Guerrilla Christianity

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sermon #409

Today as we continue to examine the attributes of God, we see that God is an abundant provider to those whom he calls his own.  The people of Israel had just been delivered from slavery, saved from death, walked through the Red Sea and witnessed the destruction of Pharaoh's army at the hand of God.  Yet they could only see the place where they were, not where God had brought them, and so they complained that God was not providing for them.  Indeed, God would provide for all their needs for over 40 years in the wilderness, and that is what we need to see from this reading - that we need to remember the blessings of God even when we are going through difficult times.

Exodus 16:2-15

Recorded at Hudson UMC on September 20, 2020 (Originally published on September 21, 2020)

S.D.G.

September 24, 2023

Old Testament: Exodus 16:2-15

Psalter: Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

Epistle Lesson: Philippians 1:21-30

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 20:1-16

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 #243

In the prayer that we often call "The Lord's Prayer," we say "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."  But think about it.  If God forgives us the way we forgive others, does that make us feel good?  Or are we lacking in our forgiveness, according to God's standard of forgiveness?

Matthew 18:21-35

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 17, 2017 (Originally published October 9, 2017)

S.D.G.