Denver Community Church

November 30, 2008: (Dis)grace – Michael Hidalgo

Elizabeth had it all. The Bible speaks about the kind of people her and Zechariah are. She is blameless, the daughter of a priest, and married to a priest. However, she is dealing with the worst thing imaginable – she is barren. In her day this was grounds for divorce. It was a serious matter and many would have presumed that she was up to something – and being punished for it. Elizabeth reflects a different understanding.

She praises God for removing her disgrace from among the people. Her words speak toward how others thought of her, but not how she viewed herself. 

November 23, 2008: I Just Threw Up in My Mouth – Brian Gray

Why do the rich need a dinner invite? Laodicea was a wealthy city, but all that they have is trash in the eyes of God. His desire is for them to see the futility of what they have attempted to build. This church is in need of healing, and the God of healing and second chances is there. He is ready to come in and have a meal with them. Imagine that, the God of the Universe will sit and identify with you, not in your wealth, but in your poverty! As we transition out of this series, let’s help our people understand that we are poor, and our only wealth is in the Kingdom.

November 16, 2008: Keys to the Kingdom – Michael Hidalgo

Philadelphia was the furthest east of the seven cities that were written to. It was a missionary city built for the express purpose of furthering Greek life and thought. If one lived in Philadelphia, they held Greek thought higher than anything else. They were to go and make disciples.

God gives the Church a new imperative. Go and make disciples for me. He is opening a door for them to go through. They are no longer to be missionaries for Caesar but for God himself.

November 9, 2008: Wake Up Dead Man – Jon Gettings

There was a legend of sorts in Sardis that people could be raised from the dead from the hot springs that came out of the acropolis. The letter says, “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” This is followed with the imperative, “Wake Up!” Sardis was a city of people who seemed to have fallen asleep. They were confident in who they had been, like the early dwellers of this city who were confident in their stronghold. Following Jesus is a life long pursuit. Let’s wake up and continue to strengthen what he has given us.

November 2, 2008: Put Down the Picket Sign – Michael Hidalgo

How do we welcome evil people, and yet have a healthy level of intolerance? How do we stand up and speak with humility into injustice, sexual immorality, infidelity, and greed while showing the love of Jesus in all we do? Often the Church gripes about not having its rights, and protesting this or that. Is that it? Should we protest, or engage those who we are protesting against so that we might be a part of leading them toward full life?

October 26, 2008: The Place Where Satan Lives – Michael Hidalgo

The first Provincial Temple to the Imperial Cult was built in Pergamum. It was considered a place of authority and power. It was a place that was devoted to the worship of powerful gods and the Emperors. John uses the illusion of a double edged sword (The Bible) as that which is more powerful than the great kingdoms of this world. (The sword was also an expression of high authority in the Roman mind.) The very words of God himself are more powerful than the temples, culture and even the kings of empires. John exhorts the Church to return to the Text to find the manna of God.

October 19, 2008: This Is Gonna Hurt – Michael Hidalgo

Smyrna represented perhaps more than any other city the clash of the two kingdoms. The Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of Rome. Smyrna was considered and ancient ally of Rome, and was fiercely loyal to the Empire. When the Church started here those loyal to the Empire threatened them. They were beaten, tortured, imprisoned, and killed. Yet through all of this they refused to bow their knees to Caesar, because he was not the King of Kings. 

October 12, 2008: Take Me Back to the Start – Michael Hidalgo

It is so interesting to note that if we took the first part of the letter to Ephesus we would think so highly of them. They look so good, and do so many things well. Yet they have forsaken their first love. In this letter God calls them back to where they started. A compassionate God, not an angry God, says to his Church ‘return to me my love’. Jesus always stands as one who invites his people back - repentance is a return to love, wholeness, and balance. 

October 5, 2008: Our Practices, Part Five: Worship – Chris Stocker

We will discuss why worship is simply a celebration of what God is doing in our midst.

September 28, 2008: Our Practices, Part Four: Journey – Paul Bratsch

It’s said that when someone is facing death their conversations reveal their deepest passions, hopes, and dreams.  That’s why we go out of our way to honor dying wishes.  In this passage, Jesus, in his final hours, gives us clues to his greatest concerns.

Jesus’ prayer is that his followers would be one as he and the Father are one.  If we can accomplish this, Jesus claims that the world will know that he was truly God.  There is something about believers living in community that carries with it the footprint, the essence, of God—and people will not be able to deny it.