Guerrilla Christianity

October 17, 2021

Old Testament: Job 38:1-7,34-41

Psalter: Psalm 104:1-9,24,35c

Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 5:1-10

Gospel Lesson: Mark 10:35-45

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 #135

As we continue our liturgical journey through the book of Mark, we come to one of the best known and least understood phrases in all the Bible - It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.  The question often is, what did Jesus mean by it?  Did he mean a literal camel and a literal needle, or was he speaking in hyperbole, or was he talking about some cultural construct that we no longer understand?  But what we find today is, what Jesus was saying is that it is impossible for us, but that all things are possible for God.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Mark chapter 10, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a deeper look at riches and the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:17-31

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 11, 2015 (Originally published November 14, 2015)

S.D.G.

October 10, 2021

Old Testament: Job 23:1-9,16-17

Psalter: Psalm 22:1-15

Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 4:12-16

Gospel Lesson: Mark 10:17-31

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 #134

There are some topics which are difficult to discuss in the church today.  One of the hardest topics to discuss is that of divorce.  The church and many in it seem to hold fast to the idea of traditional marriage, yet few wish to talk about the fact that Jesus himself decried the practice of divorce.  If this is the case, then why is divorce so prevalent, even among Christians?  But more importantly, what does God's word say about grace, even in the midst of brokenness and disolution?  We find out today, from the teachings of Christ on what it means to enter the Kingdom of God as little children.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Mark chapter 10, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a hard look at divorce and reconciliation.

Mark 10:2-16

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 4, 2015 (Originally published Nivember 10, 2015)

S.D.G.

Sermon #133

As we bring our Deep Questions sermon series to a close, it occurs to me that perhaps this question, which was answered last, should have been answered first.  After all, it addresses the question of the validity of the Bible - our holy scriptures which we hold fast to as the very inspired word of God.  Now, for the past 150 years or so, the validity and veracity of the Bible has been under attack.  Most recently, Dan Brown's book "The DaVinci Code" puts forth the notion that the Bible was actually assembled by the pagan emperor Constantine.  But as we will see in today's lesson, God's word is secure and reliable, because we know where it came from and who wrote it, and why.  So grab your Bible, turn it to the second letter to Timothy, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a look at what went into building the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:10-17

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 27, 2015 (Originally published November 7, 2015)

S.D.G.

Sermon #303

On this World Communion Sunday, we come together in unity with Christians all around the world to recognize the one thing that draws us all together and separates us from all other world religions.  That one thing is faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.  That Jesus Christ is the Son of God is a statement that only those who have faith in Christ can proclaim.  There may be many denominations, separations between the orthodox and liberal factions, the Catholic church and protestantism, and the many shades of protestantism such as Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian and, yes, Methodist.  And yet the one thing that defines us as Christian and truly makes us one church universal is faith in Jesus Christ, who is crowned with glory and seated at the right hand of God the Father.  Ours is the only faith that affirms belief in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and on World Communion Sunday we set aside our differences to embrace our oneness in Christ alone.

Text: Hebrews 1:1-4,2:5-12

Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 7, 2018 (Originally published November 20, 2018)

S.D.G.

October 3, 2021

Old Testament: Job 1:1; 2:1-10

Psalter: Psalm 26

Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

Gospel Lesson: Mark 10:2-16

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.

Steven Stowell is a young man I met through TikTok and I have to tell you, I am extremely encouraged by him.  I hear people in the church lamenting all the time that the members of Generation Z, those born after 2000, have no interest in religion or the truth-claims of the Bible, and yet here is a very intelligent, very articulate young man in his early twenties who has studied the ancient languages in order to know the Bible more clearly and to understand God better.  His weekly podcast, "Most Excellent Theophilus," has become a staple in my regular podcast rotation, and I encourage you as well, if you desire truth about what scripture says or doesn't say about God and Christ, to subscribe to his podcast and his TikTok channel.  This conversation, from September 12, was as stimulating as it was educational.  

Recorded September 12, 2021 via Zoom Meetings

Social Media: @steventhestowell

Podcast: Most Excellent Theophilus

Watch this interview on YouTube

S.D.G.

Sermon #132

When we become Christians, one of the first things we learn is that Christ is the only way to God.  So it's natural that one of the first questions we ask is, what happened to people who died before Jesus was crucified?  After all, if Jesus is the only way to God, then in our minds that leaves out those who were, as Paul puts it, untimely born.  Today we will hear a story of two men, told by Jesus, and find clues that lead us to better understanding of the afterlife, and how Christ truly is the only way, and has always been.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Luke chapter 16, and prepare your heart and mind as we discover God's eternal grace.

Luke 16:19-31

Recorded at Hudson UMC on September 20, 2015 (Originally published November 5, 2015)

S.D.G.

Sermon #302

We conclude our series in James by looking at what it means to be present in the church.  Our presence together is powerful.  One Christian on his or her own praying alone is a powerful thing but when we gather together by two or three or a few or many, that power in the Spirit of God grows exponentially.  The question we have been looking at throughout this series has been this: As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?  Today our focus is on our presence and how it brings healing to us, to our church, and to our community.

Text: James 5:13-20

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on September 30, 2018 (Originally published November 28, 2018)

S.D.G.