Judas is known for one thing: betrayal. He’s an awful character in the Gospels; one who was Satan incarnate. While we assume we know his motives for betraying Jesus, perhaps we can take a step back from our assumptions. Did Judas really want Jesus dead? Or did he just miss Jesus’ message, which led him to do the unthinkable?= Some recognize that Ju…

There is something about religion that tempts us to appear good, right, attractive, and “holy” in our own way. This is often the result of submitting ourselves to outward performance and putting on a show for others. This is what Jesus points out about the “religious” in his day. As soon as the words leave his lips, an illustration happens right in…

Spiritual Formation Pastor Hannah Thom leads us through an exploration of Luke 21:5-38. Thank you for joining us today! If you feel led to give to DCC, you can do so here: https://pushpay.com/g/denverchurch?src=hppAutor: Denver Community Church

Imagine telling and retelling a story that you knew nothing about. This is more than talking about the good ‘ol days. This is telling a story about a legendary king named David. Yet as you talked about him you felt the breath of the Romans over your shoulder. At the same time, you had to tell these stories, because you knew that one day a son of Da…

Advent promises Immanuel. God with us. Which means we never really wait at all. We only need to pay attention. How will our perspective change if we recognize the promise of Advent is a reminder that God has been with us all along? Thank you for joining us today! If you feel led to give to DCC, you can do so here: https://pushpay.com/g/denverchurch…

Months before Jesus was born, John was born to Zechariah and Elizabeth. It was then that Zechariah broke into a song, extolling the God who remembers. They had not only been waiting for the birth of a child, but like all those in their day, had been waiting for God to deliver them from their oppressors. And there may be a little play on words here …

God is not slow in keeping his promise, claims Peter. Of course, we can comment that God’s conception of time and ours are two vastly different things. True. But Peter points toward God’s heart and desire for us. That we would be those who change our minds (repent) and turn toward God. It seems that in some way, God is on the move, God is respondin…

There is a lot said in the Hebrew Scriptures about waiting on God. The word is qava and it expresses anticipation, hope, expectancy. And that this exactly what the season of Advent is about. It is a time when we wait expectantly, where in the midst of everything, we muster the courage and conviction to say, “Even so, come Lord Jesus.” Together we w…

There is a lot said in the Hebrew Scriptures about waiting on God. The word is qava and it expresses anticipation, hope, expectancy. And that this exactly what the season of Advent is about. It is a time when we wait expectantly, where in the midst of everything, we muster the courage and conviction to say, “Even so, come Lord Jesus.” Together we w…

This is one of the more ridiculous things you can think of, the Sadducees imagine they have invented the ultimate hypothetical situation. It’s based on the Levirate law found in Deuteronomy 25. It served both economic and spiritual purposes. Either way, if this did happen then who is married to the widow in the life to come? Jesus’ reply has severa…

What is a “Jesus” response to rulers in our world? Especially governments we disagree with? How do we live an integrated life with dedication to the Kingdom? For so long tradition has taught that this passage suggests to us a “split” way of looking at life. It has been commonly understood to refer to politics and religion as two separate spheres. T…

Thank you for joining us today! If you feel led to give to DCC, you can do so here: https://pushpay.com/g/denverchurch?src=hppAutor: Denver Community Church

In this week’s teaching with Jonathan Merritt, we explore John 2:1-11. Thank you for joining us today! If you feel led to give to DCC, you can do so here: https://pushpay.com/g/denverchurch?src=hppAutor: Denver Community Church

Just like the many who welcomed Jesus as King, so we welcome Jesus into our world, often forgetting he wants to welcome us into his. When will we give up on our way of doing things and remember, we cling to the hope that it has all been done! “Behold, I make all things new …” This is the promise that we cling to, uttered from the mouth of God. The …

Jesus goes wild in the temple. But given its sheer size, this was likely nothing more than a small skirmish off the side of the larger area. One that many barely noticed. And when he was done with his outburst, those buying and selling and exchanging money likely righted their booths and tables and kept on doing their thing. What can get lost in al…

No one knows the future. We pretend as though we do: we make plans, schedule things in the distant future and spend time before we are ever granted it. This may be because the greatest terror for humans is not having a future. Perhaps this is why Jesus told his followers not to worry about the times and dates that God has set in place for us. This …

Something has ended … a plan, a strategy, a road map, a story, but what has been birthed is not yet clear. This is liminal space. It is the moment when we have not fully crossed the threshold into the new world, but stand over it with one foot in the world that has ended and the other foot in the world that is to come. Perhaps the best we can do is…

Anytime the end of something arrives there is a sense that’s things are over as we knew them. And while they may be true, the end of something also signals something new is on the horizon. Which is to say, anytime we face an ending or the end of something, that means it’s the first step toward something new being born. Thank you for joining us toda…

Jesus tells a parable about a master giving money to his servants. Too often we approach this from our modern, capitalistic, Western viewpoint. But the hint that this is not about money is found on the lips of the master when he returns … he praises his servants for being “faithful” not successful. These are two wildly different things and it would…

The famous children’s song betrays the scandal behind the story of Zacchaeus. He was not just a “wee little man …” He was a corrupt businessman working on behalf of the Roman Empire. He exploited the poor, and furthered the oppression of Rome. And then Jesus, a “friend of sinners” and a “companion to the poor” wants to hang with him? Imagine what t…

In this teaching, Lead Pastor Michael Hidalgo considers how Luke plays with the idea of sight- what it means to see Jesus for who he is, and how Jesus seeks to bring healing to everyone. In a moment of almost comic relief, Luke tells a story in which a blind fellow knows who Jesus is. He cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Several p…

The disciples still seem so dull. Jesus tells them about his impending death and all they can dwell upon is what places of power they will have in the kingdom of heaven. They want to be sure that their name will be remembered. Jesus tells them that it is in his death that he will be exalted. Jesus teaches them that the pursuit of the Kingdom is not…

There is nothing wrong with being rich; it is what can happen to those who acquire wealth that is Jesus’ focus in Luke 18:18-30: that we can become slaves to it. Instead of owning it – it can own us. This is the reminder that God gives to his people in Deuteronomy 8 when he warns them never to think that they have created their wealth, but to remem…

Jesus says that "anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And yet we make our faith journey about maturity, collection of knowledge, mental assent, moving through the stages of faith. We are unable to live our faith with the wonder, awe, and imagination of a child. We are unable to view and approach G…

We live in a culture that has placed “being right” on the top of the list of important things for us. Being right about politics, about religion, about cultural issues … we are so intense about this we can even lose sight of the true conversation at hand. And so we have Jesus speaking to those who are “confident in their own rightness.” He tells th…