Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #586

When we talk about covenant with God it is important for us to understand that not only is the covenant initiated by God, but it is also completely one-sided in that God has the most to give and the least to gain.  He is eternal and infinite and needs nothing from us to exist and be exalted in himself.  Yet he condescends to make a covenant with us through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Today we are looking at the baptism of Jesus, and what we see is that Jesus identifies with us in his baptism, so that we may identify with him in ours.  In baptism, and in the sacrament of communion, we see the barrier between heaven and earth torn open and in that moment the Spirit of God descends upon us and the presence of Christ is real and actual, not just ephemeral and symbolic.

Mark 1:4-11

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on January 7, 2024

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S.D.G.

Sermon #425

On Baptism of the Lord Sunday we reaffirm our baptismal covenant and remember our baptism.  But what does that mean for Christians, such as myself, who were baptized as infants?  How can we remember our baptism when we don't have any memory of it?  Today we will consider what baptism is, why we in the Methodist tradition baptize infants, and what is the importance of baptism in the life of the Christian.  

Acts 19:1-7

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on January 10, 2021 (Originally published on January 11, 2021)

S.D.G.

January 7, 2024

Old Testament: Genesis 1:1-5

Psalter: Psalm 29

Epistle Lesson: Acts 19:1-7

Gospel Lesson: Mark 1:4-11

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.

January 6, 2024

Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalter: Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 3:1-12

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12

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 #93

When we come to Christ we fulfill our potential as image-bearers of God.  But without receiving and using the gift of salvation we are like an unopened present, whose value goes unrealized.  God beckons us to him and when we respond and receive the gift, He restores us to the original image in which He created us, and we are then given a new heart with new desires.  Isaiah's prophetic vision shows us the heart of God as it pertains to us - not a rigid system of rules but a tender and compassionate heart of love.

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 28, 2014 (Originally published on December 31, 2020)

S.D.G.

Sermon #585

The Bible speaks of covenants when it comes to our relationship with God, but what does it mean to make or cut a covenant?  Over the next two weeks we will be looking at just that question, both as it relates to people in the Bible and how it relates to us.  The beginning of the year is when we as Methodists renew the Wesleyan Covenant which states that we are no longer our own but we belong to God to do with as he wills.  And so we also look at how Joseph and Mary observed the covenant of circumcision, and the covenant of dedication whereby they declare the baby Jesus to be holy unto the Lord.  And we will ask the question, how does our our own covenant with God relate to these?

Luke 2:21-40

Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 31, 2023

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S.D.G.

January 1, 2024

Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Psalter: Psalm 8

Epistle Lesson: Revelation 21:1-6a

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:31-46

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 #423

Did you know that Christmas is not a day, but a season?  Christmas on the church calendar is a season that begins December 25th and ends January 6th with the observance of Epiphany - yes, there are really twelve days of Christmas!  In our modern society, however, we've front-loaded the season, meaning that we place more emphasis on the preparation than the observation, and when the 25th comes we just want it to be over.  I invite us all to slow down, to enjoy the company for the full season, and live every day with Christmas in our hearts and Christ on our lips.

Luke 2:22-40

Recorded at Hudson UMC on December 27, 2020 (Originally published on December 30, 2020)

S.D.G.

December 31, 2023

Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Psalter: Psalm 148

Epistle Lesson: Galatians 4:4-7

Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:22-40

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 #583

In the fourth Sunday of Advent, we see the angel Gabriel coming to Mary in Nazareth to tell her that she will carry God's child and give birth to the Savior.  In the 21st Century we often hear objections stating that we do not need to believe in a virgin birth to be Christian, but I believe it is a bedrock foundational tenet of Christianity, and that to deny the virgin birth is to deny the divinity of Christ and the sovereignty of God.  The God of the universe, who created all things out of nothing, could certainly create life in a virgin's womb by his Spirit and enter creation as a human child - fully man and fully God.  The virgin birth demonstrates the miraculous nature of this birth and God's own intervention in his creation.  And when this announcement is paired with Isaiah's prophecy of the Son to be born, we see that this child will certainly be unlike any child born before or since.  

Luke 1:26-38

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on December 24, 2023

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S.D.G.