Guerrilla Christianity

S5E06: Christian Love & Marriage (Camp Meeting 2016)

Sermon #177

In today's world, it is an unpopular thing to defend the Biblical view of marriage.  Yet God's word is unchanging and in today's episode, recorded at the Pitman Grove Camp Meeting, we take a long look at some disputed and controversial scriptures as they pertain to the Christian model of love and marriage.

Ephesians 5:22-28

Recorded at Pitman Grove Camp Meeting on July 3, 2016 (First published July 11, 2017)

S.D.G.

S3E09: Jews & Gentiles (Deep Questions pt. 8)

Sermon #127

You know, in the 21st century we take it for granted that there is a difference between Christians and Jews.  But back in the first century the early Christians were Jews.  The question before us today is, was the ministry of John the Baptist for a Jewish audience only, or did he minister to non-Jews as well?  And how did things change when Jesus came along?  We find the answers in the book of Matthew, so grab your Bible, turn it to Matthew chapter 3, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a look today at Jews and Gentiles.

Matthew 3:1-12

Recorded at Hudson UMC on August 16, 2015 (Originally published September 4, 2015)

S.D.G.

S6E16: Forgiveness of Sins (We Believe... Pt. 12)

Sermon #295

Most Christians today are pleased with the modern doctrine of forgiveness.  After all, if God is faithful and just to forgive all sins, then we are in the clear, right?  Not so fast.  Jesus tells a parable about a man forgiven much who refuses to forgive and finds himself on the wrong end of his lord's wrath.  Then He says, "So shall my Father do to each one of you, if you do not from your heart forgive your brother's sins."  Ouch!  This is difficult teaching but critical in our understanding of what it means to believe in the forgiveness of sins.

Text: Matthew 18:21-35

Recorded at Hudson UMC on August 19, 2018 (Originally published October 5, 2018)

S.D.G.

Lectionary Readings for Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15), Year B

August 15, 2021

Old Testament: 1 Kings 2:10-12;3:3-14

Psalter: Psalm 111

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 5:15-20

Gospel Lesson: John 6:51-58

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.

S3E08: The Chosen People of God (Deep Questions pt. 7)

Sermon #126

The question before us today is one of privilege.  Why would God, who created all people in his own image, have a particular chosen people?  It seems a bit unfair.  But as we will see in today's message, being the chosen people of God is not necessarily something that we should be jealous over.  Rather, when God chose Abram to bring a blessing on all the nations of the world, it was to bring about God's purpose, and it meant living a different way for Abram and his descendants.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Matthew chapter 15, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a look at what it means to be the chosen people of God.

Matthew 15:21-28

Recorded at Hudson UMC on August 9, 2015 (Originally published August 20, 2015)

S.D.G.

S9E04 GCTalk: Reformed Calvinist Goth (with Jessica Clement)

Just about a year ago, in December, Covid 19 was beginning to ramp up again, and I had scheduled an interview with today's guest, Jessica Clement (@eldergothchristian).  The interview went well but I had technical issues with the audio and was never able to get the interview together for the podcast.  But I recently had an opportunity to try again and so here is my interview with Jessica from August 2.  I first found Jessica's content on Tik Tok and was intrigued because she describes herself as a GOTH Christian, and a woman who is trying to distance herself from same-sex attraction and the progressive Christianity that told her that her sin was not sin.  Today she speaks from a reformed Calvinist perspective and she witnesses and spreads the gospel to thousands who follow her online, and is a staunch defender of Biblical truth.  She truly is a testimony to the transforming power of God's Spirit.

Recorded August 2, 2021 via Zoom

Watch on YouTube

S.D.G.

Lectionary Readings for Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14), Year B

August 8, 2021

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 18:5-9,15,31-33 

Psalter: Psalm 130

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Gospel Lesson: John 6:35,41-51

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.

S3E07: Confession (Deep Questions pt. 6)

Sermon #125

This week we look at confession as it pertains to our relationship with God.  How did the Jewish understanding of confession shape the way we confess our sins to God today?  Why do we have to confess our sins to an all-knowing, all-seeing God?  And how is the protestant understanding of confession different from the Catholic church's doctrine, and why?  All these questions will be addressed in our message today.  So grab your Bible, turn it to First John chapter 1, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a deeper look at confession.

1 John 1:5-10

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on August 2, 2015 (Originally published August 18, 2015)

S.D.G.

S9E02: GCTalk Progressive and Conservative Ideology in the UMC (With Pastor Zach Taylor)

Right now in the UMC there is a deep divide between progressives and conservatives, or liberals and traditionalists, whichever way you choose to designate the factions.  On the conservative side, the Wesleyan Covenant Association is helping to set up a new Methodist denomination in anticipation of the passage of the Protocol for Grace through Separation (to be voted on in the 2022 General Conference).  But how did we get here?  And what are the differences between the two sides?  Is the divide so deep that we cannot overcome it?  Two conservative pastors, myself and Pastor Zach Taylor of New Hope UMC in Penns Grove, take on this expansive topic to find out where it all began, and where we believe we shall end up.

Recorded July 25, 2021 via Zoom

Watch on YouTube

S.D.G.

S3E06: Grace for All (Deep Questions pt. 5)

Sermon #124

This week as we continue our Deep Questions sermon series, we come across a very personal and difficult issue.  What happens when people begin to slip into dementia or other age-related mental issues?  Or how does God's grace work with those who are incapable of understanding the good news of Jesus Christ, like infants or those with mental handicaps?  It is a question that has no clear answer in scripture, but when we dig a little deeper we can find the heart of God on the matter.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Matthew chapter 18, and prepare your heart and mind as we discover Grace for All.

Matthew 18:1-6,10-14

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 26, 2015 (Originally published August 17, 2015)

S.D.G.