Denver Community Church

While Acts 2 proclaims resurrection in response to Pentecost, Acts 3 proclaims resurrection in response to healing. And just like in chapter 2, Peter interprets the event through the Hebrew Scriptures and calls for repentance—but this time with an even more compassionate tone. ---------- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8   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=hpp

they enter the temple, the man asks for money, but Peter offers healing instead, invoking Jesus’ name. The man is miraculously healed, begins walking and leaping, and praises God. The crowd is filled with wonder and amazement at what has happened. What does the kingdom offer those on the margins, what is our role in not overlooking those in need?  ---------- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

Acts 2:42-47 describes the shared daily life of the early church community. The believers devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. They live in unity, sharing possessions and meeting needs. Their communal life is marked by joy, generosity, and praise, and their numbers grow daily as others are drawn to their way of life. We often picture this as an idyllic, utopian system, but what if this was actually more about economic justice than idealism?    Shared life forms us. We are formed not just by ideas but by the things we routinely do--relational rhythms shape our identities. ---------- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8   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=hpp

Acts 2:36-41 concludes Peter’s Pentecost sermon with a direct call to action, declaring that God has made Jesus—whom the people crucified—both Lord and Messiah. The crowd is cut to the heart and asks what to do; Peter tells them to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He assures them the promise is for all generations. About 3,000 people respond and are baptized that day. "Both Lord and Messiah" This isn’t a ticket to heaven—it’s entry into Spirit-filled community and new creation life. What if this is not individualistic escape, but an invitation to resist the dehumanizing systems of the present age (Rome, religion, nationalism). ---------- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

This is the heart of Peter’s Pentecost sermon. He declares that Jesus’ death was part of God’s divine plan, but humans are still responsible for crucifying him. God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing him from death’s power—fulfilling David’s prophecy. Peter argues that David wasn’t speaking of himself, but of the Messiah, whom God would raise and exalt. He affirms that Jesus is now exalted at God's right hand and has poured out the Holy Spirit, which the crowd is witnessing. How should we understand the upside down nature of the kingdom and the kind of power we are called to pursue? How does Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation redefine power, kingship, and God's faithfulness? ---------- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8   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=hpp

Peter explains that the outpouring of the Spirit fulfills Joel’s prophecy, signaling the last days. He begins proclaiming Jesus as the one sent by God, validated through miracles and divine power. Here, those called are likewise validated by the Spirit moving in and through them. Joel 2 which Peter quotes here, talks of a radical inclusion. The vision for all people--this extends beyond Jew vs. Gentile, but also includes social boundaries of gender, age, etc. The Spirit of God is the great equalizer and is poured out on all people.   How does the Spirit reframe our experience and expand who belongs?  How does Peter use and understand Joel 2? ---------- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8   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=hpp

This is the undoing of the Tower of Babel… if the story of babel is that of an ancient people invoking a ziggurat (a temple used to bring the gods to earth to serve man)…this story is God coming to man to prepare him for the service of God. The power the disciples had asked for in Acts 1--will instead be the power given by the Spirit in Acts 2, not the political power and prestige they wanted, but a subversive power that calls for the service of all. A power that empowers the powerless. This will be not an elevation of Israel a division like the tower of babel, but a bringing together of a diverse group of people to be the People of God--this is not eradicating Israel but fulfilling the call the be a blessing to all peoples.    What does Pentecost teach us about the nature of the church as the Spirit of God is poured out on all of God’s people? What does this pouring out of the Spirit mean for us as the body today? ---------- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8   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=hpp

Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

If Acts 1 holds the disciples’ question, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?,” as a longing for political or social power, Acts 2 answers not with domination but with Spirit-filled community, mutuality, and witness to the margins. Willie James Jennings says "The Book of Acts...[is] ... A call to Christians to be open to the action of the Spirit, not only leading them to confront values and practices in society that may need to be subverted, but perhaps even leading them to subvert or question practices and values within the Church itself." (Bible for Normal People, Episode 188) What if our deepest transformation comes not through conquest but through communion? ---------- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

After wandering in the wilderness, Israel is on the cusp of a new beginning. Deuteronomy retells their story- not to rehash the past, but to remind a new generation of who they are. It’s a call to choose life, to love God and neighbor, and to remember the long road that brought them here. Deuteronomy was likely compiled or finalized during or just before the Babylonian exile. It reflects a community in crisis trying to reimagine faithfulness without land, temple, or power, and inviting a return to covenant rooted in love and justice. What do we carry forward—and what do we leave behind? What kind of community are we becoming as we step into the future? ---------- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

Exodus is the defining story of freedom in the Hebrew Bible. God hears the cries of the oppressed, confronts empire, and invites a people into a new way of living. But freedom isn’t the end; it’s the beginning of becoming a people shaped by justice, generosity, and divine presence. In remembering, we are transformed. This text was central to Israel’s communal identity—especially in exile. God is shown as a liberator, not just from slavery, but from the dehumanizing stories of empire. The giving of the Law is framed not as control, but as a path to life. What does it mean to be free, and how do we use that freedom for good? What stories of liberation do we need to remember today? ----- Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

In Genesis 12-22, God calls Abram and Sarai to leave everything familiar and walk into an unknown future—one where their story will bless the world. It’s a story of deep faith, devastating detours, and divine promise. For a people emerging from exile or navigating change, this was more than history—it was a script for what it means to trust, wander, and hope. These chapters represent the beginning of Israel’s covenant identity. In post-exilic contexts, Abraham and Sarah became symbolic ancestors of faithfulness in uncertainty and courage in displacement. What do we need to leave behind in order to follow the call? How might God’s promises shape how we live even when we don’t see fulfillment? Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

Floods. Towers. Scattered languages. These stories are not meant to be read as history, but as theological reflection. They echo the fears and hopes of people living in empire—longing for justice, worried about human pride, and desperate for a God who remembers them. In a world still marked by violence and power-hunger, these stories invite us to imagine something different. Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

This week, we examine the theme of humanity’s tendency toward hiding and God’s relentless pursuit in Genesis 3. This story has often been read as the origin of sin—but it is also deeply human portraits of fear, shame, blame, and broken relationships. Adam and Eve hide. Cain lashes out. And yet, God keeps showing up. These ancient stories wrestle with the same questions we do: Why do we hurt each other? Why do we run from vulnerability? What would it take to be seen and still loved? Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

Genesis 1-2 was likely written or compiled during the Babylonian exile—a time when Israel had lost land, temple, and national identity. Framed as a poetic and liturgical text, the creation story stands in contrast to Babylonian myths of violence and domination. Instead, it offers a radically different vision: a world made in love, by a God who blesses and invites. In exile, this was not just theology—it was resistance, hope, and the reimagining of identity. Even today, when we find ourselves in the midst of chaos, change, or staring into the unfamiliar, these ancient words invite us into the same sacred imagination. What if this story offers us hope, resistance, and a chance to reimagine who we are—and who God still calls us to be? Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

We are a community being healed—personally, communally, historically. And we’re called to participate in God’s justice-making work in the world. This is the unfolding love story between God and creation—and we get to play a part. Invitation to Practice: Reflect on your own healing story. Where is God inviting you to join the work of restoration and justice? Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

The Church is called to reflect the mindset of Christ—emptying ourselves for the good of others, considering one another with deep care, and living in unity that is born not from sameness but from shared love. Christ’s humility becomes our pattern for being in community. Invitation into Practice: Practice Christlike humility this week by noticing when you're tempted to place yourself at the center— your preferences, your perspective, your power—and choosing instead to uplift and honor another. Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp

Just as the body is one and has many parts, so it is with Christ. We were all baptized into one body—regardless of race, class, gender, or background—and each of us matters. Diversity in the Body of Christ is not a problem to solve but a gift to receive. Every part belongs. No one can say, “I don’t need you.” True Christian unity means we suffer and rejoice together, valuing the voices and experiences that differ from our own.   Invitation into Practice: Listen to someone’s story who experiences the world differently than you. Practice making space at your table—literally or figuratively—for those who’ve been left out or overlooked.   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=hpp. Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8  

We are part of a long line of people who lived by faith—imperfect, courageous, often misunderstood, and deeply hopeful. Our identity as Christians isn’t built on superiority or certainty but on joining this great cloud of witnesses in running the race marked out for us, with our eyes on Jesus. He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, the one who endured suffering for the sake of joy, and now calls us to be his Body in the world. Click here to access resources for supporting immigrants: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9suVgJsS8X6TdH6ec2TBRKTz3dCqzQ2dPzUor4TKHc/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ejsud9n02yg8 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=hpp