Guerrilla Christianity

Ultimately, when we identify more with the church we belong to than the God that we worship, we are missing the point. Paul calls such people immature in their faith, and insists that he cannot feed them spiritual meat but that as infants in Christ they are still being fed spiritual milk. It's a harsh rebuke for the church in Corinth, but also a stern reminder for us all. What makes us one is our identity in Christ, not the church of denomination we belong to. Ultimately, the church we belong to is where we come to meet the risen Lord. We belong to Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on February 16, 2020

S.D.G.

We often use churchy words that Christians understand in our evangelism, without ever considering that these words are completely foreign to our audience. When Paul first went to Corinth, it was a pagan city and ignorant of Judaism or the theology of one true and living God. So he had a certain way of preaching to these unbelievers, keeping the message simple so that they could understand. To the now-growing church of disciples in Corinth, he speaks with the wosdom of God, but initially he brought these unbelievers to Christ by simply preaching Christ, and him crucified. We would do well to remember to keep it simple in our evangelistic endeavors, as well.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on February 2, 2020

S.D.G.

Keeping it green. It's a phrase used in 12-step programs to remind recovering addicts and alcoholics to remember where they came from, so that they wouldn't be tempted to go back there. It's something that we as Christians ought to do, as well. After all, we all have a time before and after we came to Christ, and we can often see a marked change from one to the other, a transformation if you will. In today's reading, Paul is calling on the church in Corinth to consider their call, and to remember that all of our efforts must be bathed in prayer or ultimately fail. It's not our wisdom that wins souls to Christ, but the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Recorded at Hudson UMC on February 2, 2020

S.D.G.

After Paul's greeting and praise for the church in Corinth, he immediately moves into a situation which had been reported to him that needed addressing. Some of the Christians in Corinth were dividing themselves according to the person they followed, and Paul said that this must not be, that they must be of the same mind and same purpose - that of preaching the gospel of Christ. These words could easily have been written to the church today, and with the same call to faith - we, too, though fractured by denominationalism, must be of the same mind and same purpose to win souls for Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on January 26, 2020

S.D.G.

Have you ever wondered why the accounts of Jesus calling the disciples differ between John's gospel and the others? Well, today we look at this very question as we examine the way Jesus calls us all, and how we respond to his call.

Matthew 4:12-23

Recorded at Hudson UMC on January 26, 2014 (First aired January 17, 2014)

S.D.G.

There are many churches today that are welcoming churches, including the two that I serve. But today I challenge the congregation at Ebenezer United Methodist Church to be not just welcoming, but invitational. So grab your Bible, turn to John chapter one, and join us as we "Come and See."

John 1:29-42

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on January 19, 2014 (First aired January 19, 2014)

S.D.G.

We don't have to have all the answers as evangelists. All we have to do is to bring them, and Jesus will make them see.

John 1:29-42

Recorded at Hudson UMC on January 15, 2017 (First aired January 22, 2017)

S.D.G.

In this ordinary time between the Baptism of the Lord and the Transfiguration, we are going to be examining Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth, commonly called 1 Corinthians, in a series titled "Somos del Senor" (We Belong to Christ). Over the next few weeks we will be looking at what it means to be a part of the body of Christ, sealed by His blood, and one in our faith in Him. Even though we may belong to many different denominations, it is our love for God in Jesus Christ that draws us together to proclaim, "We belong to Christ." Today we look at Paul's greeting to the church in Corinth, his thankfulness for their faith and the grace of God, and we see how this letter may be addressed to us today. Yet we must also understand that this is a letter written to the members of Christ's body, and not to the pagan society surrounding them and us.

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Recorded at Hudson UMC on January 19, 2020

S.D.G.

In the Methodist tradition, there are few who can actually remember their baptism. But we believe that it's not about what we do, but what God has done. In today's message, I challenge our congregation at Hudson United Methodist Church to remember their baptism, and to rejoice.

Matthew 3:13-17

Recorded at Hudson UMC on January 12, 2014 (Originally published January 12, 2014)

S.D.G.

God is the source of all light. So when Jesus calls us the light of the world, he meant that we reflect the light of God in a world of darkness and sin. But God is the source. In today's reading, Isaiah says that God's glory will rise upon his people and they will arise and shine in the world, and will attract others out of the darkness. So grab your Bible, turn it to Isaiah chapter 60, and prepare your heart and mind as we heed the words of Isaiah, to arise and shine.

Isaiah 60:1-6

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on January 4, 2015 (first published February 4, 2015)

S.D.G.