MTP Sermon Resources

  “The Ultimate Hope” Sermon Study Guide for December 27, 2020 Downloadable Version Scripture: Revelation 21:1-7 1. New Year, New Hopes “hope” - Hebrews 6:19 Hebrews 11:1 2. The Ultimate Hope “It Is Well With My Soul” Rev. 21 - Roman Empire & Christian persecution 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 - God’s promise 1 Corinthians 15:42-57 - resurrection God’s strategy for our purpose 2 Corinthians 4:18 When faith turns to sight… Jeremiah 17:7 - trust in the Lord Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What are your hopes for the coming year? What is the difference between our cultural hope and Biblical hope? What qualities make up “hope” for you? How do we find meaning in the midst of suffering? Christian believe in resurrection. How is hope contained in that belief? How does that future hope impact your present? What should you do to fix your gaze on eternity, on Jesus’ promise for you? Where is there evidence in your life of a growing trust in Jesus? Scripture for the Week: ...

Luke 2:1-20 December 24, 2020 • Mount Pleasant UMC It’s quiet now. First time it’s been quiet since…honestly, I don’t know how long. It’s been a whirlwind few days and it seems like there has been a constant stream of people around. Noise and chatter constantly. And crying, of course. Babies don’t come without crying. No matter that he’s the Son of God, the idea that somehow he is above crying is ridiculous. I sure hope future generations realize that. He’s just a baby. But, of course, he’s more than that. Look at him sleep. Look how peaceful he looks right now, cradled in Mary’s arms. You’d never guess that just a few moments ago he was wailing at the top of his lungs, demanding to be fed, expecting to be taken care of. Honestly, I still can’t wrap my head around it. That baby cradled near Mary’s face—that’s…that’s God. The God I have worshipped all of my life. The God I have known as faithful and true. The God who has provided everything I have and need. That’s him, softly co...

Luke 2:22-40 December 20, 2020 • Mount Pleasant UMC It was many years ago, and for one of our anniversary trips, Cathy and I decided to go to Cumberland Gap, in the corner of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. I love history and as a kid I had been fascinated by the story of Daniel Boone. I wanted to see the gap in the mountains that allowed him to bring people through, along the Wilderness Road, and settle in Kentucky, so we went and stayed for several days, hiking all over the area. One day, I had found a trail that went from the bottom of the gorge to the top of a nearby mountain. It didn’t look that long; how hard could it be? So first we ate at Shoney’s, a restaurant, by the way, I really miss. Anyway, we ate there and then we started out. And the hike, as you might imagine, was steeper and harder than I imagined. This was before my heart surgery, and though we knew I had some issues with my heart, we didn’t really understand the impact of those issues. As we went up, breathi...

  “Walking Together” Sermon Study Guide for December 20, 2020 Scripture: Luke 2:22-40 1. Two Strangers at the Temple Simeon “a sword will pierce…” Anna 2. The Cure for Brokenness Genesis 2:16 - “not good” Community brings… a. __________________________ b. __________________________ Hebrews 10:24-25 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Galatians 6:2 c. __________________________ Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What are you anticipating more this Christmas season? Share a time you had a Holy Spirit-driven encounter like Mary and Joseph did with Simeon. What happened? How did God work through that encounter? As Mary pondered what happened, how would Simeon’s words have impacted her? Who in your life is “Anna-like,” praying and fasting for the sake of others? What evidence of brokenness have you seen in our world today? Where do you experience brokenness in the church? Which of the three aspects of community have you experienced? How do you reach out and share...

Luke 2:8-15 December 13, 2020 • Mount Pleasant UMC Yes, Tom Bodett, leaving the light on for you. Way back in 1986, Tom Bodett was building houses in Alaska and also contributing stories for NPR’s show All Things Considered when an advertising executive heard him on the radio. He was looking to hire someone for a Motel 6 ad campaign and thought Bodett sounded like the sort of person who would stay there. (If I were Tom Bodett, I’m not sure how I would take that!) When they recorded the commercial, Bodett ad-libbed the last line, “We’ll leave the light on for you,” and it was a hit. Bodett has been the voice of the motel chain ever since; his voice has even been used by the motel for their wake-up calls. And that line that he made up on the spot has become inseparably connected to the brand. Motel 6—we’ll leave the light on for you. I can't drive by a Motel 6 without thinking about that line. It makes you feel like someone is waiting on you, someone is ready for you, someone wa...