Renewal Church Denver

One of the most common images for the Christian's life is that of bearing fruit like a tree. This fruit includes our good works, our acts of service, and the work of the Spirit in our lives. However, this is only true so long as we're planted in Jesus. Without him, we are bound to shrivel up and dry out.

Trees were planted by God to be a blessing to the world. However, like any gift, they can easily become idols. This becomes apparent when God's people pick up the idolotrice practice of worshiping Asherahs, poles made from trees. Much like today, these embody our temptation to look for blessing from the things of this earth instead of from God.

The people of Israel looked hopeless when the exile came, and Israel compared their state to a stump, a tree once full of life that was cut down. However, a branch was promised that would rise again from the lineage of Jesse who would restore the fate of His people. This branch, Jesus, had to be "cut down" so he could sprout once again and became life for all who believe. Even today when the state of things might be dire, we are reminded that God works through death and dire situations to bring life, so long as that life is centered around Jesus.

Trees are first mentioned in the Bible as something to decorate the earth and to provide food for man and beast. Trees then serve as a picture of God's provision as one cannot make a tree grow fruit. Their abundance also shows that God gives more than is needed, and thus his people are called to use what they are given but to also use it to bless others.

When God planted the Garden of Eden, two trees were named, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Man was given the tree of life to eat, but told not to eat from the other. In disobeying, mankind decided that they would decide what was good and what was evil, turning from God's good direction. Jesus would come to finally walk according to the God's will and in dying on the cross, brought the evil the world in contact with the goodness of God, thus offering life once again.

Understanding Jesus' identity is paramount to understanding our identity as His people. We explore the beautiful union of God and Man in Jesus.

Five words, "Creator of Heaven and Earth," have implication for innumerable aspects of our lives. We explore in this sermon how it affects our relationship with the rest of creation.

Five words, "Creator of Heaven and Earth," have implication for innumerable aspects of our lives. We explore in this sermon how it affects our relationship with the rest of creation.

In this sermon, we discuss why talking about theology matters for our lives, the beauty of the trinity, and how God being The Father makes a world of difference in how we see ourselves and why we're here.

In this sermon, we discuss why talking about theology matters for our lives, the beauty of the trinity, and how God being The Father makes a world of difference in how we see ourselves and why we're here.

We're starting a new series on the Apostles Creed. The creed starts with two simple words, "I Believe." They may seem simple and common, but they're loaded with meaning for us. How does the "I" point to both our individual ownership and our collective nature? And how does "Believe" remind us of both the gift of faith and the responsibility of living it out? We explore in this message.

We're starting a new series on the Apostles Creed. The creed starts with two simple words, "I Believe." They may seem simple and common, but they're loaded with meaning for us. How does the "I" point to both our individual ownership and our collective nature? And how does "Believe" remind us of both the gift of faith and the responsibility of living it out? We explore in this message.

This Holy Week, we're talking about Something New. At first glance, a man dying isn't that new. And yet, we know that Jesus' death was a different kind of death. We reflect on the cross and the convergence of old and new in Jesus.

This Holy Week, we're talking about Something New. At first glance, a man dying isn't that new. And yet, we know that Jesus' death was a different kind of death. We reflect on the cross and the convergence of old and new in Jesus.

Jesus was not the first one to process into a city to cheers and shouts of adoration, and yet this procession was different than every other one. What makes Jesus a different kind of king and what does that say about us as citizens of His kingdom?

Jesus was not the first one to process into a city to cheers and shouts of adoration, and yet this procession was different than every other one. What makes Jesus a different kind of king and what does that say about us as citizens of His kingdom?

As we close out our conversation on holiness, we end by talking about the Holy Spirit, the driving engine in all of this. What does it mean that God has placed His own Spirit in us? How should this inform how we understand who we are as God's people and what we should do? We discuss in this message.

As we close out our conversation on holiness, we end by talking about the Holy Spirit, the driving engine in all of this. What does it mean that God has placed His own Spirit in us? How should this inform how we understand who we are as God's people and what we should do? We discuss in this message.

Paul compares Christian living to our clothing. He spends time reminding us that in Christ, we are holy and beloved, and we should dress ourselves with the right kind of living. We explore what that looks like in this message.