MTP Sermon Resources

Hebrews 11:32-12:1 January 30, 2022 • Mount Pleasant UMC This Friday, the whole world will turn its attention toward Beijing, China as the Winter Olympics begin. This year will be a lot like last summer’s delayed 2020 Olympics, with very few in-person spectators, but the games will go on, as they should. The Olympics have a long history. Athletic festivals designed to honor the Greek gods were held as early as the 1400s bc. To give you a sense of perspective, that’s about when Joshua in the Old Testament lived. The first known official Olympic contest dates back to 776 bc. It took place in western Greece, in the city of Olympia, in a stadium that could seat around 40,000 spectators. I’ve had a chance to stand on that field, where only men competed and the only event held was a sprint of less than 200 meters. The main attraction was not the race, but the festival honoring the gods. Over time, though, the games became more important. Other events were added, such as wrestling and chari...

  “Such a Great Cloud” Sermon Study Guide for January 30, 2022 Downloadable Version Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-12:1 The Games must go on! 1. The Faith Hall of Fame (11:1-40) Faith is… “The world was not worthy of them” 2. Such a Great Cloud (12:1) “out of tune” “the communion of saints” Remember the Witnesses Inspiration Humility Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What is your favorite winter Olympic sport? Why? How would you define “faith”? How does your definition compare with the one in Hebrews 11:1? Who in your life most typifies the definition of “faith”? In what way is living by faith the same as living “out of tune” with the rest of the world? What generally happens to such people? Why is the goal of this “race” of faith not winning but finishing? Who is in your “cloud of witnesses” cheering you on? What will you do this week to “remember the witnesses”? Scripture for the Week: Monday - Hebrews 11:1-16 Tuesday - Hebrews 11:17-40 Wednesday - 1 Corinthians 9...

  “What Matters Most” Sermon Study Guide for January 16, 2022 Downloadable Version Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21 2 Corinthians 5:14 - “inspire” 1. Intimacy With God a child’s prayer… priorities Galatians 5:6 Ephesians 3:17-18 2. What Love Looks Like John 13:35 Love lived out… 1 John 3:18 Personal, not private Memory & Remembering Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What does it man to be “inspired" by the love of Christ? When have you been so inspired? How do you experience intimacy with God through prayer? How does faith “express itself as love” in your life? In the lives of those you know? Respond to this statement: If we love God, we will love others. How does love rearrange your life? Describe the difference between “personal” and private.” How do those relate to the way you live your faith? Is your life known by agape love? Scripture for the Week: Monday - 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Tuesday - Galatians 5:1-12 Wednesday - Ephesians 3:14-21 Thursday - 1 John 3:...

Micah 6:1-8 January 9, 2022 • Mount Pleasant UMC Over the last year or so, probably due in part to the tremendous stress our society has been experiencing, there has been a huge pushback on people who offer to pray for someone or for some event. Especially online, when some catastrophe happens, people say, “I’ll be praying,” the response is often along the lines of, “Why don’t you do something?” The implication is that prayer, while maybe a nice thought, is useless. But for the Christian, there is nothing better we can do for someone. Prayer is not the only thing we can do, but it should be the first thing. That’s the model of the Scriptures. In fact, you don’t get very far into the Bible before you run into prayer. Genesis 4: “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord” (4:26). And I’d even argue that, at the very beginning, Adam and Eve were engaging in prayer when they walked with God in the garden in the evenings (Genesis 3:8). Is there a better description of...

  “Things from God’s Hand” Sermon Study Guide for January 9, 2022 Downloadable Version Scripture: Micah 6:1-8 “A prayerless soul is a Christless soul.” 1. God’s Case Against the People covenant vs. contract What should I bring before God? 2. What God Wants a. Act ____________________ Matthew 7:12 b. Love ___________________ hesed Luke 23:34 c. Walk ___________________ Colossians 3:12-14 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: How do people respond to you when you promise to pray for them? Respond to this statement: “A prayerless soul is a Christless soul” (Charles Spurgeon). Why does God have a “case” against the people? In what way(s) does that “case” still stand today? How would you express the difference between a covenant and a contract? How do God’s promises reinforce the covenant he has with his people? Where do you see or experience hesed in the world today? What does humility look like in today’s world? What does it not look like? Why is prayer “not optional”...