Guerrilla Christianity

Just about a year ago, in December, Covid 19 was beginning to ramp up again, and I had scheduled an interview with today's guest, Jessica Clement (@eldergothchristian).  The interview went well but I had technical issues with the audio and was never able to get the interview together for the podcast.  But I recently had an opportunity to try again and so here is my interview with Jessica from August 2.  I first found Jessica's content on Tik Tok and was intrigued because she describes herself as a GOTH Christian, and a woman who is trying to distance herself from same-sex attraction and the progressive Christianity that told her that her sin was not sin.  Today she speaks from a reformed Calvinist perspective and she witnesses and spreads the gospel to thousands who follow her online, and is a staunch defender of Biblical truth.  She truly is a testimony to the transforming power of God's Spirit.

Recorded August 2, 2021 via Zoom

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S.D.G.

August 8, 2021

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 18:5-9,15,31-33 

Psalter: Psalm 130

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Gospel Lesson: John 6:35,41-51

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 #125

This week we look at confession as it pertains to our relationship with God.  How did the Jewish understanding of confession shape the way we confess our sins to God today?  Why do we have to confess our sins to an all-knowing, all-seeing God?  And how is the protestant understanding of confession different from the Catholic church's doctrine, and why?  All these questions will be addressed in our message today.  So grab your Bible, turn it to First John chapter 1, and prepare your heart and mind as we take a deeper look at confession.

1 John 1:5-10

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on August 2, 2015 (Originally published August 18, 2015)

S.D.G.

Right now in the UMC there is a deep divide between progressives and conservatives, or liberals and traditionalists, whichever way you choose to designate the factions.  On the conservative side, the Wesleyan Covenant Association is helping to set up a new Methodist denomination in anticipation of the passage of the Protocol for Grace through Separation (to be voted on in the 2022 General Conference).  But how did we get here?  And what are the differences between the two sides?  Is the divide so deep that we cannot overcome it?  Two conservative pastors, myself and Pastor Zach Taylor of New Hope UMC in Penns Grove, take on this expansive topic to find out where it all began, and where we believe we shall end up.

Recorded July 25, 2021 via Zoom

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S.D.G.

Sermon #124

This week as we continue our Deep Questions sermon series, we come across a very personal and difficult issue.  What happens when people begin to slip into dementia or other age-related mental issues?  Or how does God's grace work with those who are incapable of understanding the good news of Jesus Christ, like infants or those with mental handicaps?  It is a question that has no clear answer in scripture, but when we dig a little deeper we can find the heart of God on the matter.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Matthew chapter 18, and prepare your heart and mind as we discover Grace for All.

Matthew 18:1-6,10-14

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 26, 2015 (Originally published August 17, 2015)

S.D.G.

Sermon #123

This week's topic is a particularly difficult one, and one that we rarely choose to discuss, especially among congregations that are not very diverse.  But the fact of the matter is that the church's long history as it pertains to racial equality is not a particularly good one.  Our track record throughout the ages is pretty poor, and it is only in the last fifty years or so that it has improved.  We take on the topic of racism in the world and in the church this week.  So grab your Bible, turn it to John chapter 13, and prepare your heart and mind as we begin addressing racism.

John 13:31-35

Recorded at Hudson UMC on July 19, 2015 (Originally published July 24, 2015)

S.D.G.

Lectionary Readings for Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12), Year B

July 25, 2021

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 11:1-15

Psalter: Psalm 14

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 3:14-21

Gospel Lesson: John 6:1-21

S.D.G.

Sermon #122

How do we know that we are saved?  It's a question that comes up often in the heart of every believer, and it's the question that we address this week in our "Deep Questions" sermon series.  Do we have assurance from God of our salvation, and if so, what are the signs that we are saved?  What are the traits of a saved Christian?  If you've ever asked these questions, may you find the answers today in this message.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Matthew chapter 7, and prepare your heart and mind as we find out, how do we know?

Matthew 7:13-23

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 12, 2015 (Originally published July 23, 2015)

S.D.G.

Sermon #120

This week we continue our sermon series Deep Questions - questions that members of the congregation have asked about faith, God, the Bible, and anything else they wanted to know.  Our question this week is about what happens after we die - do we go straight to Heaven, or do we mill around in Limbo waiting for Judgment day?  And is there such a place as Purgatory?  We'll address all of these questions and more.  So grab your Bible, turn it to second Corinthians chapter five, and prepare your heart and mind as we look at what happens after we die.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 5, 2015 (Originally published July 7, 2015)

S.D.G.

This year I celebrated the completion of five years of ministry in Auburn and Pedricktown, and the beginning of my sixth year under appointment to Ebenezer UMC and Hudson UMC.  Rather than reflect on my own work I thought it best to look at the ministry of the church, what God has been doing with us and through us, and to look at our ministry next to the lessons we can learn from today's scripture from Mark.  Jesus was constantly being pulled in a thousand directions, and yet for each person who sought him, he focussed solely upon the immediate need and made that person feel as though they were the only person he was ministering to.  Even when the demands of many pressed around him, he still took time to ask the question, "Who touched me?"  Not to accuse, but to focus on that one person.  We can learn a lot from this simple act of personal attention.

Text: Mark 5:21-43

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 1, 2018 (Originally published August 13, 2018)

S.D.G.