Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #248

The Church in the time of Luther added the burden of meritorious works and the sale of indulgences to the sufficient work of God's grace, and Luther and the reformers sought to free God's people by dismantling the scaffolding.

Ephesians 2:1-10

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 22. 2017 (Originally published October 31, 2022)

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

Watch on YouTube

S.D.G.

Sermon #412

One attribute of God that is difficult to define is His glory.  When we think of God's glory we often think of ineffable light.  In today's reading from Exodus, we see that God's glory comes from His presence, and that no one can see it and live.  Instead, we see the glory of God reflected in things around us, in nature, in creation.  We also see God's glory revealed to us in Jesus Christ.  Whereas Moses was only shown the back of God's glory as he passed by, we are able to behold God's glory in full in the incarnation.

Exodus 33:12-23

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 18, 2020 (Originally published October 20, 2020)

S.D.G.

October 22, 2023

Old Testament: Exodus 33:12-23

Psalter: Psalm 99

Epistle Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:15-22

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 #247

Having established that we are justified through faith alone, the question remains: faith in what, or whom? The Bible tells us that whoever believes in Jesus will be saved. The Reformers restored to Christ's followers the understanding that it is faith alone in Christ alone, and that Christ is our only savior, the only sacrifice, and the only mediator between a holy God and sinful man.

Acts 4:5-13

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 15, 2017 (Originally published October 30, 2017)

S.D.G.

Sermon #82

As we continue our look at the five promises we make when we join the local church, we look at what it means to faithfully participate in its ministries by our gifts. Giving is an unpopular topic in the church, and often a sermon about tithing gives the impression that the church only wants our money. But we will see that stewardship is not about an amount, but the faithful management of the resources that God gives to us, and our giving is a response to the love and grace He has already shown. So grab your Bible, turn it to first Chronicles, chapter 29, and join us as we examine what it means to support the church by our gifts.

1 Chronicles 29:1-9

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 26, 2014 (first published on November 11, 2014)

S.D.G.

October 15, 2023

Old Testament: Exodus 32:1-14

Psalter: Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23

Epistle Lesson: Philippians 4:1-9

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14

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 #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.

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

Watch on YouTube

S.D.G.

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.