MTP Sermon Resources

1 Timothy 6:11-16 September 29, 2019 • Mount Pleasant UMC The sermon title today, if you happened to notice it in the bulletin, may have created several different images in your mind. The word “confession” can mean a lot of different things. If you grew up Roman Catholic, confession might look like this: a small enclosure with a priest on the other side, to whom you shared the sins you had committed since the last time you were there. The priest would hear your “confession,” give you some actions to do to make up for your sins, and pronounce absolution or forgiveness of sin. You were forgiven…until the next time you sinned. And I’m not making light of that; for that tradition, that’s a very important spiritual practice. For others, the word “confession” might bring up images of police and lawyers and courtrooms—people and places where one might “confess” a wrongdoing, a crime. A confession is admitting that you did it. On a smaller level, it might bring up an image of a tim...

“The Good Confession” Sermon Study Guide for September 29, 2019 Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:11-16 To a Young Pastor “flee” “pursue” “fight” 2. The Good Confession notes on eternity… first confession second confession godliness with _______________________ don’t be ________________________ put on ____________________________ turn away from __________________________ Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What comes to mind when you think of the word “confession”? What does Paul want Timothy to flee? In what way do we need to also “flee” that same thing? Which of the six things we are to pursue need to grow most in your life? What do you imagine eternity to be like? How does that square (or does it) with what Scripture pictures? How do we “put on good deeds”? Why does Paul use clothing language here? How do you define “godless chatter”? What are some things you can do to turn away from it? How will you make...

Hope and a Future Jeremiah 29:10-14 September 15, 2019 • Mount Pleasant UMC Video Opener Sermon Study Guide I have learned that, in my life as a United Methodist pastor that, as soon as I arrive at a new church, people start asking how long I’m going to stay. I remember the first time this reality really hit me. It was pretty early in my second appointment, within the first few months, and we were having a planning meeting for some future things coming up. Suddenly, in the discussion, I heard these words: “Well, what happens when you’re gone and all of this falls apart?” I remember soon after we arrived here—almost four and a half years ago, believe it or not—and people started asking, “Well, how long are you going to stay here in Terre Haute?” My standard answer, as it has been everywhere we have been appointed, is this: I plan to stay here the rest of my life. Now, God and the Bishop might have other ideas, but my plan is to stay, and my history is that I have b...

“Hope and a Future” Sermon Study Guide for September 15, 2019 Scripture: Jeremiah 29:10-14 Home…and exile… Jeremiah - Exile Hebrews 11:16 - looking for a city 2. Hope and a Future prosper… “a hopeful end” no quick ____________ vision for the _______________________ 3. Vision-Driven a. Seek __________________ b. ______________________ c. ______________________ Questions to Discuss or Ponder: When did your current home first feel like “home”? Describe what you think exile felt like. How would you respond? What would you want most of all during that time? Where do you see evidence that we have become too comfortable in our exile? How is God’s idea of prosperity different from ours? Where is hope most lacking in our world? In your world? Which of the aspects of being “vision-driven” do you most struggle with? Which one do you most need to grow in? What one step do you need to take to be more vision-driven...

A Whole In the Roof Mark 2:1-5 September 8, 2019 • Mount Pleasant UMC So, you may remember, on the first Sunday of this series, I mentioned how I had been harassed about these t-shirts in our staff meeting, and how someone was concerned about how we would answer the question, “Why do you love your church?” if someone asked at lunch after worship. Well, two weeks ago, Cathy and I were going into a local restaurant after worship, and the woman who opened the door saw our shirts and said, “I like those shirts. Everyone should love their church!” When I said that we do, she asked me what church we went to. I said, “Mount Pleasant,” and the woman’s face lit up and in two words she told me everything she knew about Mount Pleasant: “Rick Swan!” So, you can take that for whatever it’s worth. So far in this series on loving your church, we’ve talked about four of our six words. The first week we talked about the importance of community , and how we need each other. Then we ta...