DFC Podcasts

"Last Second Grace" Luke 23:35-43 (Video)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:28:23 -0600

"Last Chance Grace" Luke 23:35-43 from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

When I was a senior in high school, I was supposed to take care of a bill on my vehicle. It was due on a certain date. Being the young person that I was, I just put it off. I didn’t take care of it. My father asked me about it and I told him I had not taken care of the bill. He told me to meet him down at the courthouse the next day. I met my dad there and we went in and paid my bill and the fine that was caused by my delay. Needless to say, he was not happy. I can remember the displeasure on his face as we both left the courthouse. The positive side of it was my bill was paid in full.

In our story today, we see a man like most of us we see a man who had waited too long to get things right in his life; he needed last minute intervention. It was good for me that I had a father who paid my bill for my car. It was good for this thief that he found himself right beside the only One who could help him at that moment. He needed grace, and asked for grace, and he received grace! At the last moment of his life, he was redeemed and saved because Jesus was right there.

Today we understand that every one of us is a person that needs grace. We do not deserve to be forgiven. Some have waited so long. The message is clear, it doesn’t matter even if your “bill” is past due. There is only One who can and will pay it in full if you will only call out to Him and say, “Remember me!” To God be the glory for His last second grace!

In His Amazing Grace!
Pastor Shawn

"Last Second Grace" Luke 23:35-43 (Audio)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:26:39 -0600

To download the audio file right click on the link and select "save target as"

http://www.denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100321.mp3

The Garden of Grief Mark 14:32-42 (Audio)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:31:38 -0600

To download this sermon right click on the link and select "Save target as"

http://www.denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100314.mp3

The Garden of Grief Mark 14:32-42 (Video)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:30:24 -0600

'The Garden of Grief" from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

"Overwhelmed!" How could I?" "What happened to me?" These were all sentiments of a man I was having lunch with. He had been a strong Christian. He had been in ministry. He was a good man! He had been a Godly man. But there was this one lady, this one day and this one time; and now all that he held dear lay in ruins. I was their pastor and he was telling me that he was overwhelmed!

In our teaching time today we look at a picture of Jesus that we do not often see. A picture of Him, the Savior, the Messiah, the King of Kings, overwhelmed with what lay beofre Him. Of course, His situation was different than my friend, but the emotion and the desperation was the same! We have all been there havent't we? Those times in our life that we wondered if we could make it through! Isn't it good to know that Jesus Himself felt what we feel? That Jesus can identify with these "overwhelming" moments.

My friend and his family made it through. By a miracle of God's grace, they put their family back together again. My fiend is preaching some again! God is good! Oh yes, Jesus made it through His garden experience. He not only made it through, He saved the world! Sometimes to do great things, we must go through the garden. Whatever you are going through, Jesus knows and understands. He has been tehre! That's why we call Him Savior!

I am so glad you are here!

In His

Losing to Win Matthew 10:34-39 (Audio)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:26:31 -0700

http://www.denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100307.mp3

Losing to Win Matthew 10:34-39 (Video)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:04:10 -0700

Losing to Win from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

Summertime where I grew up in northeast Kansas was a magical time. summer break was filled with baseball and swimming. The baseball part was awesome; the swimming part was awful. I was a boy that didn't learn to swim until I was goign into the 7th grade. I was terrified of water! In public swimming pools I had to stay down in the shallow end with the little kids. It was humiliating!

The summer beofre I was in 7th grade, I went to spend a couple of weeks with my Grandma. My Grandma had arranged for me to receive private swimming lessons. I was scared to death but I was also determined that I would return to my hometown a swimmer. The day came that my swimming instructor said that this was the day that I was going to learn how to swim. She was not goign to be in the deep end to catch me as I jumped off the diving board. So there I stood at the end of that board ready for my life to change. I was scared, but I knew I had to jump into the water. I stepped out and went under. I came up sputtering but knowing I could swim!

Today, we are going to observe many who are diving into what we know of as the Christian life. They will be scared, some will come up sputtering. All of them will know the grace and excitedment of being a found child of God! what about you? Would you be willing to stop out and proclaim, "He is my Savior"? Whould you be willing to proclaim, "I am goign to give my life to Jesus"? what a day to be here. Get ready to cheer for these wonderful new and reclaimed believers!

I am so glad you are here!

In His Saving Grace!
Pastor Shawn

The Power of Sacrifice (Audio)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:32:19 -0700

www.denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100228.mp3

The Power of Sacrifice (Video)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:28:20 -0700

The Power of Sacrifice from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

Today, we begin a series entitled "The Road to Redemption." This
series will conclude in our Easter Sunday celebration. Today, we will be
receiving Holy Communion at the conclusion of our service. I am praying
it will be one of the most significant times for you and me
during this Lenten season. I am praying that God would impress upon us
the importance of this sacrament, especially at this time of year!

A few weeks ago I referenced the song lyric written by Steve Green, "In
sweet abandon, let me be spilled out and used up for Thee." This
describes the activity of our Savior that leads to the sacrament of
Communion. There was no self preservation at this point in the life of
Jesus. He was charging forward knowing His body would be ripped to
shreds! Knowing that His Holy blood would flow like a torrent from His
body! Understanding that the piercing would eventually cause His Holy
heart to fail! The most terrible reality was that He and His Father in
Heaven would be separated for the only time in the history of the world!
This is what He feared the most in the garden. This is the
context of the communion we so easily partake of today!

It is my hope and prayer that, as you take the cup and the bread
today, there is a tremble inside of you realizing the cost of this
communion. There is another song that reminds me of the cost and of the
promise of His sacrifice; "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn
from Emmanuel's veins and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all
their guilty stains." We are those sinners and today receive His grace
through His sacrifice!

To Him be all glory and honor!

I am so glad you are here!
Pastor Shawn

The "Whatever You Do" Life (Audio)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:11:38 -0700

http://www.denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100221.mp3

The "Whatever You Do" Life (Video)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:08:29 -0700

The "Whatever You Do" Life from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

I still remember his words, “Dad, I am going down to try out
Jordan’s new bike ramp.” As I sat there on that warm afternoon, I ran the words through my head again. Hmmm, Shaden and bike ramp; I bolted out the door. I knew that he had never had any experience jumping his bike over a ramp. I remember my first experience decades ago of jumping my bike over a friend’s ramp. My bike and I did almost a complete summersault. As I went to find Shaden I knew I couldn’t
embarrass him in front of his friends by running down the street yelling “no.” But I was going to be close by when this event took place. Like
father like son, he was hesitant and didn’t get enough speed. He and his bike did almost a complete flip onto the grass. I was in flight as the bike hit the path. I was there as he stopped rolling. He was not injured, just a little embarrassed and a little wiser. I wonder if the same scene will be played decades from now with his son.
My son, in many areas of his life, just goes for it! Today is our final proclamation about what it looks like to live a Holy life. We see that Paul ends his thought on Holy living with the attitude of “going all out.” Most people have a passion. It could be sports, computers, family, career or whatever. Paul uses the word “whatever” because he knew that people would have different passions and gifts. Paul’s encouragement is that “whatever” you do in this life, do it for the glory of God!
Some of you have been looking for purpose and passion in this life. Some may even say, “I need a change of career or location.” I
believe that God is saying, through Paul, that what we all need is a desire to glorify God in the ordinary things we do in this life. If we will have that focus, it will turn our ordinary life into an extraordinary life. If our focus is to glorify God every day of our life, we will live a Holy life! I trust glorifying God is what our aim will be the rest of our lives! What a life it can be if we will do ‘whatever’ for His glory!
In His Awesome Grace!
I am so glad you are here!
Pastor Shawn

The Virtues of Love (Video)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:44:48 -0700

The Virtues of Love from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

I remember that night, just over 24 years ago. Sherri and I were going over to her parent’s house in Topeka for Thanksgiving break. Sherri & I had been dating since the spring of that year. I was a senior in college and she was a junior. I was about to make all her dreams come true! She didn’t know yet, but I had planned to stop at a park just a few blocks from her parent’s house. We had spent time there during the summer when I would come to visit her. I took Sherri into the Rose Garden area of the park. We sat down on a bench and there I presented her with a diamond ring and asked her to be my wife. It was a moment we will never forget. There in that Rose Garden was the beginning of a love relationship that will last our entire lives.
On this Valentine’s Day, a day that is known for love, we continue in a proclamation of what we believe is a picture of a Holy life. 1-John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.” We will best understand and assimilate this relationship with Jesus Christ, when we begin to believe that He loves us. His love will change everything in our life! When we think of the source of all love, it will always be because of Jesus Christ’s transforming love.
Love is why we can be Holy people. When we know that He loves us and when we understand how much He loves us, we begin to respond with love for Him and others. The work of the Holy Spirit is a Holy work of Divine love. We are now filled with His Spirit and can love Him and others because His love has exploded in our lives. His love has set us free from hatred, anger and bitterness. The greatest manifestations of the Spirit-filled life will be Holy love! When this love is lived out, it can change the world! As a matter of fact, it did change the world 2,000 years ago from a hill called Calvary! Praise His Holy Name!
I am so glad you are here!
In His Holy Love!
Pastor Shawn

The Virtues of Love (Audio)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:25:53 -0700

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100214.mp3

the death of me Colossians 3:5-10 (Video)

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:00:44 -0700

The death of me Colossians 3:5-10 from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

John the Baptist witnessed Jesus' life first hand. His testimony about Jesus in John 3:30 says, "He must become greater, I must become less." John understood that Jesus was the Messiah. He understood that even though God had given him a role to prepare the way for Jesus, it wasn't about him getting glory. It was about Jesus being magnified and exalted. It meant that John would beocme less and Jesus becomes greater!

In our series "Snapshots of a Holy Life" we look at what Paul says about areas of our life that must be dealt with. He actually uses the words "put to death" in connection with areas of our lives that compete with Jesus being Lord of our life. God desires all of us to be holy. If that is going to heppen we must realize there are several areas in anyone's life that compete with God being numebr one!

This will be a challenge to all of us who want to be like Jesus. This should be a disire of all that have been saved by His grace. It is possible to live as a holy person. It will take the death of many areas of our lives. Yet, if we are willing, the result will be a life that lifts up Christ and is able to love people in a world that desperately seeks real examples of holy living. If we are willing, He is able!

I am so glad you are here!

In His Holy Love!

Pastor Shawn

Audio playback available at the following link-

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100207.mp3

The Healing Power of Transformation - Healing Our Hurts Series [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:31:50 -0700

The Healing Power of Transformation from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

One of the benefits of living in Highlands Ranch is that we are able to go to our nearest Recreation Center to exercise. Since I have been in our new home, I have been trying to go exercise at least a few times a week. I have seen an increase of people since the first of the year. It seems that, after the holidays, everyone is trying to shed some weight and get in better shape. They, in essence, are attempting to transform their health and their bodies. Personally, I am just trying not to lose any ground. At age 44, I am beginning to feel the effects of gravity (we will save that subject for
another day!).

Transform. That is the key word for the day. We must believe in transformation in our church. The apostle Paul was a believer in transformation. He knew what he was before his conversion to Christ. This is why he could exclaim in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!” As we see people in our world trying to transform their bodies, their relationships with other people, and their financial portfolio, we proclaim that the greatest need for transformation is spiritual.

I believe being transformed by Jesus’ love is the most powerful healing a person could ever experience. Romans 12:1-2 speaks of the power of this change in our life. It also calls for us to respond to this “new” life of purpose. We certainly will have issues to work on in this life after He begins transforming us, but the promise is that God will finish the work He began in us! Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on unto completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The apostle Paul understood the healing power of transformation! I am praying today will be a day that God heals through His transforming power. May it be so today!

I am so glad you are here!

In His Amazing Grace!
Pastor Shawn

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100124.mp4

The Healing Power of Transformation - Healing Our Hurts Series [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:30:35 -0700

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100124.mp3

The Powerful Evidence of Love - Healing Our Hurts Series [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:31:53 -0700

The Powerful Evidence of Love from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

He was one of the best coaches ever in the history of
the NFL. Tom Landry coached the Dallas Cowboys for 29
years. He was also a wonderful Christian man. He had a
strong faith and everyone, especially his players, knew about
it. It was said of Coach Landry, in regards to his faith, “He
didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk.”

There are many people who can tell us what living as a
disciple of Jesus Christ is all about. As a matter of fact, there
have been more books written on this subject than probably
any other subject. Yet, do we see the real tangible evidence
of true discipleship today? Jesus gives us an example of
what it means to be a true disciple.

We often assume that being a disciple means we know
information, or maybe have some certain manifestation, that
shows the world that we belong to Him. In a very clear
manner, Jesus tells us what it really means to belong to Him.
We want to be the real deal. We would like people to say of
us, “He or she walks the walk!” Are we “walking the walk”
today? Are we making maximum impact for Him? Today we
see the true evidence of being His disciple!

I am so glad you are here!

In His Priceless Grace!
Pastor Shawn

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100117.mp4

The Powerful Evidence of Love - Healing Our Hurts Series [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:30:03 -0700

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100117.mp3

The Healing of the Body - Healing Our Hurts Series [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:31:30 -0700

The Healing of the Body from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

Most people in America would recognize the name “Dr. James Dobson.” Decades ago, he began an organization called “Focus on the Family.” He has been a national figure for many years. We, in the Nazarene church, know that Dr. Dobson is a Nazarene whose father was a Nazarene minister. He has been influential as a Christian psychologist because he has been a champion for the family.

When we speak of family in church, we think of the Body of Christ. We believe, as Christians, that we are “brothers and sisters” in Christ. As family members, we have times of disagreement and conflict. Jesus speaks to us today as members of His family, people who at times have a tendency to have sharp conflict with one another. There are many who would testify to being hurt in the church.

Jesus knows the tendencies of His children! With great clarity He speaks to us on the subject of need for “healing” among the Body of Christ. We believe that God has a plan for all of us to remain in loving fellowship with one another. This is His desire and plan for His church. May we glorify Him by the way we treat one another!

I am so glad you are here!

In His Amazing Grace!
Pastor Shawn

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100110.mp4

The Healing of the Body - Healing Our Hurts Series [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:30:14 -0700

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100110.mp3

Letting Go of Our Past - Healing Our Hurts Series [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 10:31:38 -0700

Letting Go of Our Past from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

“Don’t you remember what you did?” “Remember how you acted!” “You really messed up, didn’t you?” These are words that make us cringe. They are reminders of our sinful past, words of the accuser. He does everything he can to bring our past to mind. He uses people and situations to remind us of how we hurt others and ourselves. The good news is that these are not the words of the Savior! We will see today how Jesus deals with sinful people. In our text in John 8, Jesus dramatically stands on the side of the sinful women that was caught in the act and condemned to die. He does not stand with the religious or even on the side of the law. He stands in between the accused and those religious, self-righteous accusers. The question is, where do we stand? Where would you and I be in this scene? All of us have a past! Some of us would rather not remember those days of willful, carnal sin. Those embarrassing moments when sin ruled in our life. What we see is that Jesus takes our side. Not when we are cleaned up and living for Him. He takes our side in the middle of that sinful life. He stands in between us and those who hurl the insults and accuse us. He says, “I do not condemn,” and “This one is mine!” He pardons and He cleanses! As we arrive today, we will be reminded of how good and holy our Savior is. Even though He is holy, He stoops down in our mess and picks us up and reminds us and the world, “Though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Halleluiah, what a Savior! I am so glad you are here! Amazed by His Grace!

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100103.mp4