Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #341

We talk about being a Bible-believing church and that means we believe ALL the Bible is God-breathed, or inspired to be the very word of God for the church in every age.  So even though the short (25-verse) letter of Jude is excluded from the Revised Common Lectionary, we are endeavoring to unpack its wisdom verse-by-verse in a Summer series titled "Practical Wisdom from Jude."  Today we begin with an introduction and overview of Jude's letter and answer the questions: Who was Jude?  Why do we have his letter in the Bible?  and To whom was the letter written, and why?  And over the course of the next several weeks we will go verse-by-verse through this letter to glean its wisdom for us today.

Jude 1-2

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on June 16, 2019 (Originally published June 19, 2019)

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S.D.G.

Sermon #506

In this Summer series we will be looking at the words of many Old Testament prophets, and today we see the words of Amos, who was not a professional prophet but a shepherd whom God called to prophecy to the northern kingdom of Israel in the time of Jeroboam II.  Jeroboam was on the throne for many years and the time saw much prosperity in the kingdom, which made the call to repentance that much harder to hear.  But Amos was faithful to God's calling and delivered the message as was told to him.  What we see is that in times when life is easy and things are going well, we must not forget the God who has prospered us, which the people of Israel had done.  And so in our current time and situation we must ask ourselves if we are giving proper due to the God who created us and gave us all things to live and prosper, or are we relying upon ourselves and worshiping the things we have made by our own hands?

Amos 7:(1-6),7-17

Recorded at Hudson UMC on July 10, 2022

S.D.G.

Interview #14

Rev. Beth Caulfield has been on a stellar track in ministry.  She had been appointed to the Bishop's cabinet on his "Dream Team," overseeing Small Groups Formation in Greater New Jersey (UMC).  It seemed as though she was on a trajectory that would carry her higher to proclaim God's word to a multitude.  Then suddenly, everything began to change.  She received less-than-favorable appointments, even to churches where women were not accepted as clergy.  She was turned down for ordination twice.  In all of this her faith was tested, and ultimately prevailed.  She has written a book about her journey, called "People Throw Rocks at Things That Shine: A Clergy Whistleblower's Journey."  I sat down with Beth via Zoom Meetings on July 27 and we discussed her book, the problems with the UMC ordination process, and what she's been doing since - serving in the Wesley Covenant Association and recently ordained in the Global Methodist Church.

Beth's Website

Website for the book

Recorded via Zoom Meetings on July 27, 2022

S.D.G.

Sermon #505

Our series for Summer 2022 is called "Prophet Margins."  The Revised Common Lectionary for Ordinary time after Pentecost uses readings from the prophets in the Old Testament, primarily because the Gospel texts come from Luke and Luke portrays Jesus as a prophet.  These prophets spoke the word of God to the people, and it was usually not very well received.  In fact, the prophets were often treated badly, even killed for speaking the truth of God's word.  As such, they lived on the margins of society.  It was a lonely existence.  So we're looking at prophets on the margins, and we begin with Elisha in the northern kingdom of Israel, who is called upon to heal Naaman, a general of the Syrian army and a leper. The question is, can Naaman be humbled so that God can work in his life?  As we'll see, he can, and does, and experiences a radical spiritual transformation, not just a physical one.

2 Kings 5:1-14(15-19)

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 3, 2022

S.D.G.

July 31, 2022

Old Testament: Hosea 11:1-11

Psalter: Psalm 107:1-9, 43

Epistle Lesson: Colossians 3:1-11

Gospel Lesson: Luke 12:13-21

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 #500

Today we wrap up our series titled "We Are Witnesses" by looking at waht by all appearances seemed to be a catastrophic failure in Philippi.  Paul and Silas are arrested on false charges, beaten and imprisoned.  Yet in the middle of the night they were found singing praises to God.  The end result was a converted jailer and his entire family.  So what can we learn?  We learn that we as Christians are always being watched by non-believers, and that God can and often does uses us right where we are, despite our circumstances.  Society may never understand how we live but we are to live as ambassadors of Christ because we are always witnessing to others, either by words or actions.

Acts 16:16-34

Recorded at Hudson UMC on May 29, 2022

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S.D.G.

June 5, 2022

First Lesson: Acts 2:1-21

Psalter: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

Epistle Lesson: Romans 8:14-17

Gospel Lesson: John 14:8-17, 25-27

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.

May 29, 2022

First Lesson: Acts 16:16-34

Psalter: Psalm 97

Epistle Lesson: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

Gospel Lesson: John 17:20-26

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 #338

On this Sunday before Memorial Day, we look a little at our history as a nation at war, and we consider how we as a nation, and how all nations need healing.  Yet God's word in Revelation 22 promises healing for all peoples of the earth.  We see the gift of the Holy Spirit, the River of the Water of Life, proceeding from the throne of God and the Lamb.  We see the restoration of the Tree of Life.  Yet all these things are available only to those who conquer, to those who find victory in the death and resurection of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 21:7-10,22-22:5

Recorded at Hudson UMC on May 26, 2019 (Originally published May 28, 2019)

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May 26, 2022

First Lesson: Acts 1:1-11

Psalter: Psalm 47

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23

Gospel Lesson: Luke 24:44-53

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.