St. John's Denver
Messages and announcements from St. John's Church & School in Denver, Colorado. http://www.SJDenver.org
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A Mount of Restoration (Mountain of the Lord)
Isaiah paints a breathtaking vision of God's future—a day when the nations stream to His mountain, peace replaces conflict, and all creation is restored under the reign of the Messiah. What was broken by sin will one day be made whole. Come discover the hope of God's coming kingdom and how His promise of restoration gives us confidence to live faithfully today.
A Mount of Fulfillment (Mount of Transfiguration)
On the Mount of Transfiguration, the glory of Jesus is unveiled as the Law and the Prophets find their fulfillment in Him. The Father's voice leaves no doubt: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him." Come discover how this mountaintop moment reveals the true identity of Christ and invites us to place our hope in the One who fulfills every promise of God.
A Mount of Worship (High Places)
King Azariah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet the high places remained. This sobering passage reminds us that wholehearted worship requires more than good intentions—it calls us to remove the rivals that compete for our devotion. Come discover what it means to worship God alone and why the places of our hearts matter as much as our outward faithfulness.
A Mount of Salvation (Mount Sinai/Zion)
Paul contrasts two mountains that tell two very different stories—one of slavery under the law and one of freedom through God's promise. The gospel invites us to leave behind striving and live as children of grace, heirs of the heavenly Jerusalem. Come discover how true salvation is found not in what we can achieve, but in what God has accomplished through Christ.
A Mount of Blessing (Mount Gerazim/Ebal)
Standing at the edge of the Promised Land, God calls His people to choose the path that leads to life. The mountains of blessing and curse remind us that His commands are not burdens, but an invitation to flourish in relationship with Him. Come discover how God's gracious call to choose life points us to the One in whom true blessing is found.
A Mount of Refuge (Mount Ararat)
As the floodwaters begin to recede, the ark comes to rest on Mount Ararat—a place that becomes a sign of God’s faithfulness after judgment. What seemed like the end was, in God’s hands, the beginning of a new chapter of hope. Come discover how God provides refuge in the midst of life's storms and how His promises remain steadfast through every season.
Means of Grace: Communion
At the Lord’s Table, we are invited to remember Christ’s sacrifice, examine our hearts, and be united together as His people. Paul reminds the church that communion is more than a ritual—it is a powerful participation in the grace and fellowship of Jesus. Come discover how God nourishes His people through this sacred meal of remembrance, repentance, and hope.
Means of Grace: Baptism
Once lost in sin and brokenness, we have been washed, renewed, and made new through the mercy of God in Christ. Baptism points to this powerful reality—that salvation is not earned by our works, but given by His grace. Come discover how God uses this visible sign to remind us of the cleansing, renewal, and hope we have through the Holy Spirit.
Means of Grace: God's Word Trains us for Righteousness
In a world filled with competing voices and shifting truths, God has given us His Word to teach, correct, and shape us for faithful living. Paul reminds Timothy that Scripture is not merely information—it is God’s gracious means of forming His people in righteousness. Come discover how God’s Word equips us to stand firm, endure faithfully, and live out the gospel with consistency and courage.
Identity: You Are Filled with the Holy Spirit
The gospel does more than change our status before God—it transforms the way we live from the inside out. As the Spirit fills our lives, we are empowered to put away old patterns and grow into a new life marked by peace, worship, gratitude, and love. Come discover how being filled with the Holy Spirit shapes our identity and reflects Christ in everyday life.
You are Chosen for Love
In Christ, we are called to put off the old ways that divide and destroy and to put on a new identity shaped by compassion, forgiveness, and love. Paul reminds us that we are God’s chosen people, set apart to reflect His heart in the way we live and relate to others. Come discover how the gospel transforms us into a community clothed in the love of Christ.
Identity: You are Dead to Sin
In a world that tells us to follow every desire, the gospel declares a new reality—we are no longer slaves to sin. United with Christ in His death and resurrection, our identity has been completely transformed. Discover what it means to live in the freedom of being dead to sin and alive to God.
Community: The Church is United
Once divided by distance, identity, and hostility, we have been brought near and made one in Christ. Jesus breaks down every wall and builds a new people—united not by similarity, but by His grace. Come discover how the gospel forms a community where belonging is real and unity is rooted in Him.
Community: The Church seeks to have One Mind
In a divided world, the gospel calls the Church to something radically different—unity of heart and purpose. Paul urges believers to stand firm together, putting aside selfish ambition and looking to the interests of others. Come discover how a community shaped by the gospel learns to live with one mind, reflecting Christ in humility and love.
Salvation: The Gospel makes us Alive
We were once spiritually dead, shaped by sin and without hope—but God stepped in with mercy and made us alive in Christ. Salvation is not something we achieve, but a gift we receive, rooted in His grace from beginning to end. Come discover how the gospel brings new life and calls us to walk in the good works God has prepared for us.
Salvation: The Gospel brings Humility
In a culture that prizes wisdom, status, and strength, the message of the cross turns everything upside down. God chooses what seems foolish and weak to reveal His power and grace, leaving no room for boasting. Come discover how the gospel humbles us, redefines our identity, and grounds our confidence in Christ alone.
Salvation: The Gospel is Righteousness
In a world that measures worth by achievement and identity by performance, Paul boldly lays it all down for something greater. He counts everything as loss compared to knowing Christ—finding a righteousness that comes not from striving, but from faith. Come discover the heart of the gospel through Paul’s eyes and what it means to truly gain Christ.
Easter
Jesus' resurrection changed everything for the disciples and the world. His resurrection means that there is hope, and in Jesus, there is forgiveness of sins. To believe in Jesus, we believe in a God who overcomes death in death and gives us new life and forgiveness.
Good Friday
Unlike David, Jesus was betrayed, caught, punished, and crucified by His own people. His death brings us life. To believe in the King of the Jews, we believe in a ruler who willingly laid down his life so that we might live.
Holy Thursday
Jesus came for all of humanity as the rightful Son of all creation. Not only does he die for humanity, but he also willingly receives the betrayal of those with whom he shares a meal to save them. To believe in the Son of Man means to believe in someone who understands humanity through betrayal and suffering, and chooses to walk through it for us.
Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:9 is a reflection on a name that has been given to Jesus throughout the Gospels. What does it mean to believe in the Son of David? It means that we believe in a God who, from the beginning, made a plan for the offspring of David, the great king of Israel, to redeem his people with the one True King in Jesus. To believe in the Son of David is to believe in a ruler who has been promised…
The True Redeemer
What began with famine and loss ends with joy, legacy, and new life. Through Ruth and Boaz, God reveals a redemption that reaches far beyond one family and into the story of His promised King. Come celebrate the faithfulness of God and the true Redeemer who turns emptiness into lasting hope.
The Sandal Covenant
In a public moment at the city gate, a simple sandal seals a life-changing covenant. What appears to be a small legal exchange becomes the turning point in God’s redemptive plan. Come see how faithfulness, integrity, and obedience bring restoration and hope through a promise kept.
Boaz the Provider
As the night ends and hope begins to rise, Boaz responds with generosity that goes beyond obligation. His provision reassures Naomi and Ruth that redemption is already in motion. Come discover how God meets His people’s needs through faithful provision and promises that can be trusted.
Scandalous Grace
In a risky and unexpected encounter, God’s redemptive plan moves forward in ways that challenge social norms and assumptions. Ruth’s bold faith and Boaz’s integrity reveal a grace that goes beyond what is safe or predictable. Come see how God works through daring trust and faithful obedience to bring redemption to life.
A Redeemer Who Protects
As Naomi begins to recognize God’s hand at work, hope rises through the presence of a redeemer who offers both provision and protection. In Boaz, we see a glimpse of God’s faithful care for those who are vulnerable and waiting. Come discover how the Lord shelters His people and moves His plans forward through steadfast redemption.
Ash Wednesday
The Favor for a Foreigner
Ruth, a foreigner and outsider, finds unexpected kindness and protection in the fields of Boaz. What looks like chance is actually God’s gracious provision unfolding in quiet, ordinary moments. Come see how the Lord extends favor beyond boundaries and invites us to reflect His generosity to others.
Boaz, a Worthy Man
Introduced quietly into the story, Boaz embodies strength, kindness, and faithfulness in everyday life. In a world marked by vulnerability and need, his character reflects the heart of God’s care and provision. Come discover how God works through a worthy man to bring hope and protection to those who trust in Him.
Your People Are My People, My God is Your God
In a moment of profound loyalty and faith, Ruth makes a decision that changes everything. Her declaration is more than a commitment to Naomi—it is a turning point of trust in the God of Israel. Come see how God uses faithful devotion to draw outsiders in and begin a story of redemption that reaches far beyond one family.
From Bitter to Better
Naomi’s journey is marked by loss, disappointment, and deep bitterness—but God is already at work bringing change. As hope begins to stir, we see how the Lord moves people toward restoration even when the pain is still real. Come discover how God can lead us from bitterness toward something better, one faithful step at a time.
A Family in Famine
In a time of widespread famine and uncertainty, one family’s search for survival leads them far from home—and into deep loss. Ruth opens with a sobering picture of life when resources are scarce and the future feels fragile. Come explore how God is at work even in seasons of emptiness, setting the stage for redemption to come.
Consistency in Action
In a world where words are often exaggerated, redefined, or unreliable, Jesus calls His followers to speak with simple, trustworthy honesty. Our “yes” and “no” are meant to reflect the unchanging character of the God we serve. Come discover how consistency in our words gives others something true and dependable to hold onto.
Consistency in Word
In a world where expectations constantly shift, God calls His people to live with steady faithfulness. Colossians reminds us that our daily work and actions are rooted not in changing circumstances, but in serving a consistent and trustworthy Lord. Come explore how living with consistency in action gives others something solid to see and hold onto.
Final Victory
As Scripture draws to a close, Jesus declares that He is coming soon—bringing reward, restoration, and the final triumph of God’s kingdom. These verses remind us that history is moving toward a sure and glorious victory where Christ reigns forever. Come be encouraged by the hope, urgency, and promise of the Savior who will have the last word.
The Christian in Battle
Peter reminds us that the Christian life includes real spiritual resistance, as our enemy seeks to discourage, divide, and devour. Yet God calls us to stand firm—not in our own strength, but in humble dependence on Him. Come hear how, in the midst of the battle, the God of all grace restores, strengthens, and establishes His people.
The Church in Battle
Scripture reminds us that the Church is not a passive audience but an active participant in a real spiritual battle. Armed with God’s strength, His Word, and the armor of the Spirit, we stand against forces that cannot be fought with earthly weapons. Come discover how God equips His people to engage the fight with courage, prayer, and unshakable faith.
The Battle
Long before shepherds heard angels sing, a far greater drama was unfolding—a cosmic battle between heaven’s true King and the forces that opposed Him. Revelation and Isaiah pull back the curtain to show that Christmas is not just a quiet story in Bethlehem, but a victory in the war for God’s kingdom. Come see how Christ’s birth marks the decisive moment when light confronts darkness and the Savior…
Looking to the Full Kingdom
Zechariah gives a breathtaking glimpse of God’s future kingdom—a day when living waters flow, Jerusalem is secure, and even the most ordinary things are marked as holy. These visions remind us that God is leading history toward a world fully renewed in His presence. Come discover the hope and joy of looking toward the fullness of His coming kingdom.
Humility
As the city’s walls rose, God called His people not just to rebuild Jerusalem, but to live there—to fill its streets, neighborhoods, and surrounding towns with faithfulness and purpose. These passages remind us that serving God sometimes means stepping into places that need renewal and offering our lives for His mission. Come discover what it means to dwell where God is at work and to help shape a…
Recounting the Story
As God’s people remember their history, they tell a story not of their faithfulness, but of God’s. Even when they turned away again and again, the Lord remained patient, merciful, and steadfast in love. Come hear how recounting the story helps us see God’s grace as the thread that has held us all along.
Keep Going
When the people grew discouraged and the work of rebuilding slowed, God called them to rise, refocus, and continue the work He had begun in them. Haggai reminds us that even when we feel weary or overwhelmed, the Lord is with us and gives strength for the task. Come be encouraged to keep going, trusting that God’s presence empowers perseverance.
Confessing Sin
In Zechariah’s vision, Joshua the high priest stands accused and filthy—but the Lord removes his guilt and clothes him in purity. This powerful picture shows us that confession is not about shame, but about receiving God’s mercy and cleansing. Discover the freedom and hope found when we bring our sin before the One who makes us new.
Protecting the Vulnerable
When injustice threatened the poor among God’s people, Nehemiah confronted exploitation and called for restoration. This passage reminds us that true faith is lived out in how we treat the vulnerable. Hear how God’s heart for justice shapes a community marked by compassion and integrity.
Everyone Pitching In
As the walls of Jerusalem stood restored, God’s people each played a part—bringing offerings, serving faithfully, and rejoicing together. Nehemiah shows us that the work of God flourishes when everyone contributes to the life of the community. Experience how joy grows when all of us pitch in to build up God’s house.
Seeking the Lord's Favor
Before setting out on a dangerous journey, Ezra called the people to fast and humble themselves, seeking the Lord’s protection. Their story reminds us that God’s favor is not earned by strength but received through dependence on Him. Discover the power of prayerful surrender in finding God’s guidance and care.
Facing Opposition
As God’s people set out to rebuild, they quickly discovered that obedience often invites resistance. The opposition in Ezra’s day reminds us that setbacks and struggles are not signs of God’s absence but opportunities to trust His greater plan. Come hear how we can stand firm in faith when obstacles rise against God’s work.
First Things First
Before walls were rebuilt or cities restored, God’s people first gathered to worship and to hear His Word. Ezra and Nehemiah remind us that renewal begins not with our projects, but with placing God at the center. Discover how putting first things first leads to true strength, joy, and revival.
Resetting Expectations in a New Age
As God’s people rebuilt the temple, some wept for what was lost while others shouted for joy at what was beginning. In Haggai, the Lord reminds them that His Spirit is with them, and His glory will not be diminished. Hear how these passages call us to reset our expectations—not by clinging to the past, but by trusting God’s greater work in this new age.
