Denver Community Church

July 18, 2010: Christ In Me – Andrew Arndt

July 11, 2010: Who Said Anything About Money? – Dave Neuhausel

What do you have that you are willing to sell? What do you have that truly belongs to everyone and anyone who wants it or needs it? The truth is, not too many of us want everyone to have claim to our stuff. It is difficult sharing and giving … at least when we focus on our stuff or our account balance. 

But what if giving had nothing to do with how much we had, but more to do with our heart? What if we were willing to give anything and everything – because our hearts looked more like the heart of Jesus?

July 4, 2010: Just Say It – Karla Crabb

The best stories are the ones where someone had a need and another person was used to meet that need. It gives hope, especially for those in need.  This is the continual story that we read about in 42-47. There is however, one essential piece in this story that we often overlook.

That is this: For a need to be met it has to be known. So often people have complained about not having their needs met, yet when asked several have spoken about never naming their needs. Perhaps this comes from not wanting to be a person who has needs … but what kind of person is that? We need to possess the humility to share our needs – emotional, spiritual, and physical – with those we journey with. 

June 27, 2010: Covenant Renewal – Dave Neuhausel

The picture painted for us in these verses is compelling to say the least. A group of people who love one another and are generous with one another. Initially one may think this is a very self-serving endeavor. People hanging out with each other, breaking bread, and caring for each other. This could easily turn inward – this group could exists ignorant of those on the “outside.”

But this is not what happens. In the midst of their fellowship, many people are added to their number. They obviously were not looking inward. Something was happening that was connecting to all people. It is the fellowship of believers that seems to connect with those from the "outside." A life lived together may just be the gospel ...

June 20, 2010: Remember My Chains – Michael Hidalgo

Paul is an old man who is sitting in prison because of his  dedication to the gospel. There is no sign that he is getting out any time soon. So his final instruction is simple, “Remember my chains.” In other words, “Don’t let everything I have passed on to you be in vain.”

Do we remember Paul’s chains? Are we willing to live as an alternative community?

June 13, 2010: It Takes Everyone – Michael Hidalgo

It is amazing to me that we are always talking about Paul. Do you see the cast of characters that he lists, thanking them for what they have done. Unreal. These are people who are working for the same God and the same end as Paul. If they were not there, we may safely assume that Paul would not have been either. If the Kingdom was about one person (outside of Christ) there would be no kingdom. Likewise if DCC was any one person … there would be not DCC. 

June 6, 2010: Speaking at Last – Michael Hidalgo

Paul has gone through the entire letter telling the people in the Colossian Church how to live. In our world today, if faced with philosophical arguments, like the ones facing the Colossian believers, I suspect we would want to know how to respond … verbally. We often frame things in a very logical way … and attempt to assemble our words, thoughts, and evidence in a convincing way. However, all this does in the end is win and argument, rarely does it change minds.

Paul’s admonition is to be wise, redeem time, be full of grace, to allow the words to taste good … so that the Colossian believers would “know how to answer everyone.” It seems that they were to speak when they were asked. Some believe the assumption was that they were living such different lives that people would start asking. Their life was to speak … their word were to explain it. Perhaps this is why Paul says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders …” first – because the way we act speaks louder than anything.

May 30, 2010: Always Aware All the Time – Michael Hidalgo

Most of our days are spent trying to accomplish a series of tasks. Often we just try to survive the day. Paul’s instruction challenges that. He speaks about a constant state of living. Being watchful … making the most of every opportunity. We are to live aware of our surroundings. We are to wake up to the world around us. 

What would it be like if we lived with greater awareness of God in our midst? What would it be like if we saw every encounter with another person as a divine appointment? I imagine that we would dwell more fully in grace, which, in the end, is what our speech is to be full of.

May 23, 2010: The Servant Master – Dave Neuhausel

So masters it seems are slaves to. After all Paul does speak about their “Master in Heaven.” He also calls them to a higher standard. Telling them to “provide what is right and fair …” Is Paul telling the masters to pay his people, or at the very least give them a good living – maybe pay “room and board?”

If Paul gives this instruction to masters, in reflection of their Master in Heaven, what does this tell us about God and his loving-kindness? What can we learn about his provision for us?

May 16, 2010: Slaves of All – Michael Hidalgo and Steve Cohen

Today, slavery is wrong. There are few who would say differently. Yet Paul does not come right out and say that slavery is wrong. A few things to keep in mind (not that any of these things make slavery right). First, slavery in the Roman world was much different than slavery as we have seen in American history from our founding right up until today. Second, some of these slaves worked for Christian owners. So what do we make of this?

 

We will spend time looking at abolitionist theology and the perspective of those who were slaves. With slavery being a large human rights issue today, what can we do and how should we think about this so as to make a difference?