them to accomplish his world.

September 5, 2010: The Seer Seeing What's Seen – Michael Hidalgo

Dallas Willard said that often Christian may just be flying the plane upside down. If this is the case then left is right and up is down. So how do we fly the plan upright and see the world as Jesus sees it? More than anything else, Jesus spoke about his kingdom. He told stories saying, “The Kingdom of heaven is like …” He proclaimed the good news saying, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In other words, “The Kingdom of Heaven is present … it is here.”

If this is the case, then why is it that we have heard so little preached about the kingdom in recent years? Perhaps we have forgotten what Jesus said, or maybe we have made our faith about something other that what he spoke of. 

The Kingdom is the place where God’s rule or reign is present. This is why Jesus said the “Kingdom of heaven is within you …” We are the bearers of this Kingdom when we live under his reign and his rule. So the question begs, “Are we living this way?”

August 29, 2010: Into the Wild – Michael Hidalgo

The Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness. Not only that, but then at the end of this ordeal Jesus is directly tempted by Satan, not once, but three times. It is interesting that many times our journey to God is an attempt to control God – and even control our world. But the reality is that control is mostly a false reality. How can any of us really believe that we have our world all worked out?

C.S. Lewis when speaking of God said, “He is wild you know.” And this is the journey we see Jesus on. A journey into the wild … into the unknown. Like any great mythic hero or epic we see Jesus journeying into the wild – classic man vs. nature. How would our spiritual journeys change if we began to journey into the wildness of God – to discover a God who cannot be controlled – a God who is endless love?

August 22, 2010: Getting Dunked – Michael Hidalgo

The first character we meet in Mark’s Gospel is a strange fellow. John the Baptizer. He is preaching about repentance and the forgiveness of sins. He is dunking them in the waters of baptism. Ultimately he is preparing the way for someone much greater than himself. 

 

Before we get too far … we need to ask, “What are people ultimately repenting of?” “What have they done that is so bad that they need forgiveness?” “Is this personal or private?” It seems that there is some sort of conversion happening in the land of Israel. People are moving from one way of life into another way of living. 

August 8, 2010: The Incompatible Kingdom – Michael Hidalgo

If you were a Roman citizen, you would not have wanted to be caught with this book. Just the opening words demand that we pay homage to Jesus. Moreover, pay homage to Jesus alone, and no one else. Because this is what the kingdom asks of us. It begs allegiance – which by nature is exclusive. 

The kingdom is unlike any kingdom, nation, or empire of this world. Jesus himself said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” God has allowed humankind to establish structures, construct democracies, monarchies, and all sorts of structures … but the kingdom remains separate and cannot be co-opted by any one group of people.

August 1, 2010: A New Beginning – Michael Hidalgo

Mark begins his gospel by using the words “beginning,” “gospel,” and “Christ.” This is already bound to be a best seller. Mark uses words to the Romans that any would have been familiar with, but in a Roman context – words that were all used of Caesar. 

But Mark is telling a different story. So we ask, Just what is this good news? Is Christ more than a surname for Jesus? And why is this the beginning? What did Jesus come to start? The Church? Or was he just reforming Judaism? 

We will explore these questions and more as we dive into the deep end right away. Our goal in this initial teaching will be to understand just what Jesus was up to, and what his movement was about. Ultimately asking, “What was the good news about and how do we hear it, speak it, and live it today?”

The good news of Jesus was about the radical availability of his kingdom to all people. Anyone can enter his kingdom. This was not a place that was reserved for the best, brightest, and the most talented. The good news was present in Jesus himself – who lived out the kingdom ethos and ideal in everything he did. 

He came to the poor, the oppressed, and the “sick” … in him we see that the Kingdom is for everyone. We also see that the invitation into the kingdom is to be a part of something, which means both receiving and giving. Because in the kingdom we both find healing and extend healing. We both find hope and give hope. We both discover freedom and proclaim freedom. 

July 25, 2010: It's Still Moving – Michael Hidalgo

So many people have recently said, “I want to be an Acts 2.42 type of group.” But few speak about what caused the group to be what they were in those verses. To understand this, we should look back to the verses that come before in – verses 1-41. The story is amazing. A bunch of people are gathered together – really just doing what they have always done – and suddenly the Spirit comes on them. 

The church is a movement of people who are striving to do the will of God in our world. Yet, this movement begins with a movement of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit moves amazing things happen; things beyond their control. The result? 3,000 added to their number. If we attempt Acts 2.42-47 without the first 41 verses – we will in the end be doing everything in our own power. That is a good way to die.