In modern academics, we go to school to learn subjects like History, Science, Math, and English. A successful education is defined in terms of being able to retain and use a certain percent of the information we’re learning. Generally, we don’t spend time with our teachers outside of the classroom, and we certainly aren’t trying to pattern our lives after theirs. But in the rabbinic model of discipleship, becoming like your teacher was the whole point. Taking on the identity of your rabbi was even more important than memorizing facts and information. In this lesson, we’ll see how Jesus purposely...
We are all always being discipled by someone (or something). If we’re not deliberately following Jesus, we’ll follow someone else by default. One of the most critical things we need in order to follow Jesus is a paradigm shift. We must stop patterning our assumptions, thoughts, and methods after our culture, and pattern them after the way of Jesus instead. Our urban, post-Christian, progressive society prioritizes individualism and information, and it wants everything instantly. This is the “trellis” upon which our lives will grow if we’re not intentional to grow upon the paradigm of Jesus instead. Here’s the central theme...
Is it possible to live your whole life thinking you’re a Christian, thinking you have a right relationship with God, thinking you’re on your way to heaven, and be completely wrong? According to Jesus himself, the answer is yes (see Matthew 7:21-23). This brings up a very basic and vitally important question: What does it mean to be a Christian? This word means a lot of different things to different people. Is it someone who simply believes in God? Is it someone with traditional/conservative morals? Is it someone who tends to vote a certain way? Is it someone who associates...
Here’s a question we’ve gotten in various forms in response to our Questioning Christianity sermon series: Question: Why are we taking time to discuss other beliefs and worldviews rather than just focusing on what the Bible says? Great question! If God’s Word is “our final authority in all areas of our faith and practice,” as one of our core values states, then why does it matter what other people believe about life’s origin, nature, purpose, etc.? There’s a popular illustration along these lines that goes like this: Agents and bankers don’t learn to spot counterfeit money by studying counterfeits; they...
***Click here for current information on this year’s Christmas Eve Service.*** Join neighbors of all walks of life for Christmas in Denver, hosted by Grace City Church at the Asterisk events venue in the heart of downtown. This free candlelight celebration will feature traditional and contemporary carols, Scripture readings of the Christmas story, a brief message of hope, refreshments, and special gifts and activities for the kids. All are welcome! 5:00 p.m., December 24 at Asterisk Denver 1075 Park Avenue West. Details on parking at https://gracecitydenver.com/new.
Let’s talk about this amazing sermon series graphic, created by our friend Bruce Butler [check out his work at @wearewisebison]. We are posting this explanation with his permission. The Psalms are often called “The Songbook of God’s People.” Written over the span of 900 years, most of them around the time of King David, the Psalms are the world’s most famous collection of sacred songs, hymns, and poems. But instead of the rhyme and meter of modern poetry, Hebrew poetry was characterized by symmetry, contrast, and parallelism. The mirror image of a chiastic structure is subtly represented in the...
Resources for Worship Seek Culture’s Shalom – Worship and Formation Resources
I Pledge Allegiance – Worship + Formation Resources
Text: Job 1:8-22 | Listen to Message When we undergo trials, hardships, or painful periods of waiting, we instinctively ask God “why?” “Why did this happen? Why is this taking so long? Why me?” Why, why, WHY?! It’s a question, but it’s also a demand for information. For an explanation. We want to know the reason for our suffering – something, anything, that’ll convince us our suffering isn’t pointless. Some of the most famous suffering in human history happened to a man named Job. The Bible takes 42 excruciating chapters to tell his story. It all begins when he loses his...
Text: Matthew 6:25-34 | Listen to Message As the Coronavirus infection spreads exponentially, unemployment skyrockets, markets plummet, and the pandemic-driven quarantine drags on, many people are understandably anxious. So Jesus’ words about worry in The Sermon on the Mount are as relevant today as the day they were first spoken. Jesus reminds us, though anxious thoughts and emotions may arise – even several times a day – we are not hapless or helpless victims. We don’t have to give in to either worry itself or fear mongering. We can fight back and find inner peace. We’ll unpack this path to victory...