Guerrilla Christianity

Sermon #290

We come to the pivotal point in the Christology of the Apostles' Creed, and, as some might say, it's all uphill from here.  Now, in the message today I make a strong assertion that to believe in the resurrection is nothing less than necessary for our salvation, and I stand by that statement (and back it up with Biblical text).  Yet there are many in the church today, professing Christians, who either do not believe in the Biblical account of the resurrection or don't believe it happened at all.  And if that is true, then we as a church, we as preachers of God's word, have failed in adequately emphasizing the importance of this one crucial aspect of the reality of Christ, that on the third day he rose from the dead.  

Text: Matthew 28:1-10

Recorded at Hudson UMC on July 15, 2018 (Originally published September 14, 2018)

S.D.G.

Sermon #610

Having laid down some extraordinary claims about the Son of God, through whom God has spoken in these last days, the writer of Hebrews now turns to the Hebrew Scriptures - specifically the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament rendered in the Third Century B.C. - to make his case that Jesus (who thus far is unnamed in the epistle) is no ordinary man but the divine Son.  He is superior to the prophets in that he is the Son of God himself, and he is superior to the angels who are ministering spirits and created beings.  Through the Psalms and the words of Moses, the writer of Hebrews presents the case that this is the begotten Son of God and not a created being.  In fact, the angels themselves are commanded to bow down to Him.  Hence, there is something extra special in the message that He brings.

Hebrews 1:5-14

Recorded at Hudson UMC on June 9, 2024

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S.D.G.

Sermon #452

On the day in which we celebrate our independence here in America (this message was recorded July 4, 2021), we reflect on the foundation of Israel as a united kingdom under David after the death of Saul and the conquest of Jerusalem.  There are some parallels to our formation as a nation and Israel's.  For one thing, the entire nation assented to David's kingship.  In the same way, General George Washington was unanimously (69-0) elected our nation's first president.  Both nations were established with the understanding that all things come from God.  We see the three reasons that David was chosen as king - that he is one of the Israelites' brethren, a descendent of Abraham; that he is a warrior strong in battle; and that God chose him to be king.  But it is this last reason that ought to be the first - and only - reason given.

2 Samuel 5:1-5,9-10

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 4, 2021 (Originally published September 27, 2021)

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S.D.G.

July 7, 2024

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

Psalter: Psalm 48

Epistle Lesson: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Gospel Lesson: Mark 6:1-13

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 #289

To say that Jesus descended to the dead seems like a redundant statement after affirming that he was crucified, dead, and buried.  To say that Jesus descended to hell (another translation of the Greek version of the Apostles' Creed) seems like a theological conundrum.  How could Jesus, the Son of God, sinless and holy, descend to the place of torment where people who deny God and refuse His grace end up?  Although we as Methodists do not regularly recite this affirmation in the Creed, it bears examiniation.  

Text: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 8, 2018 (Originally published September 10, 2018)

S.D.G.

Sermon #609

Welcome to the 12th season of Guerrilla Christianity!  In this introductory sermon to the expositional series on Hebrews, we look at several things about this epistle in general, and then the opening four verses.  First, we look at some of the theories surrounding authorship, concluding that we do not know conclusively who the author of Hebrews is, but that the ultimate author is undoubtedly the Holy Spirit.  Second, we establish the timeline for when the letter was written and the circumstances surrounding its writing.  Thirdly, we look at the major themes of the letter - the superiority of Christ; his three offices of prophet, priest, and king; the regulative principle of worship; and perseverance in the face of persecution.  Then we look at the opening lines that describe this Son of God who is superior to the angels, through whom God has spoken to us in these last days.  This series will carry us through the majority of the Season after Pentecost, and it promises to be enlightening and insightful.

Hebrews 1:1-4

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on June 2, 2024

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S.D.G.

Sermon #451

The death of Saul and Jonathan is one that affected David deeply.  On the one hand, Saul had been trying for several years to kill David, seeing him as a threat to his own rule over Israel.  On the other hand, David was very close friends with Saul's son, Jonathan, and certainly his death would have devastated David.  Yet even though Saul was paranoid, murderous, and pagan in his religious practices, David still considered him to be the Lord's anointed king, and throughout his flight from Saul he refused to raise a hand against him, even when he was in a position to kill Saul.  And so we see David's heartfelt lamentation for both Saul and Jonathan, coming at a time when there should be joy over the gaining of the kingdom.  David was a servant, and he also realized that there is a time for joy and a time to weep.

2 Samuel 1:1,17-27

Recorded at Hudson UMC on June 27, 2021 (Originally published on September 6, 2021)

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S.D.G.

June 30, 2024

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Psalter: Psalm 130

Epistle Lesson: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Gospel Lesson: Mark 5:21-43

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 #287

Two major considerations face us today as we continue our examination of the Apostles' Creed.  First, what is the point of mentioning Pontius Pilate?  When Jesus was betrayed by so many - the crowds, the Sanhedrin, Judas Iscariot - why do we affirm that he "suffered under Pontius Pilate?"  Next, we look at the dual nature of Christ and that he was fully God and fully human, as demonstrated in that he was "crucified, dead, and buried - none of which makes any sense if Jesus were only God and not human.

Text: John 18:33-19:16

Recorded at Hudson UMC on June 24, 2018 (Originally published September 5, 2018)

S.D.G.

S11E47: The Trinity in the Cross (Trinity Sunday 2024)

Sermon #608

On this Trinity Sunday (the first Sunday after Pentecost) we look at the work of all three persons of the Godhead in salvation at the cross of Jesus Christ.  At the heart of the doctrine of the Trinity is the relationship between the three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The Father is eternal and uncreated.  The Son is eternally begotten of the Father and is likewise uncreated.  The Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from both the Father and the Son, is personal and not ephemeral, and each person is glorified and magnified equally.  Yet there are not three gods but one God.  It is an eternal mystery that Christian theologians have struggled to understand for centuries, and yet in this passage from John's gospel, we see the effortless way Jesus explains the work of the Father, Son, and Spirit in the salvation of the cross to an earnest Pharisee named Nicodemus.  

John 3:1-17

Recorded at Hudson UMC on May 26, 2024

Who Is God in Three Persons? Paperback by John R. Tyson (Amazon)

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S.D.G.