MTP Sermon Resources

“Connected Through the Spirit” Sermon Study Guide for January 26, 2020 Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25 Ephesians 4:1-6 Created for Connection Four Universal Heart-felt Needs The need to be ________________________ The need to be ________________________ The need to be ________________________ The need to be ________________________ 2. Better Together Ephesians 4:31-32 Psalm 133:1 - how good and pleasant… Psalm 34:8 We __________________ better together. We __________________ better together.  We __________________ better together.  We __________________ better together.   We __________________ better together. “one another” Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What has been your experience with the church? What is the value of the church in your personal life? Which of the four universal needs is deepest in your life at this time? Why is the command in Scripture to gather together so import...

Connected Through the Generations Ephesians 6:1-4 January 19, 2020 • Mount Pleasant UMC I’ve got something for you to listen to this morning. For some of us, this will be a trip down memory lane. For others of you, you’ll be like, “What in the world is this?” But take a listen to this… VIDEO: AOL Ah, yes, the sweet sounds of a modem struggling (or at least it always sounded like it was struggling) to connect to what we knew as the internet in the 1990’s. I still remember dialing in for the very first time, setting up an account with AOL (America Online), and feeling like I suddenly had the world at my fingertips. I didn’t really; when I signed on to AOL they didn’t have a way to get onto the wider internet. But I had email, and I knew exactly one person in the entire world who had email: a missionary friend in Africa. Of course, in those days, we didn’t see him very much and only got a photocopied support letter once a month or so. But now, I could email him, so ...

“Connected Through the Generations” Sermon Study Guide for January 19, 2020 Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4 Ephesian Family Life Paul: Galatians 3:28 Ephesians 5:21 - “submit” 2. Children Matthew 18:1-9 - little children “___________________” (6:1) “___________________” (6:2) 3. Parents Do not “____________________” (6:4) Breaking patterns…forgiveness Celebrate! Proverbs 22:6 Isaiah 55:11 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What image does the word “obey” bring to mind? How does that compare with what Paul is saying? How can we as children be “obedient” without just doing everything parents say? What does it mean to “honor” someone? In what way(s) do you struggle with honoring your parents? What does “exasperate” mean? What are some examples of ways we “exasperate” our children? Why is forgiveness a key factor in all of these relationships? Whom do you need to work toward forgiving? Scripture for th...

Connected as One Ephesians 5:21-33 January 12, 2020 • Mount Pleasant UMC Several years ago, an anonymous person contracted an advertising agency in Florida to begin a nationwide billboard campaign containing supposed “messages from God.” Over the years, they’ve become quite familiar and the number of messages have grown. I always smile when I see some of these, because they do make you stop and think even as you’re chuckling. For instance… “What part of ‘Thou Shalt Not’ didn’t you understand?” “C’mon over and bring the kids.” “Keep using my name in vain and I’ll make rush hour longer.” And then there’s this one: “Loved the wedding. Invite me to the marriage.” Last Sunday we began a new series called “Connected,” and throughout this month we’re going to be looking at all sorts of relationships and the ways we are connected to each other. Last week, Pastor Rick began by reminding of the most important connection we can make: a connection to Jesus. I...

“Connected as One” Sermon Study Guide for January 12, 2020 Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33 Singleness 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 2. Ephesus & Marriage Jewish Culture Greco-Roman Culture 3. Husband & Wives “Submit” Wives Husbands __________________ Love (5:25) __________________ Love (5:26) __________________ Love (5:29) In the _____________________ Questions to Discuss or Ponder: Who are your role models for married life? What was marriage like in the first century? How do you compare that time to today? What misconceptions of “submit” do we have? What difference does it make to think of the word “submit” in the contact of a “lower-archy”? In what ways is our model Jesus (not just in theory, but in practice)? What does “loving the way Jesus loves” look like? Which of the four aspects of love do you most need to see more of in your life? What will you do to help that grow in your life? If you are married, ...