Guerrilla Christianity

S7E07: Praise God (Practical Wisdom from Jude pt. 9)

In this final message on the Epistle of Jude, we look at Jude's closing words, both doxology (glory saying) and benediction (good saying), a beautifully composed sentence both glorifying God and encouraging the believers in their mission to seek and to save the lost. In these final verses we see how Jude exemplifies for us all a need to praise God in all that we do and say, and provides for us a pattern for such praise and worship.

Jude 24-25

Recorded at Hudson UMC on August 11, 2019

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S.D.G.

So now, after Jude has railed against these false teachers, what are we to do with them? What Jude tells us is that we ought to treat them like any other unsaved person - we ought to respond in mercy, even after contending for the faith. After all, Jesus responded to the unsaved with mercy. But we are to be careful that they do not drag us down, like someone who is drowning might drag down a lifeguard who is trying to save them.

Jude 22-23

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on August 4, 2019

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Sometimes it is difficult for us to continue on in the face of adversity. Sometimes it seems like we don't have it in us to keep going when all we see is failure after failure. We are given a great promise of eternal life, and so we have a hope in us that others who are not follwers of Christ do not have. It is this hope in eternity that helps us as Christians to persevere when others might give up.

Jude 17-21

Recorded at Hudson UMC on July 28, 2019

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S.D.G.

We who are saved by Christ and washed in his blood ought not to take for granted what he has done for us. How we live our lives as Christians matters greatly to the one who purchased our lives and redeemed us by his own son. To say that sin does not matter is to say that what Jesus did for us does not matter. In fact, it matters a great deal. And so we are called to live lives that please God, rather than living lives that please the world.

Jude 14-16

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 21, 2019

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The Apostles' Creed is one of our most ancient statements of the Christian faith. It affirms our belief in the triune nature of God, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Many churches recite this affirmation of faith each week, but how often do we really consider the meaning of the words? Why did the ancient Christians determine the need for such a statement of faith, and what does it mean to us today? On this Trinity Sunday it seems only appropriate that we begin this series, "We Believe..." with a look at God the Father, Almighty, from the throne room vision of Isaiah the prophet.

Text: Isaiah 6:1-6

Recorded at Hudson UMC on May 27, 2018

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S.D.G.

Bearing fruit is what we as Christians are called to do. God does not save us by our works, but he saves us for good works, and so if our lives in Christ are not bearing fruit, then we are, as Jude says in today's reading, twice dead trees plucked up by the roots. It is a sobering charge and it gives us a reason to examine our own lives and ask this vital question: how is my life in Christ bearing fruit?

Jude 12-13

Recorded at Hudson UMC on July 14, 2019

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S.D.G.

In today's lesson from Jude, we are shown how we can determine if modern interpretive "revelation" is from God, and whether we should believe it or not. We are also shown, in the contrary behavior of the "dreamers" of Jude's time, what we are not to do, and given practical application as to what sort of behavior that we, as Christians, ought to engage in instead. Though written nearly 2,000 years ago, Jude's letter still holds true and offers us wisdom we can apply in our own lives, and this is true of the entirety of the Bible itself.

Jude 8-11

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 7, 2019

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S.D.G.

Looking back at some of our favorite sermons from the past year, certainly The Holiness of God would have to be included in that list.  In the 21st Century, the Christian church in America has completely lost touch with the holiness of God. We feel comfortable with a God that we can pal around with but not with a God that demands strict purity. Looking at this throne room vision by Isaiah, we examine the infinite holiness of God and what it means for us as children of God. Rather than elevating ourselves, this message is meant to put us in proper relation to Almighty God.

Isaiah 6:1-8

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on February 10, 2019 (Originally published February 11, 2019)

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S.D.G.

This is a message that was delivered at the Pitman Grove Camp Meeting, on the day after Independence Day (in 2015). We in America take our freedom for granted, and it is only on special days like July 4th and Memorial Day that we remember that our freedom came at a high cost. Likewise, we as Christians are often ready to embrace our freedom in Christ, without thinking about how much that freedom cost our God. So grab your Bible, turn it to John chapter 8, and prepare your heart and mind as we look at the high cost of freedom. Freedom isn't free.

John 8:31-36

Recorded at Pitman Grove Camp Meeting on July 5, 2015 (first published July 21, 2015)

S.D.G.

Welcome to Season 7 of Guerrilla Christianity! By God's grace we will continue to proclaim the good news to a world in desperate need of it. As we begin our seventh season, we also continue our series based on the book of Jude. We look at the modern objection to the concept of hell that the sins we commit are not so great that they deserve eternal punishment. In verses 5 through 7 Jude gives us Old Testament examples of rebellion against God. The Israelites sinned in setting up idols in place of God. The angels sinned seeking unnatural relations with human women. Then men sinned seeking unnatural relations with angels. Is there no end to rebellion against the God that made us? We'll see how obedience to God is in fact freedom - freedom from bondage to sin and death.

Jude 5-7

Recorded at Hudson UMC on June 30, 2019

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S.D.G.