Arise Church Denver Weekly Messages

2 Kings 5. Naaman was a decorated war general. He had great influence. He had friends in high places. He even had Scrooge McDuck money. But he also had something else: leprosy. When he learned that a prophet named Elisha could heal him, he set out, ready to use his power, influence and money to get it. Then Elisha told him what he would need to do to be healed. Like Meatloaf he cried, “I would do anything for healing…but I won’t do that.” In this message learn what it truly takes to be lifted up by God.

2 Kings 4:8-37. Sometimes it’s hard to hope. In fact, we become afraid to hope. We’ve been disappointed too many times. The situation hasn’t gotten better. The person hasn’t changed. It can feel easier to give up. If it’s hard to hope right now, this message is for you.

2 Kings 4:1-7. Her husband was a good man, but when he died he left behind a pile of debt. Now her two boys were about to be taken away because she couldn’t afford to keep them. The setting of our story is dark, but that’s when God’s power shines the brightest.

Sometimes we struggle to believe. We have doubts. Sometimes we even ask for something in prayer never thinking it could actually happen. In this message be challenged to see our impossibilities from God’s perspective and grow in your faith.

2 Kings 2. When a challenge comes we often feel unprepared and inadequate. But ready or not, here it comes. For Elisha it was his time. From him, let’s learn what to do when it’s our time to step up.

1 Kings 19:19-21. Elisha was plowing his fields. Things were good. He had a comfortable life. But God called him to something greater. God is calling us to something greater as well. As we kick off our series in the life of Elisha, learn how you too can discover something greater.

A new year is a chance to start afresh, to bring new energy to things that are lagging behind and to try something different. In 2018 we will start where everything good starts: with prayer. Hear about this year’s theme and discover how we will come together as a church in prayer. We kick off the year with a powerful and effective 21 Days of Prayer as we ask God to move in our lives, church and community.

'Gonna find out who's naughty or nice...' Every year parents, teachers and older siblings use the all-seeing judge Santa to get better behavior out of kids. Sadly, many people think God acts in the same way--that he rewards good behavior with good things and punishes bad behavior with bad things. Sometimes it's called karma, sometimes rewards and punishment. Every other religion in the world operates on this basis. Every religion except Christianity. In this Christmas Eve message learn how the birth of Jesus demonstrates that God is not Santa Claus.

Presents! Shiny wrapped gifts have begun populating the base of our Christmas tree. As we all look forward to the gifts we will receive this holiday season, let’s use this season to focus on getting. You read that right. In this message learn the best way to get more.

Matthew 7:7-11. Some people get frustrated and abandon faith. Why? Because their prayers aren’t answered. But praying isn’t like asking Santa for what we want and getting it all nice and wrapped up under the tree. God is not Santa. God isn’t a genie in a bottle. He’s not our personal assistant. Learn in this message about how prayer actually works, including seven keys to answered prayers.

1 Peter 1:20-21. Reindeers flying without FAA approval, tiny elves sneaking around kitchens at night, a plump man in red velvet visiting 6,100 households a second. It's Christmas magic! Sadly, many equate believing in God to believing in Santa Claus. But that's not quite right. As we kick off our December series, God is not Santa Claus, learn how Christian faith is not Christmas magic.

2 Kings 1. The Bible contains some stories that are bizarre. This story is one of them. What is God trying to teach us by his fire from heaven?

1 Kings 21. Allegations of immoral activity are piling up every day in the news against actors and producers, coaches and politicians and more. Our legitimate disgust follows. Judging their illicit behavior is a daily discussion in America. For these national figures (and even for individuals in our lives), we wonder if they are just too evil to deserve redemption. In his day Elijah dealt with one of most evil public figures to ever live, someone who misused his power for wicked ends. This Sunday, through Elijah’s story we discover if anyone is ever beyond redemption.

1 Kings 19. Fear. Depression. Disappointment. Loneliness. Feelings of failure. We experience these things, but somehow don’t realize that the heroes of the Bible experienced them too. Elijah certainly did. "Elijah was a human being just like us,” the Bible declared (James 5:17). Through Elijah's story we will learn how to make it through our own grueling emotional trials.

1 Kings 18. Elijah lived in a time when the most evil king ever held power. Yet God had prepared Elijah, trained him to be a man of God, and now it was time for him to take a stand. Through his courageous showdown, the Rumble on Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged God’s people, and in turn will challenge us to likewise take a stand.

1 Kings 17. Elijah lived in a time of difficulties. A terrible leader was in power in his nation. The culture was morally bankrupt. Economic hardship swept through the land. And Elijah’s personal life grew more and more challenging. Yet God ended up using him in powerful ways. Today he is remembered as one of the greatest men of God to ever live. As we start a new series into the life of Elijah, learn how you might too become a man or woman of God.