MTP Sermon Resources

Amos 7:10-17; Matthew 22:15-22 June 5, 2016 • Mount Pleasant UMC I have to tell you that I have approached this sermon today with some fear and trepidation, and also some genuine excitement! I’m very aware that common wisdom says you’re not supposed to discuss two things in polite conversations, religion and politics, and yet that’s exactly what I want to focus on this morning. “Politics” is a Greek compound word from “poly” meaning “many” and “tics” referring to a blood-sucking parasite. (Or maybe not!) But politics and religion—topics you’re not supposed to talk about in your first ten years of a new appointment, and yet here I am, almost one year in, asking this morning’s question, “How would Jesus vote?” We’re at a point where both of the major political parties seem to have their candidates nailed down, the conventions are on the horizon, and the real battle is just beginning. It’s an important question to ask, and an important topic for us to think about as followers

Matthew 28:16-20 June 5, 2016 • Mount Pleasant UMC Mission statements are everywhere, from the boardroom to people’s personal lives. Some are simpler than others, and some companies are obviously more driven by their statements than others. But it’s fascinating nonetheless to consider what drives some of the most well-known companies on the planet. Amazon, for instance, has this as their mission statement: “To be Earth's most customer-centric company where people can find and discover anything they want to buy online.” Steve Jobs, before he died, defined Apple’s mission with these words: “To make a contribution to the world by making tools for the mind that advance humankind.” It’s not ultimately about Macs or iPads; it’s about making the world a better place. Speaking of Macs—Big Macs—here’s how McDonald’s defines their mission: “to be our customers’ favorite place and way to eat and drink…we are focused on delivering great tasting, high-quality food to our customers a