Grace City Denver

In Psalm 38, David is tormented physically, emotionally, psychologically, relationally, and spiritually because of his sin. But instead of concealing it, minimizing it, rationalizing it, or blaming someone else, David owns it. He confesses his sin and cries out to God to discipline him in mercy and to rescue him.

It's natural to envy or even despise the wicked when you see them enjoying a level of success and prosperity that is unfair. But this Psalm guides you to redirect your focus and perspective so that you can find your delight in that which truly matters for eternity.

Jesus provided the simplest explanation of discipleship when he called fisherman to leave their nets and follow him so that he could make them become fishers of men. Discipleship means following Jesus and being transformed by Jesus in order to live on Jesus' mission.

In John 17, Jesus prayed that his followers be characterized by seven character traits: faith, joy, holiness, truth, mission, unity, and ultimately love. He prayed that the Church would be filled with these traits simply by living in union with him. This message explores the centrality of love to the effective functioning of the other character qualities.

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.