Guerrilla Christianity

S8E35: Sharing the Promise (Epiphany 2021)

Typically for Epiphany we will look at the text from Matthew that describes the arrival of the wise men to lay their gifts at the feet of Jesus.  This year, however, we are looking at Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus, a church that was largely made up of pagan converts to Christianity.  This is a fitting text as it highlights the work of God through Paul in bringing the good news to the Gentiles, and that is what Epiphany is all about - the revealing of Christ to the world at large, and not only to the Jews.  In Christ, God is rescuing and restoring all of his creation, and that includes us, who are made in God's image.

Ephesians 3:1-12

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on January 3, 2021

S.D.G.

S2E33: Emmanuel, God with Us (Advent 2014)

What does it mean for us that God is omnipresent?  It means he is everywhere at all times, and it means that we are always in his presence.  But most of us live like that is not the case.  Today we look at the presence of God and an eternal promise he made to King David, a promise that we saw fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, and a promise we will see fulfilled again in the second coming of Christ.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Second Samuel chapter 7, and join us as we welcome Emmanuel: God With Us.

2 Samuel 7:1-16

Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 21, 2014 (Originally published December 22, 2014)

S.D.G.

Lectionary Readings for First Sunday of Advent, Year B

November 29, 2020

Old Testament: Isaiah 64:1-9

Psalter: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Gospel Lesson: Mark 13:24-37

S.D.G.

S6E27: God Is Good (Thanksgiving Eve Service)

This year (2018), the Ministerium of Penns Grove, Carneys Point and Pedricktown held what we hope to be an annual eccumenical Thanksgiving Eve service at St. Gabriel's Parrish in Carneys Point.  As we were discussing the service at our monthly meeting, I made mention that I always write a Thanksgiving sermon just in case we ever have a Thanksgiving Eve service, something we did yearly at my home church in Pitman.  And so I ended up giving the message, based on the lectionary text from Joel.  Joel is one of those Old Testament prophets who brings a message of doom and gloom for an unfaithful nation.  And yet, in the midst of their transgression, God delivers a promise of restoration, saying they will never even remember the bad times.  God is good, all the time, and in the midst of our troubles, we always have that to be thankful for.

Text: Joel 2:21-27

Recorded at St. Gabriel's Parrish on November 21, 2018 (Originally published December 12, 2018)

S.D.G.

S8E23: In Service to the King (Christ the King 2017)

The mark of a Christian is not that they claim to be Christian.  The mark of a Christian is the outpouring of the love they have been given from God to others.  In this Christ the King message preached in 2017, we look at Jesus' loving words for those who did acts of lovingkindness as a natural response to the grace they have been given - so natural, in fact, that they never even gave it any thought.  But Jesus also has harsh words for those who have not responded to God's grace in outward love.  It is a message that forces us to ask the question, who is Christ to me?

Matthew 25:31-46

Recorded at Hudson UMC on November 26, 2017 (Previously unpublished)

S.D.G.

S2E29: The Coming Shepherd

A shepherd has a very particular relationship with his sheep.  He gathers in the ones that wander away from the flock and he protects them from the wolves that seek to devour the strays.  On this Christ the King Sunday, we see how God promises to his people Israel, through the prophet Ezekiel, to be the shepherd for his own people - a promise that he kept when he came to Earth as the man Jesus Christ.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Ezekiel chapter 34, and join us as we welcome the coming shepherd.

Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on November 23, 2014 (Originally published November 24, 2014)

S.D.G.

S8E20: The Cry at Midnight ("There" Is NOW, pt. 1)

Last Advent (2019) we had a sermon series called "Are We There Yet?"  And now, at the end of Lectionary Year A we declare: "There" Is NOW!  Over the next three weeks we will be looking at Matthew 25, part of the Olivet Discourse where Jesus talks about end times and the Kingdom of Heaven, and what it is like.  In this first of three parables, Jesus talks about wise and foolish virgins who prepare for a wedding banquet.  Those who were foolish took no oil with them and were unprepared when the bridegroom returned with a shout at midnight.  What can we, the church in 2020, learn about how to be prepared for Christ's return?  And how can we heed the cry at midnight when it comes?

Matthew 25:1-13

Recorded at Hudson UMC on November 8, 2020

S.D.G.

S2E25: Whom Do You Choose?

We all make choices, all the time, every single day.  We might choose which shirt to wear for the day or what to eat for breakfast.  Today as we begin to look at some old testament texts in the weeks leading up to Advent, we take a look at the choice that Joshua laid out to the people of Israel: choose to serve the Lord, or choose not to.  It's a critical choice to make and one with eternal repercussions.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Joshua chapter 24, and join us as we decide, "Whom do you choose?"

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Recorded at Hudson UMC on November 9, 2014 (Originally published November 12, 2014)

S.D.G.

S2E22: By Our Service (Five Promises pt. 3)

We continue our look at the five promises we make to the local church when we become members, and this week we look at what it means to participate by our service.  Our guest speaker Jen Andrade has quite a unique perspective on service, being active in the United Methodist Women and also serving as a missionary in residence to La Palmilla, Mexico.  She delivers quite a strong message, based on Jesus' washing of his disciples' feet.  So grab your Bible, turn it to John Chapter 13, and join our guest speaker as she tells us what it means to support the church by our service.

John 13:3-15

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 19, 2014 (originally published November 1, 2014)

S.D.G.

S2E20: By Our Presence (Five Promises pt. 2)

We continue our look at the five ways we participate in ministry.  This week we look at how we participate by our presence.  Presence means being there, and it's more than just showing up.  Paul in his letter to the church at Colosae exhorts the Colossians to be a part of the body of Christ.  We are not called into isolation, but community.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Colossians chapter 3, and join us as we look at how we participate in ministry by our presence.

Colossians 3:12-17

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 12, 2014 (First published on October 28, 2014)

S.D.G.