Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #328

Lent is a season of denying ourselves so that we can grow closer to God.  In the reading from Isaiah today, God promises to the people of Israel rich abundance if they only repent, turn away from their sin and return to God.  In today's message, we will examine what it means to repent, and why it is important to confess to specific sin in our lives in order to truly return to God with all our heart.

Isaiah 55:1-9

Recorded at Hudson UMC on March 24, 2019 (Originally published March 27, 2019)

S.D.G.

Sermon #489

There are two inter-connected parts to this message, and they both have to do with repentance.  First, some people came to Jesus talking about how Pilate had massacred some worshipers in Galilee, and their unspoken question was, what sin did they commit to deserve such deaths?  We ask the same in times of disaster, but the truth of the matter is, as Jesus said, we must all repent or we will perish like them.  The second part of the message deals with the fruit that we bear as repentant sinners.  We are told in Psalms 1 that a person who meditates on the law of God day and night is like a tree planted by streams of living water and we will bear fruit in season.  And so we ask ourselves, as followers of Christ, what kind of fruit do we bear, and how does God's word inform us on what kind of fruit we should be bearing?

Luke 13:1-9

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on March 20, 2022

S.D.G.

March 20, 2022

Old Testament: Isaiah 55:1-9

Psalter: Psalm 63:1-8

Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Gospel Lesson: Luke 13:1-9

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 #156

As we continue our Lenten journey through the 24 Hours That Changed the World, we come to one of the darkest places in the gospels, the Garden of Gethsemane.  In today's reading we are given a glimpse into the humanity of Christ, and we hear the very private prayer of Jesus to God the Father.  It's a moment that we can all relate to, the feeling of helplessness, that the world is pressing down upon us.  Yet Jesus caps off his prayer with a demonstration of his own faithful obedience to the will of God, when he says "Yet not what I want, but what you want."  It's a very telling moment, and one which we, as followers of Christ, can use to grow even closer to the nature of Christ.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Mark chapter 14, and prepare your heart and mind as we join Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Mark 14:26,32-42

Recorded at Hudson UMC on February 21, 2016 (Originally published February 23, 2016)

S.D.G.

Sermon #327

[In 2019], the United Methodist Church held a special session of General Conference at which our voting body affirmed our current statement on homosexuality.  In response, many annual conferences, including Greater New Jersey (of which both Hudson UMC and Ebenezer UMC are members), had special sessions to discuss the ramifications of the vote at General Conference.  In response to these, we took a look at what it means to be a loving church, using Christ as our example.

Luke 13:31-35 and John 8:1-11

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on March 17, 2019 (Originally published March 25, 2019)

S.D.G.

Sermon #488

We come to the passage of scripture from which the title of the series comes.  To be gathered up in Christ is the most secure place in the world.  The image Jesus uses is that of a mother bird protecting her young under her wings, and if you know anything about mother birds, you know that they will defend their chicks with their very lives.  Jesus likewise will sacrifice himself in order to save us from our sins.  The question is, are we willing to be gathered up in him, or do we prefer to do our own thing apart from Jesus and his loving protection?

Luke 13:31-35

Recorded at Hudson UMC on March 13, 2022

S.D.G.

March 13, 2022

Old Testament: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Psalter: Psalm 27

Epistle Lesson: Philippians 3:17-4:1

Gospel Lesson: Luke 18:31-35

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.

Sermon #155

We are continuing our study of 24 Hours That Changed the World, a book by Adam Hamilton.  In this first Sunday of Lent we take a look at the Last Supper and the institution of Holy Communion that arose from it.  We also look at what it means to do things in remembrance and how Communion arose out of the Jewish memorial feast of Passover, and compare and contrast the Passover to Communion as well as the things that they are each intended to memorialize.  So grab your bible, turn it to Mark chapter 14, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a deeper look at the Last Supper.

Mark 14:12,22-25

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on February 14, 2016 (Originally published February 16, 2016)

S.D.G.

Sermon #154

Ash Wednesday is the first day in the season of Lent, the season on the church calendar that leads into Easter.  Lent is marked by fasting, prayer, and penitence, and has been traditionally associated with preparing converts to Christianity for baptism.  This year we are doing a churchwide study based on Adam Hamilton's book, 24 Hours That Changed the World.  It's an in-depth look at the final day of Christ's life before his death on the cross.  On this Ash Wednesday, we begin with an introduction to the Last Supper, and look at what it means to prepare for a meal.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Luke chapter 22, and prepare your heart and mind as we begin preparing for the meal.  

Luke 22:7-13

Recorded at Hudson UMC on February 10, 2016 (Originally published February 14, 2016)

S.D.G.

Sermon #326

On this first Sunday in Lent we examine a passage from Deuteronomy and a passage from Romans that speak to the generous heart of God.  Everything that we have comes from God, and every good thing we have received from God's own hand.  From the air we breathe to the life we live, to the faith within us that brings us to salvation - indeed, salvation itself is an act accomplished by the will of a generous and loving God.  Rather than give thanks just once a year, we ought to live our lives in thanksgiving to this God - OUR God - who loves us and provides for us all that we need.

Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Romans 10:8b-13

Recorded at Hudson UMC on March 10, 2019 (originally published March 13, 2019)

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S.D.G.