Guerrilla Christianity

S3E15: Building the Bible (Deep Questions pt. 13)

Sermon #133

As we bring our Deep Questions sermon series to a close, it occurs to me that perhaps this question, which was answered last, should have been answered first.  After all, it addresses the question of the validity of the Bible - our holy scriptures which we hold fast to as the very inspired word of God.  Now, for the past 150 years or so, the validity and veracity of the Bible has been under attack.  Most recently, Dan Brown's book "The DaVinci Code" puts forth the notion that the Bible was actually assembled by the pagan emperor Constantine.  But as we will see in today's lesson, God's word is secure and reliable, because we know where it came from and who wrote it, and why.  So grab your Bible, turn it to the second letter to Timothy, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a look at what went into building the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:10-17

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 27, 2015 (Originally published November 7, 2015)

S.D.G.

S6E23: Crowned with Glory (World Communion Sunday 2018)

Sermon #303

On this World Communion Sunday, we come together in unity with Christians all around the world to recognize the one thing that draws us all together and separates us from all other world religions.  That one thing is faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.  That Jesus Christ is the Son of God is a statement that only those who have faith in Christ can proclaim.  There may be many denominations, separations between the orthodox and liberal factions, the Catholic church and protestantism, and the many shades of protestantism such as Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian and, yes, Methodist.  And yet the one thing that defines us as Christian and truly makes us one church universal is faith in Jesus Christ, who is crowned with glory and seated at the right hand of God the Father.  Ours is the only faith that affirms belief in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and on World Communion Sunday we set aside our differences to embrace our oneness in Christ alone.

Text: Hebrews 1:1-4,2:5-12

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 7, 2018 (Originally published November 20, 2018)

S.D.G.

Lectionary Readings for Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22), Year B

October 3, 2021

Old Testament: Job 1:1; 2:1-10

Psalter: Psalm 26

Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

Gospel Lesson: Mark 10:2-16

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.

S9E08: Gen Z Conservative Apologist Steven Stowell (GC Talk)

Steven Stowell is a young man I met through TikTok and I have to tell you, I am extremely encouraged by him.  I hear people in the church lamenting all the time that the members of Generation Z, those born after 2000, have no interest in religion or the truth-claims of the Bible, and yet here is a very intelligent, very articulate young man in his early twenties who has studied the ancient languages in order to know the Bible more clearly and to understand God better.  His weekly podcast, "Most Excellent Theophilus," has become a staple in my regular podcast rotation, and I encourage you as well, if you desire truth about what scripture says or doesn't say about God and Christ, to subscribe to his podcast and his TikTok channel.  This conversation, from September 12, was as stimulating as it was educational.  

Recorded September 12, 2021 via Zoom Meetings

Social Media: @steventhestowell

Podcast: Most Excellent Theophilus

Watch this interview on YouTube

S.D.G.

S6E22: Pure Fellowship (Purity of the Body pt. 5)

Sermon #302

We conclude our series in James by looking at what it means to be present in the church.  Our presence together is powerful.  One Christian on his or her own praying alone is a powerful thing but when we gather together by two or three or a few or many, that power in the Spirit of God grows exponentially.  The question we have been looking at throughout this series has been this: As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?  Today our focus is on our presence and how it brings healing to us, to our church, and to our community.

Text: James 5:13-20

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 30, 2018 (Originally published November 28, 2018)

S.D.G.

Lectionary Readings for Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21), Year B

September 26, 2021

Old Testament: Esther 7:1-6,9-10; 9:20-22

Psalter: Psalm 124

Epistle Lesson: James 5:13-20

Gospel Lesson: Mark 9:38-50

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.

S6E21: Pure Prayer (Purity of the Body pt. 4)

Sermon #301

So often Christians lose their connection to God in prayer, and why do we think this is?  Many Christians lose hope in prayer because they feel as though their prayers are not being answered, that they pray and pray and God ignores their pleas.  In today's reading from the book of James, we look at purity in prayer, and why it is that some prayers are answered to our liking, and some are not.  What can we do to continue our prayer life with God?  How can we keep the lines of communication open?  James says that it begins with us and the way that we pray.

Text: James 3:12-4:8

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 23, 2018 (Originally published November 27, 2018)

S.D.G.

Lectionary Readings for Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20), Year B

September 19, 2021

Old Testament: Proverbs 31:10-31

Psalter: Psalm 1

Epistle Lesson: James 3:13-4:4,7-8a

Gospel Lesson: Mark 9:30-37

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.

S3E13: Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us (Ebenezer‘s 225th Anniversary)

Sermon #131

We take a brief break from our Summer series, Deep Questions, to celebrate a milestone at Ebenezer United Methodist Church.  Back in 1790, the first Methodist Bishop, Francis Asbury, stirred the hearts of local people in Salem County, and his words became the springboard for a new church established by Oldmans Creek.  225 years later, Ebenezer is still changing hearts and making disciples.  It is my privilege to serve this historic congregation as its shepherd, and we know that we are still living up to our name, as the stone of help in Auburn community.  So grab your Bible, turn it to 1 Samuel chapter 7, and prepare your heart and mind as we proclaim, thus far the Lord has helped us.

1 Samuel 7:1-14

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 13, 2015 (Originally published October 28, 2015)

S.D.G.

S6E20: Pure Speech (Purity of the Body pt. 3)

Sermon #300

Everything we as Christians say and do is part of our witness to the world.  So what does our speech say about our faith in Christ?  Do the things we talk about give glory to God or do we profane our faith by acting one way in church and another in the world?  These are convicting questions and they are set before us by James in his epistle.  In the United Methodist Church, we promise to faithfully participate in its ministries by our witness.  Today we take a look at what that means for us in a practical sense.  

Text: James 3:1-12

Recorded at Hudson UMC on Septebmer 16, 2018 (Originally published October 30, 2021)

S.D.G.