Denver Community Church

December 9, 2007: Threat To An Empire (2 of 4) – Michael Hidalgo

The promise of Augustus was that he would make all war cease, and create order everywhere. This was Pax Romana. To ensure this kind of world he instituted harsh punishments for those who did not follow his program. Torture, imprisonment, and death were all part of his program. One instrument in particular was of special value for his program … the cross. He used the cross to bring the peace of Rome. It is interesting to note that Jesus promised peace, and he used a specific instrument to bring peace as well … the cross. The difference is that Jesus hung on Augustus’ cross … yet it was in his death that true peace came. 

December 2, 2007: You Are Not the Guy (1 of 4) – Michael Hidalgo

Herod the Great knew his history. Perhaps this is why he tried to change it all by calling himself the King of the Jews. So imagine how he would have felt when a few Magi from the East come and ask, “Where is he that was born king of the Jews?” Herod’s paranoia, which had to this point led him to murder many, decides it is time to ensure that he alone is King. However, this would never be for Herod was an Edomite and Jesus was an Israelite. Herod could not undo the words that Balaam was forced to utter in Numbers 24. The Star of Jacob would defeat the Edomites, and Jesus would rightfully be called the King of the Jews. 

November 25, 2007: Yes, No and Definitely Maybe – Michael Hidalgo

In the days of Jesus taking an oath became a very artful practice that if performed correctly allowed the person taking the oath to be freed from any obligation the oath itself demanded. Sound confusing? Well, so were the oaths. Jesus saw through this. His command of “Yes” and “No” simply got to the root of telling the truth. Being a person of integrity without all the legal fireworks that had come to mean nothing. Jesus, who is the truth, expects his followers to reflect that same truth. If you say it - do it. 

November 18, 2007: Something Bigger – Michael Hidalgo

So what exactly is marriage, and why was Jesus so intent on protecting it? Paul speak about marriage as a picture of the mystery of God’s love for us. There is something in the physical union of two people that is intensely spiritual. This kind of relationship cannot be treated lightly and thrown around. Jesus sees the way divorce had become in his world - which resulted in the abuse and neglect and woman - and tightens the loose boundaries. His view of marriage reclaimed the original intent - that two would become one. 

November 11, 2007: Bedroom of Your Heart – Rico Figueroa

November 4, 2007: Making It Right – Michael Hidalgo

Reconciliation sucks. Let’s just be honest at some point you have to admit you are wrong. Jesus sees this as an essential part of living. The downside of this is that it flies in the face of everything humans are. There are two types of people, those who want to be right and those who do not want to be wrong. Put together the battles can get fierce. The reality is without reconciliation things always escalate and get worse and worse. Jesus points toward people who are willing to reconcile at any cost. How do we live as a people willing to not always resolve everything but reconcile always. We must begin by remembering what comes first … peace before worship. Jesus exemplifies this on the cross. He brought reconciliation through his death. 

October 28, 2007: That's an Ugly Vase – Michael Hidalgo

Jesus tells us that simply being angry with your sister or brother is like murdering them. This makes sense because rarely do we become angry with someone without calling them names and thinking all sorts of evil things against them. It is so much easier to belittle them to make ourselves feel better about who we are. When we place on those people anything that is not from God we then stand in judgment over them removing from them their identity as people made in the image of God. 

October 21, 2007: Better Than the Best – Michael Hidalgo

To be more righteous than the most righteous seems impossible to us, and even to people in Jesus’ day it seemed impossible. However, when we begin to understand what God requires us to do our possibilities are endless. We have more opportunities to do than not to do. When we define ourselves about what we are against we are not compelling. Jesus wants a group of people who will do things for him. When he talks fulfilling and abolishing it is more than legalistic observance of the Law … it is understanding it correctly. We are a group of people called to do something. For in our doing, we become more than those who simply don’t do something.

October 14, 2007: More Than Counter Culture – Michael Hidalgo and Paul Bratsch

Jesus tells his people that they are both salt and light. These are two vastly contradictory ideas. One was something that was always mixed in as a part of a greater whole, and the other was something that stood out like, well light in the darkness. Jesus seems to be contrasting the two ways we are to live. Both seem contradictory, yet Jesus tells us to be mixed in with others to be a light to them. How can we be light where there is only light? How can we be salt where there is only salt? Where are we supposed to be spending our time … and what should we do once we are there? Jesus points toward being mixed in with the crap of the world and in the midst of the darkness.

October 13, 2007: Ministry Team Retreat (Part 3)