Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #576

Throughout this series we have been looking at how we participate in the ministries of the local church, by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service.  Today we look at what it means to support the church by our witness.  So often we as Christians hesitate to testify to our faith because we fear the backlash, or perhaps we are afraid that we will be challenged and not have all the answers.  These fears are ungrounded, however, when we consider the testimony of scripture.  When those touched by the presence of Christ, such as this Samaritan woman at the well, give witness to what Christ has done for them, even those who are outcasts have a powerful impact on their community.  And what we see in this final lesson in our Five Things series is that all these things - our prayers, presence, gifts, and service - are a witness to the impact Christ has had on us.

John 4:3-42

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 29, 2023

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S.D.G.

Sermon #575

This week we go to the Gospel according to St. John for our text.  At the last supper, in the upper room, Jesus took on the role of the servant, to model to us, his disciples, what servanthood looks like.  It is humbling ourselves and doing the work of the lowest, and being in service to the church means being in service to the community and to each other.  Jesus didn't say "Because I washed your feet, you should wash my feet."  The Good Shepherd leads by example and says "Because I washed your feet, you should wash one another's feet." And, "As I have loved you, so should you love one another."

John 13:3-17

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 22, 2023

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S.D.G.

Sermon #574

This week we look at our giving, and it's a sermon that's sure to make the average churchgoer grip their wallet a little tighter.  But it's important to understand that giving is an act of worship.  We respond to the grace that we have received by ensuring that the ministries of the church can reach others so that God's grace can be at work in the world.  Worship is a means of grace, and by supporting the ministries of the local church by our gifts, we are ensuring that future generations will also hear the good news of Jesus Christ.  The question then becomes, what is the proper amount to give?  As our giving is a response to the grace we have received, our giving displays just how vital and important God's grace is to us.

Mark 12:38-44

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 15, 2023

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S.D.G.

Sermon #573

As we continue our look at the five things we promise when we join the local Methodist church, we come to the promise to participate in the ministries of the local church by our presence.  What does it mean to be present?  It means to be there, to be present in body and in spirit.  It means to come and be a part of the body of Christ.  Today's text is one we often look at in the second week of the Easter season, where the Apostle Thomas gets his "Doubting" nickname.  But as we will see, it is more appropriate to refer to him as "Absent Thomas," because he was not present with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to him the first time.  Likewise, we often miss a move of God when we are not present with the body of Christ.  

John 20:19-31

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 8, 2023

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S.D.G.

In today's episode, Pastor R. Bret Walker explores what it means to wear God’s labels through 1 Thessalonians 2:9–13. Drawing on Paul’s tireless ministry and his own experience as a bi-vocational pastor, he challenges us to serve freely, live faithfully, and share the gospel wherever God places us. Our conduct matters: the lives we model can encourage others toward Christ or undermine our witness. Scripture is more than human speech; God’s word works within believers, transforming hearts and lives. Because we have freely received salvation through Jesus Christ, we are called to give freely and walk worthy of God’s kingdom.

#GuerillaChristianity #PastorBretWalker #WearingGodsLabels #1Thessalonians #ChristianPodcast #BibleTeaching #GospelOfGrace #ChristianLiving #BivocationalMinistry #WalkWorthy

Sermon #572

In the Methodist church, when we become members of the local church, we promise to fully participate in the ministries of the local church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.  This is the focus of our current series, called "Five Things."  In this first installment we look at what it means to participate in the ministries of the local church by our prayers.  We look at Jesus' model of prayer (what we call the Lord's Prayer) and his justification for persistence in prayer.  And we find out what praying for our ministries does for the ministries of the local church.  When our congregations pray in one direction toward one goal, and that goal is the furthering of the Kingdom of God and his glory here on earth, he will answer every prayer in the affirmative.

Luke 11:1-13

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 1, 2023

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S.D.G.

In “Programmable Faith?” Pastor R. Bret Walker explores Jesus’ teaching on the greatest commandments in Matthew 22:34–46. Using memories of programming an Atari 800 in BASIC, he compares clear computer instructions with God’s simple yet demanding call: love God completely and love your neighbor as yourself. The sermon examines the Pharisees’ challenge, the Shema, sacrificial neighbor-love, and Jesus’ identity as David’s Lord. Though God’s “program” is perfect, human sin introduces the error. Christian perfection, Bret argues, means being perfected in Spirit-given love—obeying God wholeheartedly, serving others selflessly, and recognizing Christ as Lord over all creation and every life.

#GuerrillaChristianity #PastorBretWalker #ProgrammableFaith #GreatestCommandment #LoveGod #LoveYourNeighbor #Matthew22 #ChristianPerfection #JesusIsLord #ChristianPodcast

In this episode of Guerrilla Christianity, Pastor R. Bret Walker explores Psalm 99 and asks what faithful Christian worship should be. Contrasting the Normative and Regulative Principles, he explains the Westminster conviction that God determines how he is worshiped through Scripture. Psalm 99 reveals the Lord as sovereign King: holy, just, merciful, omnipotent, and present with his covenant people. True worship is not designed merely to manufacture an emotional experience. It exalts God through his appointed means while graciously edifying believers. Because Christ satisfied divine justice for sinners, Christians may approach the holy King with reverence, faith, repentance, gratitude, and joy.

#GuerrillaChristianity #PastorBretWalker #Psalm99 #RegulativePrinciple #ReformedTheology #WestminsterConfession #ChristianWorship #HolinessOfGod #BiblicalPreaching #Gospel

In “The Wedding Garment,” Pastor R. Bret Walker explores Jesus’ parable in Matthew 22:1–14, where a king’s gracious invitation is rejected, extended to all, and finally met with a sobering question: Are we clothed for the feast? Connecting the parable to baptism, Pastor Walker emphasizes that salvation begins and ends with God’s initiative, mercy, and covenant faithfulness. We come as we are, but by the Holy Spirit we do not remain unchanged. The wedding garment is not human merit or religious performance, but Christ’s righteousness freely given and faithfully received. God’s wide invitation calls us to repent, believe, and come.

#GuerrillaChristianity #PastorBretWalker #TheWeddingGarment #Matthew22 #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalPreaching #GraceOfGod #Baptism #ClothedInChrist #KingdomOfHeaven

Pastor R. Bret Walker explores Philippians 4:1–9, where Paul teaches believers to discover peace amid suffering, adversity, and persecution. From prison, Paul models a life anchored in eternity: stand firm in the Lord, pursue unity, rejoice always, and let Christian love and gentleness shape your reputation. Instead of surrendering to anxiety, bring every need to God with prayer, thanksgiving, and trust. Fill your mind with what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy, then practice what you have learned. Scripture widens our vision, reminding us that God wins and his surpassing peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

#GuerillaChristianity #PeaceInTheMidst #Philippians4 #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalTeaching #FaithOverAnxiety #PeaceOfGod #PastorBretWalker #StandFirmInTheLord #RejoiceAlways