Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #585

The Bible speaks of covenants when it comes to our relationship with God, but what does it mean to make or cut a covenant?  Over the next two weeks we will be looking at just that question, both as it relates to people in the Bible and how it relates to us.  The beginning of the year is when we as Methodists renew the Wesleyan Covenant which states that we are no longer our own but we belong to God to do with as he wills.  And so we also look at how Joseph and Mary observed the covenant of circumcision, and the covenant of dedication whereby they declare the baby Jesus to be holy unto the Lord.  And we will ask the question, how does our our own covenant with God relate to these?

Luke 2:21-40

Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 31, 2023

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S.D.G.

January 1, 2024

Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Psalter: Psalm 8

Epistle Lesson: Revelation 21:1-6a

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:31-46

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.

Sermon #423

Did you know that Christmas is not a day, but a season?  Christmas on the church calendar is a season that begins December 25th and ends January 6th with the observance of Epiphany - yes, there are really twelve days of Christmas!  In our modern society, however, we've front-loaded the season, meaning that we place more emphasis on the preparation than the observation, and when the 25th comes we just want it to be over.  I invite us all to slow down, to enjoy the company for the full season, and live every day with Christmas in our hearts and Christ on our lips.

Luke 2:22-40

Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 27, 2020 (Originally published on December 30, 2020)

S.D.G.

December 31, 2023

Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Psalter: Psalm 148

Epistle Lesson: Galatians 4:4-7

Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:22-40

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.

Sermon #583

In the fourth Sunday of Advent, we see the angel Gabriel coming to Mary in Nazareth to tell her that she will carry God's child and give birth to the Savior.  In the 21st Century we often hear objections stating that we do not need to believe in a virgin birth to be Christian, but I believe it is a bedrock foundational tenet of Christianity, and that to deny the virgin birth is to deny the divinity of Christ and the sovereignty of God.  The God of the universe, who created all things out of nothing, could certainly create life in a virgin's womb by his Spirit and enter creation as a human child - fully man and fully God.  The virgin birth demonstrates the miraculous nature of this birth and God's own intervention in his creation.  And when this announcement is paired with Isaiah's prophecy of the Son to be born, we see that this child will certainly be unlike any child born before or since.  

Luke 1:26-38

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 24, 2023

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S.D.G.

Sermon #92

There is nothing at all remarkable about the birth of Jesus.  No chronicler stood by to record the exact day and time of his birth.  No human herald declared it in the streets of Jerusalem.  Certainly very few even noticed that this child was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger with the animals, born of meager means, born to unremarkable parents.  And yet we still celebrate this birth two thousand years later, and that is because this unremarkable birth was more remarkable than any other birth in the history of mankind.  Of the billions of people who have been born and died in the history of the world, this is the only birth we celebrate year after year for millenia.  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and his name shall be called Wonderful! Counselor! The mighty God! The Everlasting Father! The Prince of Peace!

Isaiah 9:6

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 24, 2014 (Originally published December 28, 2018)

S.D.G.

Sermon #422

When company's coming and our guests arrive, what do we do?  We throw open the door, we run to them, we hug them and kiss them.  We welcome the guest into our homes.  In the story of the birth of Jesus, we find that Mary and Joseph were welcome guests in the home of Joseph's relatives, even if there was no room for them in the guest room.  This Christmas, let us also get ready to welcome the guest into our homes and into our hearts.

Luke 2:1-20

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 24, 2020 (Originally published on December 28, 2020)

S.D.G.

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.

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.

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.