Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #205

We don't have to have all the answers as evangelists. All we have to do is to bring them, and Jesus will make them see.

John 1:29-42

Recorded at Hudson UMC on January 15, 2017 (Originally published January 22, 2017)

S.D.G.

Sermon #531

A new year brings the promises of starting over.  We often find ourselves in times or seasons of struggle and adversity.  The word of the Lord promises us that there are hard times in life, but there are good times as well.  As we mature and grow in God's word we begin to see that behind each season of life there is the promise of eternity, and that is what gives us hope. So if the season you are in is not to your liking, wait a moment, and a new season will begin.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on January 1, 2023

S.D.G.

Sermon #204

The first Sunday after Epiphany is called "Baptism of the Lord," and on it we remember both Jesus' baptism and our own.  In today's episode we will examine what baptism is, what it means, and why it was necessary for Jesus to be baptized.  

Matthew 3:13-17

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on January 8, 2017 (Originally published January 11, 2017)

S.D.G.

January 8, 2023

Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1-9

Psalter: Psalm 29

Epistle Lesson: Acts 10:34-43

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 3:13-17

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.

January 6, 2023

Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalter: Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 3:1-12

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12

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 #530

On Christmas Eve we sang Silent Night in a sanctuary lit with candles.  On Christmas morning we were bathed in the light of day.  What better way to celebrate the birth of our Savior than with the opening strains of John's gospel, which present a thorough Christology for us.  Jesus is described as the Word, who was with God and was God.  He is the life, and the light of men - the true light that darkness cannot overcome.  When we repent and trust in Jesus we come out of the darkness, hiding our sin in shame, and step into the light where we can give glory to God by our good works.  This Christmas we celebrate the Lord's day with praise and worship to our God and king, receiving the greatest gift ever given - salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

John 1:1-14

Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 25, 2022

S.D.G.

Sermon #529

This Christmas Eve we are looking at the text from Isaiah which prophecies the coming Messiah.  Isaiah begins by speaking of the darkness that has fallen over the northern kingdom of Israel - the darkness of war and the conquest of the Assyrian empire.  God had used Assyria to punish rebellious Israel, and the northern kingdom would never be the same again.  In Jesus' time, this area was called Samaria and Galilee - and it was out of a town in Galilee called Nazareth that salvation would come, in the person of Jesus Christ.  So out of the darkness of sin and apostasy, God has brought forth a great light, and Isaiah had told of this seven hundred years before Jesus was born.  Today, God is still bringing people out of the darkness of their sin into the light of Christ, and my own testimony bears this out.

Isaiah 9:2-7

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 24, 2022

S.D.G.

Sermon #203

Epiphany Sunday is the observance of the end of the Christmas season. The word "epiphany" means a revealing, and in the letter of Paul to the church at Ephesus, he indicates that the incarnation of Christ is a revealing of God's mystery to the world, and that mystery is that 1. Gentiles are fellow heirs, 2. they are part of the same body, and 3. they are recipients of God's promise, along with the Jews. This revelation is incredible, because previously it was thought that God's grace and salvation were available only to those born of Abraham's seed. Yet Paul tells us that all of creation from the beginning of time has been under God's grace, and that this mystery has been revealed to the world in Christ.

Ephesians 3:1-12

Recorded at Hudson UMC on January 1, 2017 (originally aired January 2, 2017)

S.D.G.

Sermon #202

I found it interesting that Christmas fell on a Sunday this year (2016), but what may have been more interesting is the reaction many people had to having service on Christmas day. My rebuttal was usually in the vein of, "Well, if you don't want to come to church on Christmas, then don't." That might seem a bit blunt, but honestly, we as Christians are challenged to a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ than simply indulging in the gluttony of Christmas gift-giving. After all, what gift could possibly top the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus? None that I can think of. Through the opening stanzas of John's gospel we hear the incredible truth that Jesus is God, and that God became flesh and dwelt among us. It's a startling revelation that, once we as Christians fully understand it, we are never the same. So grab your Bible, turn it to John chapter 1, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a closer look at the Word made flesh.

John 1:1-14

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 25, 2016 (Originally published December 30, 2016)

S.D.G.

Sermon #201

We hope you are finding some deeper meaning to this season of Christmas, and that's what this Christmas Eve message was all about this year.  We see it every year in the malls, in the extravagant light displays, in the mounds of presents under the tree, and so I just want to ask us all, do we get it?  Do we really get what this holiday is all about?  Because beneath the veneer of wrapping paper and bows and stockings and twinkling lights, there doesn't seem to be even a fleeting glimpse of the Christ child for whom this celebration is all about.  Now, I had planned a message based on Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful   Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  But as sometimes happens, God laid it upon my heart to change the message at the last minute.  And so here is the message from Christmas Eve, following an extended scripture reading that we had at Hudson United Methodist.

Luke 2:1-20 and related scripture

Recorded at Hudson UMC on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2016 (Originally published December 27, 2016)

S.D.G.