Grace City Denver

Just before Jesus went to a cross to lay down his life for our sins, he prayed. What we observe in this prayer is a passion for the glory of God, a commitment to saving and sanctifying his own, and a love for countercultural unity. To the end, Jesus prayed and worked for the Father to be known by the world, so that more people would be saved by faith in him.

Jesus told his disciples he was going away for a little while, and they would experience sorrow. But his resurrection would conquer sin and sorrow, so that believers could experience both immediate and eternal joy – joy that transcends circumstances. To experience this joy now, we must simply trust him and live as if what Jesus said is true.

The disciples struggled to accept that it was to their advantage that Jesus would go away and send his Spirit. So Jesus taught them more about the ministry of the coming Spirit – first, toward the world, and then, toward those who believed in him. Interestingly, the Spirit would point both audiences to Jesus as the standard and the central focus.

50 days after Passover, and the crucifixion of Jesus, was Pentecost. At this feast, the disciple Peter stood before a hostile crowd and delivered the very first sermon on the resurrection. He boldly declares that there is true life to be found in Jesus because Jesus is truly alive.

Shortly before Jesus is taken away to be beaten and crucified, he warns his disciples that the world would hate them just as it had hated him. If you follow the ways of Jesus instead of the ways of the world, your life will convict the world of sin, and the world will oppose you. But Jesus urges a faithful witness empowered by the presence of the Spirit.

In contrast to old covenant Israel, which failed in its calling to be God's fruitful vineyard, Jesus is the true Vine. By abiding in him, and allowing his word to abide in us, believers flourish spiritually. His life nourishes our lives and we bear the fruit of his character. The Father works actively in our lives to prune away anything that would hinder our fruitfulness.

Knowing that he's going away and his disciples are facing significant confusion, doubt, and anxiety, Jesus urges them to pursue lives of obedience and to look for the Helper. The Helper is nothing less than the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who will come live in believers to teach, comfort, and empower.

On the eve of his death, Jesus reassures his disciples that they already know the Father because they know him – and he claims ontological unity and equality with the Father (and the Spirit) as part of the Trinity. Because he's going away, and will send the Spirit, the Church can continue to live and pray with power. The Gospel of the Kingdom will expand, not shrink. And prayers that align with his purposes in the world will be gladly answered.

Peter wants to follow Jesus wherever he goes. And he's confident he has what it takes to lay down his life for Jesus. (Spoiler alert: he doesn't.) Thomas speaks for all the disciples, admitting he doesn't know where Jesus is going or how to get there. Religion tries to answer this question and bridge this gap by telling you the way to God is through your performance. Jesus claims he is the way – and the only way back to the Father.

Why does Jesus say the hour for him to be glorified has come if he's headed to a gruesome death on a cross? Why does he say the disciples can't come with him? What does he mean when he says the command to love one another is “new”? How can we love each other as Jesus has first loved us?

At the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus prophesied that one of them who ate his bread would be a traitor. Judas is subsequently identified, though most of the disciple seemed unaware of his intention to betray Jesus. This message goes back chronologically in the story of Judas to uncover the roots of his treacherous heart and to serve as a cautionary tale for others.

During the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus rose from the table, poured a basin of water, and began to wash their feet. This prompts an awkward exchange with Peter, where he first denies the Lord the opportunity to wash his feet, then asks him to wash all of him. Jesus concludes by commanding the disciples to do for one another what he had done to them. This sermon unpacks the meaning of both the foot washing itself and Jesus' command that his followers should continue to do as he had done.

In Jesus' last public address to the crowds, he claims to have an intimate, one-of-a-kind relationship with the Father and he invites people to believe in the light and walk in the light. Most of the people continue on the same path and are actually hardened in their unbelief, while others wrestle with just how closely they want to be associated with Jesus.

“The hour” that Jesus has been waiting for has finally come: it's nearly time for him to present himself as the full and final Passover sacrifice. He must die in order to bear much fruit for eternity. He must be lifted up on a cross before he can be lifted up to his glorious, exalted status as King of the nations. And every true disciple must follow him on the path of self-denial and service.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on what's now known as “Palm Sunday,” he was greeted by crowds that were filled with nationalistic fervor. They ignored Jesus' true mission to lay down his life and they tried to make him king on their own terms. But Jesus wouldn't stoop to their demands. He wouldn't save the Jews from the Gentiles; he would give his life to save both Jews and Gentiles.

As the Passover approaches, many people gather in Jerusalem, and the religious leaders plan to arrest Jesus. Jesus goes to Bethany, where He is honored with a dinner at the home of Lazarus. During the meal, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, a gesture of love and preparation for His burial. Judas criticizes her for wasting the perfume, but Jesus commends her.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us that there is a right and a wrong way to live in his kingdom. The right way - a life transformed from the inside-out - leads to righteousness, reward, and satisfaction in the Father. The wrong way leaves us enslaved to a never-ending hunger for outside approval. Jesus challenges us to examine our motives and to satiate our souls with God's goodness.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus invites us to learn about the future – particularly of his coming kingdom – and to embody that preferred future right here and now. We cannot simply live day to day without an awareness of where today's decisions are leading us. We must live and invest in light of what God says is going to be true.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is describing how to live as his disciples in his kingdom that has already arrived. The first major theme is the upside-down nature of this kingdom. Jesus doesn't value and honor the same character traits that our world celebrates. He calls us to live counterculturally, walking in humility and grace, rather than mimicking the pride of our society.

This message shares the wisdom of both being retrospective of your past and setting goals for your future. One simple pattern is to reflect and plan around four key areas of spiritual formation: 1) Worship, 2) Walk, 3) Work, and 4) Witness.

Our broken world is filled with things that steal our peace. Since The Fall, we have conflict with God, with others, with our environment, and even internally with our own selves. But Jesus came to reconcile us to God and to cut off conflict at its source. One day he will come again to defeat Satan once and for all, establishing eternal and perfect peace. In the meantime, we're called to abide in, experience, and share his peace by faith.

Everyone seeks happiness, but joy can be elusive in a broken world, where sin has led to every form of sorrow and death. Grief or frustration or stress can often feel like our default setting, rather than joy. So how do we get joy? And what's Advent got to do with joy? Practically, how do we live in light of both the past and future joy that have been promised to those who love God?

God's love for people was often demonstrated through acts of deliverance in the Old Testament era. And the greatest and fullest demonstration of his love is the coming of Jesus to lay down his life for our salvation. Because of his sacrifice, our lives can be filled with his love here and now. Even while we wait for his second coming, we can overflow with his love toward others.

This psalm begins with a call to praise and hope in the Lord, noting the deficiency of human rulers who are temporary and powerless to save. The psalmist highlights God's characteristics: He is the Creator, the source of both justice and mercy. The psalm concludes by affirming that the Lord reigns forever, and calling people to praise Him in all generations.

When Jesus arrives in Bethany after the death of Lazarus, Martha and Mary meet him separately to express shock and grief. Jesus declares, "I AM the resurrection and the life," and invites them to believe. Jesus storms to the tomb in anger at death, but also sheds tears of grief. He simply speaks, raising Lazarus from the dead, provoking a mixed reaction of belief and murderous contempt.

Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, falls ill, and when Jesus hears of it, he declares that the sickness will not end in death but will glorify God. Despite knowing Lazarus has died, Jesus stays two more days before deciding to go to Bethany. He explains to His disciples that Lazarus' death is for their benefit, so they may believe. The disciples are concerned about the dangers of returning to Judea, but Thomas, in a resigned yet courageous tone, suggests they go with Jesus, even if it means facing death.

The Jewish crowds of Jerusalem have rejected Jesus' divine identity once and for all. They refuse to believe in spite of many miraculous works that prove his power and authority. Jesus is the giver of eternal life, but they don't want a messiah who doesn't play by their rules. Jesus departs Jerusalem for the Jordan, and many who followed John the Baptist believe in him there.

Jesus introduces the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep to describe his relationship with his followers. In contrast to thieves and robbers, wolves, and hirelings, Jesus lays down his life for his sheep. This passage underscores themes of intimacy, protection, provision, and the unique role of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who offers eternal life to His followers.

Jesus heals a man born blind, demonstrating that his condition was not due to sin but so that God's works could be revealed. After Jesus makes mud and instructs the man to wash in the Pool of Siloam, the man gains his sight. This miracle prompts skepticism from the Pharisees, who interrogate the man and his parents. Jesus later finds him, reveals his identity, and discusses spiritual blindness, emphasizing faith and the contrast between true sight and spiritual ignorance.

The Jews of Jesus' day claimed Abraham and God as their ethnic and spiritual fathers. But Jesus cautioned them that their lives looked more like another father: the devil – and they were enslaved to his sinful patterns of living. Only by accepting that Jesus was the true Light of the world and abiding in his truth could they find true freedom.

At the Feast of Tabernacles each year, the Jews would light four massive menorahs, each fed by four basins of oil, to illuminate the temple. It was a reminder of the pillar of fire that led their ancestors out of slavery. So imagine the uproar when Jesus stood up at this feast and said, “I AM the Light of the world,” and went on to claim equality with the God of their fathers. Discover the real reason why the religious leaders of Israel couldn't understand Jesus' identity.

The familiar story of "The Woman Caught in Adultery," at first glance, seems to show us a Jesus who defends a sinner in opposition to the Law of Moses. Many love this story because Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of religious leaders. Others love this story because Jesus tells the adulterous woman to stop sinning. But what is this story really intended to communicate about the Gospel?

After seven days of the water pouring ceremony at the Feast of Booths, Jesus cried out on the eighth day, promising an eternal stream of water to anyone who thirsted and believed in him. This signified that he was not only the source of salvation, but also the source of satisfaction and the Spirit.

When Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths, there was significant disagreement over his identity. Many just wanted a Messiah they could use for their own ends. Many were curious, but not convinced. Many more overtly hated and rejected him. But there are three keys in this story to receiving Jesus on his own terms, inviting us to answer, “What will you do with Jesus?”

Community with other Christians sounds easy . . . in theory. But day-to-day life is messy because real people come with real problems. This message explores the kinds of conflict that are common in church life, where conflict comes from (why it happens), and how conflict can be resolved in a way that honors both God and our imperfect brothers and sisters in Christ.

The New Testament is loaded with illustrations and images of church life. Each shares a unique facet of our life together, while also helping to reinforce some basic but vitally important themes about the church. Collectively these images remind us that we are completely dependent on the Lord and we are, by our very nature, connected to one another.

What is the premise of church -- that is, what is the ground, the basis, of our coming together in the first place? And what is our purpose -- what is the objective, the goal of our gathering together? How you answer these questions will set your expectations for what church should be like, what church should be doing and talking about. The Bible is clear that the church exists by the grace of God for the glory of God and the pursuit of Christlikeness.

The root of sin is a heart that doesn't fear the Lord. If God doesn't matter, then the mind thinks selfish and self-deceived thoughts, producing harmful, untruthful, sinful behaviors. In stark contrast, the person who fears the Lord experiences his steadfast love and faithfulness, his righteousness and justice, his costly rescue, and an abundance of blessings.

In this imprecatory Psalm, David asks God to defend him from his enemies and to vindicate him in the end. Instead of taking vengeance into his own hands, he entrusts himself to the future, perfect justice of God.

This fascinating Psalm is grounded in the historic story of David acting like a madman in order to escape from Abimelech (found in 1 Samuel 21). But it's written as an acrostic, designed to teach future generations about the fear of the LORD as the solution to fear.

Waiting is one of the most common -- and often one of the most difficult -- things we do. Waiting can lead to feelings of frustration, stress, discouragement, and resignation. But what if we could recognize who is in the waiting with us and what resources he's given us to utilize while we wait?

Sin is overstepping God's boundaries, missing the mark, and incurring guilt by deceiving ourselves. But our instinct is to cover our sin, leading to more misery, anxiety, and exhaustion. God invites us to confess our sin instead -- to acknowledge to God what he already knows -- and to receive his forgiveness.

Distress can be totalizing -- affecting your body, emotions, mind, relationships, and spiritual life. Often, our instincts are to blame God and look for our own solutions or rescue. This Psalm models a different approach: trusting God to be who he is. Believing that he will be, for you, who he unchangeably is.

This Psalm is about God's loving discipline, particularly for the sin of complacency. While prosperity is a blessing, it can also be a curse in that it distracts us from being desperately dependent on God. It is God's kindness, then, that disciplines us to draw us back to himself so that we might live passionately and dependently on him.

Psalm 29 is a poem of David describing a thunderstorm that brings judgment on the false gods of the Canaanites, as well as all who serve them. But the same glory and strength that bring destruction on idols bring salvation and peace to those who love and fear the true God, Yahweh.

It's hard to pray when God is silent -- perhaps even more so when he seem unjust. How can you turn petition into praise in situations like that? How can you see, through eyes of faith, that God is faithfully doing justice and mercy whether it seems like it or not?

Life is filled with fearful situations and seasons. We encounter opportunities for anxiety at nearly every turn. How do we acknowledge those things that make us afraid, yet live courageously anyway? This psalm has a simple secret to share.

How is a life of integrity related to trusting God? How can one confidently ask God to examine their life and declare them innocent? How can we live stable, fearless lives in a world of sin? This psalm shows us that there's safety in a life of faith-filled integrity.

When trouble comes into our lives, it's natural to assume it's the result of either sin or just plain missing the will of God. In this Psalm, David shares a wise and godly response. Whether you know the cause of your problems or not, you can always focus on and trust the Lord, wait on him, and petition him for your needs.

This Psalm recounts the praise of a victory procession, celebrating the victory of the King of glory. What battle is this referring to? And how do others share in the King's victory and salvation?

From the beginning, God's plan was to redeem a multiethnic people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. This is at the heart of the Gospel and the eternal purpose of God. Because the Gospel announces and creates this kind of reconciled community, we must actively live at peace with one another.