Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #200

We're still working our way through the Advent sermons, and the fourth Sunday of Advent focuses on the word "Dream."  Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, had at least three dreams that we know of from Matthew's gospel account, and each time he acted on them swiftly and obediently.  The question for all of us today is, do we dare to dream big dreams when it comes to God's kingdom work, or are our dreams limited by our inability to imagine beyond what we are capable of?  Our God is a God of great possibilities, and he even gives us the faith to dream bigger.

Matthew 1:18-25

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 18, 2016 (Originally published December 26, 2016)

S.D.G.

 

Sermon #199

We are continuing our Advent journey and the word for the third Sunday is "See."  When John the Baptist found himself in prison he began to have doubts.  After all, he had given his entire life to onepurpose, determined before he was even conceived.  That purpose was to proclaim the coming Christ.  And now, in prison, he was thinking, is this it?  Or did I waste my whole life?  Jesus' response to John's inquiry reminds us that sometimes we need to stop seeing things the way the world wants us to see them, and start seeing things the way God does.

Matthew 11:2-11

Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 11, 2016 (Originally published December 24, 2016)

S.D.G.

December 11, 2022

Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10

Psalter: Luke 1:46b-55

Epistle Lesson: James 5:7-10

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 11:2-11

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 #198

The second sermon in our Advent series focuses on the word "Turn," and we look at what it means to repent, to turn away from sin and turn back to God.  The concept of repentance is what separates Catholicism from Protestantism, and is so pivotal that it was the content of the first four of Martin Luther's 95 Theses.  What is it about repentance that is so central to the Christian faith?  We're about to find out.

Matthew 3:1-12

Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 4, 2016 (originally published December 21, 2016)

S.D.G.

Sermon #197

Well, the Advent season is upon us, and everywhere we look we see signs of Christmas rapidly approaching.  Of course, the Advent season is not like the secular Christmas season which seems to begin earlier and earlier each year.  Where the secular world is preparing for the arrival of a jolly old elf in a red suit, the church is preparing for another arrival - the return of Christ on earth.  And so we begin our sermon series based on the words: Watch, Turn, See, Dream, Peace, Word, and Reveal.  This week, we hear the words of Jesus as he proclaims the advent of his second coming, and we learn what it means to keep watch, keep vigilant, keep ourselves prepared for Christ's imminent return.

Matthew 24:36-44

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on November 27, 2016 (Originally published December 6, 2016)

S.D.G.

November 27, 2022

Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5

Psalter: Psalm 122

Epistle Lesson: Romans 13:11-14

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 24:36-44

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 #29

In the good times and in bad times, no matter what we ought to give thanks to God for all things.  Here in 2020 we have been going through some of the most difficult times that most of us can remember.  And so this Thanksgiving message from 2013 is especially poignant.  When we consider the people who followed Jesus looking for a repeat of the miracle feeding of the multitudes, we see in them a glimpse of ourselves, who cannot see beyond our present circumstances.  Yet Jesus says to them and to us that we are to strive for the eternal things of God, not for the temporal things of the world.  

John 6:25-35

Recorded at Hudson UMC on November 27, 2013 (Originally published November 26, 2020)

S.D.G.

Sermon #28

Although this sermon was preached for Christ the King Sunday (the Sunday before Advent begins), it is an appropriate message for Good Friday. The thief on the cross said to Jesus, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom." Strange words to say to a person condemned to death on a Roman cross. Yet what we see in the crucifixion is that Jesus is not the king that the people expected; he is the King that we needed. And even though his throne was a cross and his crown was made of thorns, he still reigns and lives today.

Luke 23:33-43

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on November 24, 2013 (originally published April 19, 2019)

S.D.G.

 

November 20, 2022

Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalter: Luke 1:68-79

Epistle Lesson: Colossians 1:11-20

Gospel Lesson: Luke 23:33-43

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 #520

The Bible is the very word of God and as such, to us Christians it ought to be precious to us.  After all the reformers fought to give the word of God to the people, often at the cost of their very lives.  Today we have more access to better and more scholarly translations of the Bible than ever before... And yet we do not hold it precious as we should.  We expect the church to provide the word for us.  We only read the word when the Pastor is preaching on it.  God Himself wrote us a letter, and yet we do not consider it important to read it.  Sometimes it's because the word convicts us and we don't like that.  We want the word to make us feel good about ourselves.  But God's word is a mirror that shows us our need for a savior so that we can come to Christ and be saved.

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 16, 2022

S.D.G.