Denver First Church

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

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

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)

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)

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

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

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

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)

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

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

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

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)

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

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

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

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

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

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20100103.mp3

What the Lord Requires in 2010! [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

What the Lord Requires in 2010! from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

Well, what a year! 2009 for most of us will go down as a very eventful year. I know that I began 2009 with a sense that this would be an exciting year. I had NO idea! When you give yourself to God, He always has right of way to take us on a ride. For a lot of us, 2009 was a year that God said, “Get in and hang on!”

For some of you, 2009 was one of the best years ever. For many others, 2009 was a year of loss. Some of you have gone through some of the toughest moments of your life. The good news is, you are still standing. Standing by the power of the One who said “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” As I have said, and many of you have testified, God has been with us all the way in 2009. As we look back, we exclaim: God is so faithful!

So we now look to 2010. What will it hold? What might happen? We have two choices: to respond in fear or in faith. We choose faith! So what should we be doing? Today I will tell you a simple plan for success and peace in 2010. It’s actually what God says He requires of us in this life. If we will listen and apply these truths into our lives, I guarantee that 2010 will be a year of power, productivity and peace! May it be so in 2010!

I am thrilled you are here!

In His Amazing Grace!
Pastor Shawn

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091227.mp4

What the Lord Requires in 2010! [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091227.mp3

To Dance or Not to Dance - Advent 2009, Love [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

To Dance, or Not to Dance from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

What’s the most daring thing you have ever done? I mean someone dared you to do something and it was dangerous but for some reason you did it and you lived to tell about it. I remember one time some people dared me to jump off a 30 foot tower into a lake. (It may have been 20 but it seemed like 30) I am a person who is afraid of water and heights. So why did I do it? Because they dared me!

Today I believe God will say to many, “I dare you. I challenge you to live radically for me.” Jesus said in Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” So many of us walk around half committed. So many of us might say the Christian life is boring. I would say today that it’s never boring for those who accepted God’s challenge to live daringly!

Joseph accepted the challenge. He had a choice just like you do. So what are we going to do? Are we going to live life in the safe lane? Are we going to calculate out the cost of really living for Him? Or might we say, “God, I accept the challenge to radical obedience! I will live full out for you!” If you say that today, buckle up and get ready for the most fulfilling life possible.

I am thrilled you are here!

May God bless us today!
Pastor Shawn

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091220.mp4

To Dance or Not to Dance - Advent 2009, Love [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091220.mp3

The Mystery of the Manger - Children's Christmas Musical [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

The Mystery of the Manger from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

The Mystery of the Manger (It's the Gospel Truth!) is a Children's Christmas Musical created by Celeste Clydesdale, and arranged by David T. Clydesdale.

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091213.mp4

Faith for Failures - Advent 2009, Peace [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

Faith for Failures from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

I still remember what David said with tears running down his face, “Pastor I have ruined my life.” He told me this while standing outside of the Visalia Rescue Mission Chapel after I had just finished speaking to the men that morning. He also told me that he had renewed faith in his life. God had spoken to him and even though he had repeatedly failed, he now had faith.

Every single one of us that enters the door this morning has failed. Sure there are some of us who have done a much better job at failing than others, but all of us have fallen short of the glory of God. I remember seeing one sign in front of the church that read “No perfect people allowed.” We as humans become discouraged by our propensity to stumble and fall. So we join together as a group of failures!

I am so glad that Christmas time is a time to remember that God sent His Son into this world to save us from our failures. Isaiah prophesied about this One who would come to give faith to failures. Even Isaiah himself had a problem with failure. The only One that could deliver him was this Deliverer that we proclaim this morning!

So if you have failed lately, maybe even this morning, you feel the weight of your failures. I have great news: the Redeemer is here to speak to your heart. I am thankful that as a failure I can have faith today through Jesus Christ!

I am so glad you are here!
Pastor Shawn

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091206.mp4

Faith for Failures - Advent 2009, Peace [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091206.mp3

God's Christmas List - Advent 2009, Hope [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

God's Christmas List from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

Once again we have arrived at Advent season. Every year it seems like it sneaks up on us in a wonderful way. Ready or not, the calendar tells us that it’s Christmas time. What does our heart tell us? I trust your heart tells you “He is near” even in the hustle and bustle of Christmas 2009.

Today, as we begin this Advent season, I will be speaking about “God’s Christmas List.” I really believe that Jesus wants to break in on us in a special way during Christmas ‘09. Let’s face it, individually and as a church we have faced some real challenges in 2009. Could it be, in the midst of the Advent reading, the special music and even the preaching time, Jesus Himself would speak so clearly that we would know that He is truly in our midst?

Let us make it a goal to seek the Savior this season. Let’s make it our purpose to tell everyone we can the reason for our hope this year. He is doing so much here at DFC and around the world. I am ready for this Advent season! Let us soak in all we can of His joy and His grace so we can tell others He is here. Halleluiah!

I am so glad you are here!

In His Amazing Grace!
Pastor Shawn

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091129.mp4

God's Christmas List - Advent 2009, Hope [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091129.mp3

Reaching Our World - Foundations of Faith 5 of 5 [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

Reaching Our World from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

We have all made value judgments on certain objects in our life. How much should we spend on a vehicle for our family? How much should we spend on a home? How much do we spend on dinner out on Friday night? Our assessment of value to certain objects or events in our life is a lifelong process. We call this Sunday “Thanksgiving Sunday” at DFC. We remember all that God has done for us as individuals and as a church. We are thankful people! In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we take an offering this day for missions for our community and around the world. So we ask ourselves the question, “How much is one soul worth?” Jesus placed the value of a soul to be equal to His own life. Jesus vacated heaven, put on our flesh, walked on this earth and then died a horrible death for the souls of all mankind. The value of a soul to Jesus was His own life! Today we ask the members, attendees and friends of DFC, “Would you give so that others may know the hope we have in Christ?” Our goal today is $75,000. If we all do something for souls here and around the world in Jesus’ name, we can make an impact in our world. How much is a soul worth? We will answer that question today! I am so glad you are here!

Amazed by His Grace!
Pastor ShawnPastor

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091122.mp4

Reaching Our World - Foundations of Faith 5 of 5 [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091122.mp3

Living the Illuminated Life - Foundations of Faith 4 of 5 [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

Living the Illuminated Life from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

I recently read a book by Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney entitled Two Minute Warning
. The book’s subject is about the importance of the Jewish nation and our role as the church to encourage and help them to come to Christ in these last days. In the book, he chronicles the silence of the church and even the rejection of the Jewish people through the centuries, especially during Hitler’s reign of terror and the extermination of millions of Jews. I was appalled by how many “good Christians” looked the other way and, in many cases, were complicit in helping Hitler and his army destroy so many lives! The enemy wants us to hide the light! What God has birthed in you by His Holy Spirit is powerful. The only thing that can stop this powerful Spirit in you is you! Today, as we hear the words of Jesus, we are encouraged to come out and let our light shine. It’s much more than having a DFC bumper sticker (though if you have one I am glad!) it’s about living a real authentic life of power and love in this dark world. Our world needs His light more than ever! We are speeding towards the day of His return. We should be in full court press in evangelizing our communities, our city and our world! Will you allow the Holy Spirit today to challenge you to shine His light through you? As always it’s our choice. Will we choose to “Illuminate His light?” I am so glad you are here! Amazed by His Grace!
Pastor Shawn

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091115.mp4

Living the Illuminated Life - Foundations of Faith 4 of 5 [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091115.mp3

Being His Church - Foundations of Faith 3 of 5 [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

Being His Church from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

I had the privilege of growing up in middle America. Those early days in Eastern Kansas with my family were the wonder years; playing sports and enjoying the fellowship of my family. I still remember those days with joy. Things began to change for my family during the late 70’s . My family began to experience division that eventually led to my mother and father divorcing. I can tell you how painful those days were for my entire family. We still carry those scars today! Jesus Christ’s church is a family. We love the song that says ‘I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God.’ The reality is that some-times even in the family of God we experience division and pain and hurt. I recognize that even at the great DFC there have been struggles that the DFC family has experienced. Because we are human, the family of God will experience the enemy’s attack. Today as we continue in our ‘Foundations of Faith’ series we will be speaking about how the church functioned in those early days. Do we expect it to be just like it was then? No, it can’t be the way it was. Our society is so different, but we can maintain God’s intention of what the church should look and act like! I am so glad you are here! Amazed by His Grace!
Pastor Shawn Siegfreid

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091108.mp4

Being His Church - Foundations of Faith 3 of 5 [audio]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091108.mp3

The Holy Spirit - Foundations of Faith 2 of 5 [video]

podcasts@denverfirstchurch.com (Denver First Church)

The Holy Spirit from Denver First Church on Vimeo.

http://denverfirstchurch.com/podcasts/20091101.mp4