Guerrilla Christianity

June 2, 2024

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 3:1-20

Psalter: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

Epistle Lesson: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Gospel Lesson: Mark 2:23-3:6

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 #283

The Apostles' Creed is one of our most ancient statements of the Christian faith.  It affirms our belief in the triune nature of God, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Many churches recite this affirmation of faith each week, but how often do we really consider the meaning of the words?  Why did the ancient Christians determine the need for such a statement of faith, and what does it mean to us today?  On this Trinity Sunday it seems only appropriate that we begin this series, "We Believe..." with a look at God the Father, Almighty, from the throne room vision of Isaiah the prophet.

Text: Isaiah 6:1-6

Recorded at Hudson UMC on May 27, 2018 (Originally published August 16, 2018)

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S.D.G.

Sermon #605

What does it mean to be born again?  We know what it means to be born.  I recently celebrated a birthday, and it's an annual reminder of an event that is momentous in my life, and yet I don't remember it actually happening.  Modern day evangelists often accuse Christians of not being born again because they don't remember the exact day, hour, and minute that it happened.  Surely something as momentous as an encounter with God would be worth remembering!  Yet what we see in today's lesson is that we have as much to do with being born again as we have to do with being born at all, which is to say, not at all.  We don't decide when to be born, and we don't demand of God to be born again.  Jesus said that unless we are born again we cannot even see the kingdom of God.  Why ask for something you cannot see, do not know exists?  No, the act of regeneration is entirely a work of God, but the response afterward is faith based on sight - being able to see the kingdom and trusting in Christ alone for our salvation.

1 John 5:1-12

Recorded at Hudson UMC on May 5, 2024

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S.D.G.

Sermon #282

We begin our sixth season of the Guerrilla Christianity podcast with a deeper look at the Holy Spirit. We see the Holy Spirit at work in the pages of the Bible, and we know He is at work in us as believers in Jesus Christ. What exactly does "Pentecostal Power" mean? How can the Holy Spirit of God move in us to bring about glory for God as never seen before? We look at the first Christian Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles in the upper room, and when three thousand people were converted to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Text: Acts 2:1-21

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on May 20, 2018 (originally published on August 8, 2018)

S.D.G.

May 19, 2024

First Lesson: Acts 2:1-21

Psalter: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

Epistle Lesson: Romans 8:22-27

Gospel Lesson: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

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 #445

Since Easter Sunday we have been looking at what it means to live life in light of the resurrection of Christ.  Today in a summary message, delivered on Ascension Sunday, in looking at Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus, we are examining several different markers of the Christian life.  What is it that distinguishes us from the rest of the world?  Paul mentions six different markers of the Christian life, given to us through the Holy Spirit, and made available for us because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Ultimately, God offers to us the power he showed in the raising of Christ from the dead.  When we repent of our sin and trust in Christ alone for our salvation, God offers to us eternal life in Jesus' name.

Ephesians 1:15-23

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on May 16, 2021 (Originally published on June 23, 2021)

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S.D.G.

May 12, 2024

First Lesson: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Psalter: Psalm 1

Epistle Lesson: 1 John 5:9-13

Gospel Lesson: John 17:6-19

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.

Sermon #604

We've been learning about agape which is a transcendent and perfect Godly love.  While 1 Corinthians 13 may be known as the "Love Chapter" of the Bible, this chapter before us uses the word "agape" in some form 29 times.  That's over 1/5 of all the uses in the entire New Testament.  And if John is using the word so frequently, we ought to look to see what John is saying.  In this 15-verse passage, John shows us how agape comes from God, how we can know God through agape, and how we can know we are saved because of God's agape love in us.  

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on April 28, 2024

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S.D.G.

Sermon #444

When we claim victory over something or someone, we are establishing complete dominance over that thing or person.  Just as the allied forces claimed victory over Germany and Italy on May 8, 1945, so Jesus also claimed victory over sin and death in the resurrection.  And we who confess that Jesus Christ is the very Son of God can also claim that victory.  By allying ourselves with the victor, we also become with Jesus the sons and daughters of God, reborn as it were in the Spirit of God.  

1 John 5:1-6

Recorded at Hudson UMC on May 9, 2021 (Originally published May 21, 2021)

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S.D.G.

May 5, 2024

First Lesson: Acts 10:44-48

Psalter: Psalm 98

Epistle Lesson: 1 John 5:1-6

Gospel Lesson: John 15:9-17

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.