Episodes

Sunday May 15, 2022
Lectionary Readings for Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C
Sunday May 15, 2022
Sunday May 15, 2022
May 15, 2022
First Lesson: Acts 11:1-18
Psalter: Psalm 148
Epistle Lesson: Revelation 21:1-6
Gospel Lesson: John 13:31-35
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.

Wednesday May 11, 2022
S6E62: Worship of the Saved (Easter 2019)
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Sermon #336
What does "Saved" worship look like? It looks like this scene from Revelation chapter 7 where those who defended the Gospel with their lives spend day and night before the throne of God worshipping Him for all He has done. We who are saved recognize that it is not by our merit that we have been saved, but by the grace of God. For that reason we commit our lives to the one who gave His life for us.
Revelation 7:9-17
Recorded at Hudson UMC on May 12, 2019 (Originally published May 15, 2019)

Tuesday May 10, 2022
S9E40: Get Up! (We Are Witnesses pt. 4)
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Sermon #497
As Christians we all face ups and downs in our walk with Christ. Today we are talking about four "ups" that we as Christians all experience. First, we "Get Up." Our conversion is a rising from the dead, putting to death our old sinful nature and rising in Christ's resurrection to newness of life. Next, we "show up." We join a faith community that can nurture us and disciple us, and as we mature and grow we can nurture and disciple other new Christians. Third, we "step up." We get into service and express agape love through selfless acts of charity and goodwill. Finally, we "point up" to God in everything we do, giving Him glory for his mighty deeds in Jesus Christ. In today's reading, which deals with the raising of a dead woman named Tabitha, we see all of these (and a few other "ups") on full display.
Acts 9:36-43
Recorded at Hudson UMC on May 8, 2022
S.D.G.

Sunday May 08, 2022
Lectionary Readings for Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C
Sunday May 08, 2022
Sunday May 08, 2022
May 8, 2022
First Lesson: Acts 9:36-43
Psalter: Psalm 23
Epistle Lesson: Revelation 7:9-17
Gospel Lesson: John 10:22-30
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.

Tuesday May 03, 2022
S9E39: Who Are You, Lord? (We Are Witnesses pt. 3)
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Sermon #496
This might come as a shock to you, but those who deny God's existence or oppose His people are opposed to God and at war with Him. The problem is a matter of knowledge about who God is. Saul faced the same issue when he was persecuting the early church. He had no idea that the God of the universe was the very Lord that he was opposing by bringing Christ's followers to their death. And make no mistake, we are in the same situation as Saul before we repent and trust in Jesus Christ alone for our forgiveness. We find that we are enemies of God when we oppose His people. But God's prevenient Grace, in the form of the Holy Spirit's conviction, will knock us off our high horse and into reality - a reality where we realize we have been blind, but now by God's grace we see.
Acts 9:1-20
Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on May 1, 2022
S.D.G.

Sunday May 01, 2022
Lectionary Readings for Third Sunday of Easter, Year C
Sunday May 01, 2022
Sunday May 01, 2022
May 1, 2022
First Lesson: Acts 9:1-20
Psalter: Psalm 30
Epistle Lesson: Revelation 5:11-14
Gospel Lesson: John 21:1-19
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.

Friday Apr 29, 2022
S3E41: Renounce, Reject, & Repent (Seven Vows pt. 1)
Friday Apr 29, 2022
Friday Apr 29, 2022
Sermon #164
Eastertide is the season of seven weeks beginning with Resurrection Sunday and ending with Pentecost. It's easy on the day after Easter Sunday to feel as though we have reached the end. But historically in the Church, Eastertide was the time of preparation for one's baptism into the Body of Christ. To that end, for the next seven weeks we are going to look at the seven vows that we as United Methodists make at our baptism, and we'll look at them against the backdrop of the beginnings of the Christian church as chronicled in the Book of Acts. This week we look at the first vow we make, to renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil of this world, and repent of our sin. So grab your Bible, turn it to Acts chapter 5, and prepare your heart and mind as we renounce, reject, and repent.
Acts 5:27-32
Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on April 3, 2016 (Originally published on April 11, 2016)
S.D.G.

Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
S6E61: Witness (Easter 2019)
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
Sermon #335
After the cross, after the empty tomb, what have we got to celebrate? On this second Sunday of Easter we look at the continuation of the story in the building of the Christian church in the First century. Peter and the disciples are told by the Jewish authorities that they must not teach in "that" name (the name of Jesus Christ). Even today, the name of Jesus Christ is an offense to those who do not believe. But when the good news is so good, how can we but proclaim it boldly? When God offers us eternal life in Jesus' name, how can we but share it with everyone we know?
Acts 5:27-32
Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on April 28 2019 (Originally published May 1, 2019)
S.D.G.

Monday Apr 25, 2022
S9E38: We Are Witnesses (We Are Witnesses pt. 2)
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Sermon #495
In the world of godless people, the most offensive name is the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The world would deny that name because it is the name of salvation, and carries with it the power of God's grace to save. When we see people objecting to religious activities, they are almost certainly Christian activities. In today's reading we see the high priest accusing the disciples of preaching in the name of Jesus, yet he will not even say the name. Peter tells him that they must obey God and not men and this is true; where governments make laws that are contrary to the word and commandment of God, we must, in good conscience, oppose those laws. We have been called by God to be witnesses to his authority and power, called to be in the world but not of the world. And we are thankful for the early Christians who fulfilled their duty as witnesses, so that we could receive the witness of their faith today.
Acts 5:27-32
Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on April 24, 2022

Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Lectionary Readings for Second Sunday of Easter, Year C
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
April 24, 2022
First Lesson: Acts 5:27-32
Psalter: Psalm 150
Epistle Lesson: Revelation 1:4-8
Gospel Lesson: John 20:19-31
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.