Ten lepers yell to Jesus. There are all sorts of reasons they are likely “at a distance” most of which are found in the Law and its attending rules to ensure the disease does not spread. This time, Jesus does not seem to draw closer. Rather he gives them a command in keeping with the religious norms of his day, “Go show yourself to the priest …” An…

Jesus speaks in serious tones about sin – both the commission of and forgiveness of – as he should. Both subjects he addresses are serious business. The first is a warning, the second is an admonition. What seems puzzling is how they fit together at all. Maybe this can be discovered in the response of the disciples when they ask Jesus, “Increase ou…

Luke has spent the last couple chapters of his book recounting primarily parables that deal with a specific subject matter from a number of angles. We the hypocrisy of selective compassion under the guise of Sabbath law (14.1-6); a parable about choosing exaltation or humility (14.7-11); another parable about a banquet that the rich miss out on bec…

The topic of divorce is one that has been hotly debated for years. Some say you can, others say you can only if, and still others say “never.” If we look at the words of Jesus he seems to be quite strict. The debate of divorce existed in Jesus’ day too. One side said, “If your wife burns the toast you can divorce her.” The other side said, “Only in…

In 16.1-15, we find one the most bizarre parables out there. A dishonest man is praised by Jesus. What are we to make of it? Some have said this is Jesus’ way of encouraging his disciples to act and behave in an unethical manner. But this would obviously go against everything else Jesus taught. Perhaps if we understand two perspectives in the parab…

The stories in Luke 15.1-32 are about the joy that comes with something that was lost being found. And the joy lies in the heart of the one who found it; the shepherd finding his sheep, the woman finding her home, and the father embracing his son. What was lost has been found, let’s celebrate. This points toward something that all of us should hold…

Lead Pastor Michael Hidalgo reads a heartfelt letter to the people of Denver Community Church, announcing his transition off of staff over the next 13 months. To view more information about our 13-month succession planning process, click here.Af Denver Community Church

Meals were far more than simple “get-togethers” in Jesus’ day. They meant connection, identification and even went as far as meaning approval of the other. It is at a meal with some religious folks that Jesus tells a stunning parable about the inclusiveness of God’s heart. And what other story to tell at a meal than a story about a meal? Jesus’ sto…

In this teaching, we discuss our insatiable desire for more in contrast with Jesus’ exhortation to pursue less. There is a subtle image Luke deals here about this man who is suffering, whose particular illness was associated with craving and desire. When he is healed, Jesus then speaks about the craving for status and prestige that exists among tho…

The Pharisees, often seen as opponents of Jesus give him a warning about a mutual enemy, Herod Anitpas. He apparently wants Jesus dead. Jesus’ reply is not one of flattery, referring to him as a fox. In rabbinic literature, the fox was a contrast to the mighty lion, connected to deception and preying on the “chicks” to which Jesus refers. Jesus sta…

When we first encounter the wounds of Jesus, it is horrific. He is crucified. Nails are hammered through his flesh, tearing fibers as they are forced through his hands and feet. This, of course, to hold him in place as he hangs on the cross spiraling toward death. After he breathes his last, a soldier approaches him and thrusts a spear into his sid…

Jesus is paraded through the streets to Golgatha. Once there, he is nailed to the execution stake where passersby hurl insults at him and mock him. Crucifixion was not just the most horrific forms of execution ever created, it was designed to be humiliating as well; this is why crucifixions were such public affairs. For those who wanted Jesus dead …

Mark tells of the abuse Jesus suffered at the hands of soldiers after being flogged and dragged into the Praetorium. While the scene makes the reader wince at the sheer brutality of it all, there is also something else just below the surface: the way Mark frames the story of what happens to Jesus from the purple robe, to the crown and the homage is…

In a cultural moment where all that we had long placed our trust in seems to be eroding, we ask the question Pilate asked, “What is truth?” John details a conversation between Pilate and Jesus amidst the swirling accusations against Jesus. To get away from the crowd Pilate summons Jesus inside the palace and asks him questions in a seeming attempt …

So many of us believe we have done something God could never forgive. We’ve gone too far. We’ve done too much. We’ve made too many mistakes. But if it is not true of Jesus it is not true of God. What we learn from the life of Peter is no one is beyond the forgiveness of God. Jesus tells his disciples they will all fall away, but Peter insists he is…

In Matthew 26, Jesus is tried before the Sanhedrin and before the Temple authorities. This is more than a passing detail; if the racket they were running was to remain, they had to get rid of this rebel named Jesus. This is what Mark tells us the people at the house of Caiaphas wanted to do: he tells the reader that there was nothing in this trial …

It was night, there were torches, a dispatch of soldiers, swords, groggy disciples and a kiss of betrayal. What a painful moment for Jesus. He knew where this was all going. In the midst of the scene of Jesus being arrested, a disciple grabs a sword and cuts off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Why this? Well, apparently it was a repeat o…

Jesus uses the metaphor of the narrow door as the way to life. While this may seem as though it makes things more difficult and demands more of us, it’s possible there is another way of seeing this. If one is to make it through a narrow door, it suggests we cannot carry much through it at all. We will need to lay things down and let other things go…

The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds – yet the mustard plant is the wildest of all plants. One cannot control the mustard plant, no matter how hard they try, and once it is planted and has grown the area in which it was planted can never be cleared of the plants as they will grow again and again. Jesus uses an example that defies the logic…

This week, we consider how unhealthy religion adds burdens to people- it can be something that binds people up in an oppressive way rather than liberating them. The Torah seems clear regarding work on Sabbath. So when Jesus heals a woman who has been oppressed by diseases for 18 years, we should not be surprised the legalistic religious types in th…

In Luke 13.1-9, Pontius Pilate had just done the unthinkable. Apparently, his soldiers attacked worshippers in the temple while they performed their sacred rituals. One might expect heartfelt compassion from Jesus, but he doesn’t respond that way at all; rather he gives a warning of sorts. One that might lead the listener to think that maybe God wa…

Reconciliation is so difficult; at some point you have to admit you are wrong and work toward forgiving the person who did you wrong. For as difficult as this is, Jesus sees this as an essential part of living. The downside of this is that it can fly in the face of what we might want or even demand. It challenges all of us, whether we are those who…

According to Luke 12:49-56, when one chooses to take a stand- to go in a direction, make a decision- division will often follow. This is true even of Jesus and the direction he takes.Af Denver Community Church

Shortly after mentioning God’s presence, both Genesis 1 and John 1 speak of darkness. It is in the darkness where we find the Spirit, wind, breath of God fluttering over it like a mother bird watching intently to ensure her chicks don’t fall out of the nest or hit the ground in their first attempted take off. It is in the darkness where we find the…

So many circumstances surrounding the first Christmas recorded in Matthew and Luke were fraught with harsh circumstances. Rather than paint an idillic picture like Norman Rockwell may have, the gospel writers point to the reality of a dark world filled with dark powers at work. Against this backdrop we learn of the birth of Jesus, and even after hi…