Guerrilla Christianity

On Easter Sunday, Pastor R. Bret Walker concludes the “Letters from God” series with Colossians 3:1–4, urging believers to live from the reality that they have been raised with Christ. Paul’s “if” is better understood as “since”—a call to seek what is above, not the fading pursuits of earth. The sermon contrasts temporary treasures with the eternal satisfaction found only in God, reminding us that our lives are “hidden with Christ” and secured by His resurrection. Because Christ is our life, we live with hope: He is risen, and He will return in glory.

In this Easter Sunrise sermon on John 20:1–18, we stand with Mary, Peter, and John at the empty tomb and hear the risen Jesus speak Mary’s name. The resurrection is more than a temporary revival—it is Christ’s victory over sin and death and the promise of everlasting life. Because Jesus lives today, our faith is not in vain, and the grave will not have the final word. The risen Savior calls His people to worship with joy and to share the gospel boldly, since this good news is too important to keep to ourselves.  

On Guerrilla Christianity, this episode features the sermon “We Believe” (Letters from God, Part 7) for Palm/Passion Sunday, centered on Philippians 2:5–11. The message traces Christ’s journey from eternal glory to willing humility: Jesus, fully God, “emptied himself,” took the form of a servant, and obeyed to the point of death on a cross. Paul’s hymn is explored as an early creed with a chiastic structure—descent into humiliation, then resurrection and exaltation—culminating in every knee bowing and every tongue confessing Jesus Christ as Lord.  

In this Lenten message from Romans 8:6–11, Pastor R. Bret Walker draws a hard line between two ways of living: life in the flesh and life in the Spirit. Using Scripture, personal story, and unapologetic clarity, he argues there is no middle ground—only life or death. To live in the Spirit is to love God and neighbor, reject the idol of self, and receive the resurrecting power of Christ through the Holy Spirit. The gospel confronts us with a choice. Guerrilla Christianity chooses life.

Children of Light calls believers to live visibly transformed lives in a world shaped by darkness. Drawing from Ephesians 5:8–14, this sermon explores how faith in Christ moves us from spiritual blindness into the revealing light of God. Walking in the light means discernment, fruitfulness, and accountability—not hiding sin, but exposing it so healing and renewal can begin. Through Paul’s teaching and John Wesley’s model of Christian accountability, we’re reminded that authentic discipleship is communal, courageous, and costly. Awakening from spiritual sleep, we live not for ourselves, but as people shaped—and sent—by Christ’s light. #ExposeTheDarkness  

In this episode of Guerrilla Christianity, we confront the radical truth of reconciliation. Drawing from Romans 5:1–11, this sermon declares that peace with God isn’t earned—it’s given. While we were still sinners and enemies, Christ died for us, reconciling us to God through the cross. Suffering, faith, and hope are reframed in light of God’s relentless love. Like a tree covered in yellow ribbons, the cross stands as unmistakable proof: forgiveness is real, grace is abundant, and reconciliation is already accomplished in Jesus Christ.

In this episode of Guerrilla Christianity, we confront one of the most radical truths of the gospel: we are justified by faith, not by works. Drawing from Romans 4, we explore how Abraham was declared righteous simply because he believed God—not because he earned it. Grace is not a wage; it’s a gift. Faith itself is God’s work in us, opening our eyes to Christ and anchoring us in His promise. This episode challenges both legalism and empty belief, calling us to trust fully in Jesus alone—the God who brings life from death and calls into being what does not exist.  

In this episode, The One Man, we unpack Romans 5:12–19 and the radical contrast between Adam and Christ. Through one man’s disobedience, sin and death entered the world; through one man’s obedience, grace and life are offered to all. This sermon explores why sin runs deeper than rule-breaking, why the Law can’t save us, and why Jesus’ sinless life is essential to salvation. Lent calls us to face the bad news honestly—then cling boldly to the good news: justification, righteousness, and eternal life come as a free gift through Jesus Christ alone.

Guerrilla Christianity dives into The Disciple’s Prayer, an Ash Wednesday sermon exploring Jesus’ model for prayer in Matthew 6. This episode unpacks why prayer isn’t about empty words but humble dependence on God. Walking through the Lord’s Prayer line by line, the sermon highlights adoration, submission to God’s will, daily reliance, forgiveness, and resistance to temptation. Listeners are challenged to see prayer as heart alignment, not performance—and to live as forgiven people who forgive others. This is a call to authentic, daily prayer that shapes disciples for faithful, obedient living before a holy God.  

Sermon #94 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.

Sermon #136 Ambition is a human quality and at times it can be an admirable trait.  After all, if someone does not strive to better themselves they become stagnant or slide back into oblivion.  But when it comes to the Kingdom of God, ambition, Jesus tells us, is not a characteristic to be desired.  In today's reading we meet James and John, two brothers who were fishermen, who took their ambition to great heights whey they aksed to sit at Jesus' right and left hand when he comes into his kingdom.  But in the upside-down structure of God's kingdom, the person who humbles himself is the greatest.  For when we seek to make ourselves more important, what we are really doing is diminishing God in our lives.  So grab your Bible, turn it to Mark chapter 10, and prepare your heart and mind as we see what it means to be servants, everywhere and always.   Mark 10:35-45 Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on October 18, 2015 (Originally published November 24, 2015) S.D.G.

Sermon #304 Laity Sunday is a day when we celebrate the work of laypersons in the church of God.  On this Laity Sunday we at Hudson UMC asked our Lay Leader Wayne Niebauer to describe a time when he felt abandoned by God, and how he could point to where God was at work in that moment.  We often feel like in our hard times we are all alone, and yet when we look back at those times we can often see how God was at work, and it is in the retrospective view that we can gain confidence in hard times when they come.   Text: Mark 10:35-45 Recorded at Hudson UMC on October 21, 2018 (Originally published December 6, 2018) S.D.G.

August 18, 2024 Old Testament: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 Psalter: Psalm 111 Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 5:15-20 Gospel Lesson: John 6:51-58 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 #7 Well this week we have a bonus sermon, one that I gave a couple years ago when I was a layperson.  From the Gospel of John, this message centers on Peter's declaration to Jesus, "You have the words of eternal life."  We sometimes forget that we can only be satisfied in Christ.  We try to fill our lives with things that the world tells us to value.  In this message, from the Summer of 2012, we look at what the world has to offer, and how it pales in comparison to God's abundant grace.  So grab your Bible, turn it to John chapter 6, and join us as we look at Christ's words of eternal life. John 6:53-69 Recorded at Pitman Grove Tabernacle on August 26, 2012 (originally published November 14, 2014) S.D.G.

Sermon #294 What we find in the words "I Believe in... the holy catholic church, the communion of saints..." can be troublesome to some.  How can we profess belief in one church when there are so many denominations?  Often it is used against us as Christians to say that we can't even agree with each other.  And yet, there is undeniably something universal about the body of Christ, and what we affirm in this section of the Creed is not antidenominational, but rather that it is the Holy Spirit acting in all believers, no matter what church or denomination they may belong to, that makes us one.   Text: Matthew 16:13-20 Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on August 12, 2018 (Originally published October 3, 2018) S.D.G.

Sermon #616 A priest is one who intercedes on behalf of the people to God, to make sacrifices to atone for sin.  The high priest is one who makes atonement for the sins of all the people, in this case, the people of Israel.  But the high priest is himself a sinful person and so he must first make atonement for his own sins before making atonement for the people.  This is not the case for Jesus Christ, who was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin.  Having no sin to atone for in himself, he was able to be our sacrifice and atone for the sins of the world.  And like the scapegoat described in Leviticus, he was able to take our sin far away from us. Hebrews 4:14-5:10 Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on July 21, 2024 Watch on YouTube S.D.G.

Sermon #457 The episode of David's sin does not simply end with his repentance.  As is often the case, the wreckage of this single momentary lapse in judgment follows not only David but also his immediate and extended family for many years, and even affects the nation of Israel as it descends into civil war, led by David's third son Absalom.  We often do not think about the consequences of our sin.  Forgiveness may be available through Jesus Christ and the grace of God, but ultimately our sin still has real world consequences that can follow us for years, and may even be generational, as we see in this incident.  Though the sin may look appealing in that moment of temptation, and though we may think if anything we are only hurting ourselves, it is rarely the case that the consequences of our sin ends with us. 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 Recorded at Hudson UMC on August 8, 2021 (Previously unpublished) Watch on YouTube S.D.G.

August 11, 2024 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 #293 We turn our attention in the Apostles' Creed to the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.  There is much misinformation regarding the Holy Spirit given in the last hundred years or so, and so we take a look at some of the myths about the Holy Spirit and debunk them, then examine how the Holy Spirit works in the life of the baptized christian to bring about the purposes of God here on earth. Text: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on August 5, 2018 (Originally published October 1, 2018) S.D.G.