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Episodes
An Unconventional, No-Apologies Exposition of God’s Grace from an Evangelical-Methodist Point of View
Episodes
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
December 24, 2023
Old Testament: Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalter: Psalm 96
Epistle Lesson: Titus 2:11-14
Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:1-20
Scripture quotations from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
S.D.G.
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
Sermon #421
As we continue our series, "Company's Coming," we look at two scriptures from the Old and New Testaments that describe the anticipation of waiting for the coming of the Lord. In 2 Samuel, we see how David desires to build a permanent dwelling for God in Jerusalem to replace the moth-eaten tent from the Exodus, yet God promises to build a permanent house forever for David. And we see that promise fulfilled in the Lukan account of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary to announce the coming of the Christ child. These scriptures taken together give us a glimpse into the heart of God, that though we desire to build and do for Him, He is the one who blesses us, because from Him come all things - not the least of which is salvation by His grace.
Luke 1:26-38 (with 2 Samuel 7:1-16)
Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 20, 2020 (Originally published on December 23, 2020)
S.D.G.
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
December 24, 2023
Old Testament: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Psalter: Luke 1:46b-55
Epistle Lesson: Romans 16:25-27
Gospel Lesson: Luke 1:26-38
Scripture quotations from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
S.D.G.
Friday Dec 22, 2023
Friday Dec 22, 2023
Sermon #256
When John the Baptist was asked who he was and why he was baptizing in the Jordan (rather than in Jerusalem at the temple), his answer was that he was merely one crying out in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord." Our testimony begins with Christ and what He has done in us. John's entire purpose from birth was to point to the coming Messiah. How are we doing the same today?
John 1:6-8,19-28
Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 17, 2017 (Originally published on December 18, 2020)
S.D.G.
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Sermon #90
As Christians we are all called upon to bring the good news, but what exactly does that mean? What is the good news, and why is it so hard to tell it? After all, we are so ready to go on Facebook and tell about good news that pales in comparison to the eternal life that God offers. Today we look at Isaiah 61, the scripture that Jesus used to begin his ministry in Galilee, and we look at what the good news is, and how we can share it. So grab your Bible, turn it to Isaiah chapter 61, and prepare your heart and mind as we prepare to bring the good news.
Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11
Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 14, 2014 (Originally published December 19, 2014)
S.D.G.
Monday Dec 18, 2023
Monday Dec 18, 2023
Sermon #582
After looking at Mark's opening passage about John the Baptist and his role in Jesus' ministry, today we look at the same account from the gospel according to St. John. When each of the gospel writers introduce John the Baptist, they all use Isaiah 40:3, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord; make straight a highway to our God." In fact, G. F. Handel used the same prophecy to open his magnum opus, "The Messiah." When we see so much agreement among the four gospels, it's a good indication that it's something God wants us to know. And when John says to the people there that he is not the Christ, but that the Christ is standing among them, what he's really saying is that what the people had been waiting 400 years for was upon them, was imminent.
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 17, 2023 (Portions also recorded at Ebenezer UMC)
S.D.G.
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Sermon #420
We've talked about seeing the mess of our lives, about the need for a clean up crew, and now we talk about decorations! But it's not the decorations you might be thinking of. When we become Christians, we put off the old person and put on Christ, so that all anyone sees is the Christ in us. What we learn from the account of John the Baptist is that God gives us a purpose, a testimony, and a place to live out our faith so that others may come to a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
John 1:6-8,19-28
Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 13, 2020 (Originally published on December 16, 2020)
S.D.G.
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
December 17, 2023
Old Testament: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalter: Psalm 126
Epistle Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23
Gospel Lesson: John 1:6-8, 19-28
Scripture quotations from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
S.D.G.
Friday Dec 15, 2023
Friday Dec 15, 2023
Sermon #255
We say that Jesus came in the fullness of time, but what does that really mean? Isaiah's prophecy calls for a voice in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord. When we look at the world in Jesus' time, we see how it was uniquely positioned for the maximum impact of His arrival. We see that the world was using a common language which facilitated the spreading of the Gospel story. We see that the Roman Empire had established roads which allowed for quick and easy travel between centers of commerce. We see that Palestine itself (the region of Galilee and Judea) stood at the crossroads of commerce through which people of many nations would travel. Indeed, God had first prepared the way for the coming of the Lord, and then used people like John the Baptist and Mark the Evangelist to proclaim His coming.
Mark 1:1-8
Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 10, 2017 (Originally published December 11, 2020)
S.D.G.
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Sermon #89
Today we continue with Isaiah, this time looking at chapter 40. Isaiah begins the second part of his book of prophecy by telling the people of Israel to prepare the way for the coming Lord. But rather than being words merely for the people of the 8th century BC, Isaiah's words are for us as well, imploring us to remember that Christ will return, and that we should prepare our hearts and minds to receive him. So grab your Bible, turn it to Isaiah chapter 40, and prepare your hearts and minds as we prepare the way of the Lord.
Isaiah 40:1-11
Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 7, 2014 (Originally published December 17, 2014)
S.D.G.