Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #335

After the cross, after the empty tomb, what have we got to celebrate?  On this second Sunday of Easter we look at the continuation of the story in the building of the Christian church in the First century.  Peter and the disciples are told by the Jewish authorities that they must not teach in "that" name (the name of Jesus Christ).  Even today, the name of Jesus Christ is an offense to those who do not believe.  But when the good news is so good, how can we but proclaim it boldly?  When God offers us eternal life in Jesus' name, how can we but share it with everyone we know?

Acts 5:27-32

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on April 28 2019 (Originally published May 1, 2019)

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S.D.G.

Sermon #495

In the world of godless people, the most offensive name is the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  The world would deny that name because it is the name of salvation, and carries with it the power of God's grace to save.  When we see people objecting to religious activities, they are almost certainly Christian activities.  In today's reading we see the high priest accusing the disciples of preaching in the name of Jesus, yet he will not even say the name.  Peter tells him that they must obey God and not men and this is true; where governments make laws that are contrary to the word and commandment of God, we must, in good conscience, oppose those laws.  We have been called by God to be witnesses to his authority and power, called to be in the world but not of the world.  And we are thankful for the early Christians who fulfilled their duty as witnesses, so that we could receive the witness of their faith today.

Acts 5:27-32

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on April 24, 2022

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April 24, 2022

First Lesson: Acts 5:27-32

Psalter: Psalm 150

Epistle Lesson: Revelation 1:4-8

Gospel Lesson: John 20:19-31

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 #334

Easter is a day when we celebrate the fact that Christ rose from the dead three days after being crucified for our sins.  While we often focus on the promise of the empty tomb, some only observe the resurrection of our Lord without considering the reality of the cross.  In today's message, we will see why, using the Old Testament model of atonement, both the cross and the empty tomb are required for the the complete deliverance of the sinner from his or her sin.  

Luke 24:1-12

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on April 21, 2019 (Originally published April 26, 2019)

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S.D.G.

Sermon #494

For the season of Easter we are starting a new series called "We Are Witnesses" based on Acts 10:39, in which Peter tells the Cornelius and his family, "[W]e are witnesses of all that [Jesus] did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem."  From Luke's account of the resurrection, we see how the women are witnesses to the disciples that Christ has been raised from the dead.  We find that witnesses first of all see, hear, or experience something that others do not, and they also tell others what they know.  A witness tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as per our legal parlance.  So what is it that we know that others do not?  What can we witness about Jesus and His love?

Luke 24:1-12

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on April 17, 2022

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S.D.G.

Sermon #493

The Easter Sunrise service is my favorite service of the year, because it connects us in a tactile way to the women who went to the tomb early on the first day of the week, just as the sun was coming up.  And we can identify with those grief-stricken women, having lost their Lord on the cross just two days before, and suddenly coming upon the stone that was rolled away on the mouth of the empty tomb.  We can try to identify with what they were feeling.  And we can wonder at the angels and at Jesus who asked Mary a simple question: "Why are you weeping?"  It's not as if it is inappropriate for Christians to weep.  The Bible tells us there is a time to weep and a time to laugh.  But this was a time for celebration, not weeping, for as Mary soon found out, Christ was not in the tomb but he had risen indeed.  

John 20:1-18

Recorded at Hudson UMC Cemetery on April 17, 2022

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S.D.G.

Sermon #388

There is a lot of action in the Resurrection account from John's Gospel.  First, the women arrive at the tomb to find it open, and they run to tell the disciples.  Then John and Peter have a footrace to the tomb.  John gets there first but doesn't go in.  Peter goes in and sees the linen cloths. Then John goes in and sees it all.  Then they return home, and in their absence Mary encounters the risen Christ, who tells her to go tell the other disciples, and she does.  Eighteen verses packed with a lot of action, and we hear these words every year, but what truths can we glean from them this day?  I ask the question, are you on the outside of the tomb, looking in?  Or are you on the inside of the tomb, looking out?  In other words, have you committed yourself to following Jesus?  Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus for your forgiveness?  Or are you orbiting the faith wondering if it is true, if it is for you?  If you are on the outside looking in, I invite you in.  And if you are on the inside looking out, you are being sent to bring others to know that Christ is risen.  He is risen indeed.

John 20:1-18

Recorded at Hudson UMC Cemetery (Easter Sunrise Service) on April 12, 2020 (Originally Published April 14, 2020)

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S.D.G.

April 17, 2022

First Lesson: Acts 10:34-43

Psalter: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Gospel Lesson (Easter): John 20:1-18

Gospel Lesson (Year C): Luke 24:1-12

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.

Each year on Good Friday, the churches of the Ministerium of Penns Grove, Carneys Point, and Pedricktown hold a joint worship service from Noon until 3 PM.  The Seven Last Wods of Christ on the Cross are presented, with worship music and sermon messages for each word.  Each year for the last six years I have participated in this service, and each year I have preached on a different word.  This year was to be my seventh year, but because of the Coronavirus, the service was cancelled.  And so, because I had already written the sermon, I recorded it... But I also decided to compile all seven of the messages into one podcast for Good Friday.  And so, in the order below, I present to you the Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross.

1. “Father, forgive them…” 

2. “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

3. “Behold your son…Behold your mother”

4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

5. “I Thirst.”

6. “It is finished.”

7. “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit”

Compiled on April 5, 2020 (Originally published April 10, 2020)

S.D.G.

April 15, 2022

Old Testament: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Psalter: Psalm 22

Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 10:16-25

Gospel Lesson: John 18:1-19:42

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.