Guerrilla Christianity

S5E22: Faith Alone (Five Solas pt. 2)

Sermon #246

With our foundation built upon Scripture Alone, we continue our observance of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation with our look at the doctrine of Sola Fide - we are justified by faith alone, not by works. This flies in the face of the Catholic doctrine of Luther's time (and affirmed at the Council of Vatican II in the 1960s) that we are justified at the time of baptism but need continual practice of the sacraments of Communion, Penance, Matrimony, Extreme Unction (last rites), and, for the chosen few, Ordination, in order to maintain our salvation. Luther showed by Biblical texts that we are justified by faith alone and not by works, so that no one may boast in themselves but in what Christ did on the cross.

Romans 3:21-4:9

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 8, 2017 (Originally published October 25, 2017)

S.D.G.

S11E14: By Our Prayers (Five Things pt. 1)

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.

S8E16: God of Justice (The Attributes of God pt. 4)

Sermon #411

Justice is something that we have been clamoring for in recent times, but oftentimes we find that what we really want is justice for others, and not for ourselves.  In Exodus 20 we find the giving of the Decalogue, what we know of as the Ten Commandments.  These simple rules ought to be easy to follow, and yet we will see that no one in the history of humanity has ever held to this law of God.  In the giving of the law we see the justice of God, for He holds none blameless who do not keep this law.  Yet His justice is satisfied in the sacrifice of Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, and so in grace we find both justice and mercy served.

Exodus 20:1-20

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 4, 2020 (Originally published October 19, 2020)

S.D.G.

Lectionary Readings for Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22), Year A

October 8, 2023

Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Psalter: Psalm 19

Epistle Lesson: Philippians 3:4b-14

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 21:33-46

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.

S5E21: Scripture Alone (Five Solas pt. 1)

Sermon #245

We begin a new series based on the five "solas" of the Reformation. It was five hundred years ago on October 31 that Martin Luther nailed his protest, titled "Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences," more commonly known as the Ninety-Five Theses, to the door of the castle church in Wittenburg, Germany. Five hundred years later, we mark the occasion by examining the principles of the Protestant Reformation and how they apply to us today. We begin with a foundational principle, Sola Scriptura - scripture alone is the final authority.

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 1, 2017 (Originally published October 23, 2017)

S.D.G.

S11E13: Winning Souls to Christ (A People Called Methodist pt. 4)

Sermon #571

The Methodist movement of the 18th Century was one of revitalization, of revival and awakening, and it rode a wave of revival that began with George Whitfield in England and Jonathan Edwards in the Colonies.  George Whitfield would go on to the Colonies to stir up the Great Awakening but the echoes of his preaching in England reverberated in John and Charles Wesley.  The Methodist movement grew exponentially through the 19th Century but growth began to slow in the 20th, until after 1970, where every decade sees a decline in the United Methodist Church.  What happened?  We grew institutional and complacent.  In today's sermon we explore how we can bring back the evangelistic spirit of the early Methodists, and how we can stir up another great awakening, one that I believe today's society is clamoring toward.  The question then is, when the next great awakening happens, will we stay awake, or will we lull ourselves back to sleep?

Matthew 20:1-16

Recorded at Hudson UMC on September 24, 2023

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S.D.G.

S11E12: Meeting Together (A People Called Methodist pt. 3)

Sermon #570

The early Methodist societies were structured in such a way that the members could meet together and to encourage each other to works of love and growing in holiness.  The sheer numbers of church members joining these Methodist societies necessitated a division of labor, and so the class meetings and band meetings were formulated, so that members could have support from each other and be accountable to each other, while setting a standard of communication with the minister in charge.  Ultimately, the message of the gospel of grace was easier to spread through these societies because of their close-knit nature and their Agape love for one another.

Romans 14:1-12

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 17, 2023

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S.D.G.

S8E15: God of Mercy (The Attributes of God pt. 3)

Sermon #410

How many of us when we are in crisis complain to the people around us?  That's what the people of Israel did when God led them to a place where there was no water.  Yet Moses, the man of God, went to God in prayer over the crisis.   In these two actions we see what to do and what not to do - either complain to human authorities or take our crisis to God directly.  And we will see in this lesson today how God's mercy is extended in ways we wouldn't expect - even to the point of God Himself being struck on our behalf, in the person of Jesus Christ.  

Exodus 17:1-7

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 27, 2020 (Originally published September 28, 2020)

S.D.G.

S5E20: A Gospel-Worthy Life (Philippians 1:21-30)

Sermon #244

Paul exhorts the church in Philippi to live a life worthy of the gospel. In today's lesson from Philippians we examine what that means, and also what Paul means when he says "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Philippians 1:21-30

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 24, 2017 (Originally published on October 10, 2017)

S.D.G.

S2E17: Of One Heart and Mind

Sermon #76

This week we begin a new series based in Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, known as the book of Philippians.  Paul opens his letter - written from a Roman prison - with joy and thanksgiving, and then exhorts the believers in Philippi to stand firm and strive together in the faith.  It's a model of the church that we in the 21st century can learn from and live by.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Philippians chapter 1, and join us as we look at a church that is of one heart and mind.

Philippians 1:21-30

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 21, 2014 (Originally published October 12, 2014)

S.D.G.