MTP Sermon Resources

Matthew 25:14-30 October 30, 2022 • Mount Pleasant UMC Almost thirty years ago, I received my master’s degree. It is a “Master’s of Divinity,” and so for a long, long time, I have tried to convince my kids that I am nearly divine. They never have bought it. But I have a Master’s degree because I invested four years of my life and thousands of dollars into a course of study. I read books, I wrote papers, I took exams, I listened to lectures until the day came in early May, 1993, when Asbury Seminary conferred on me the coveted Master’s degree. I was full of knowledge, I was full of confidence, and like all of my classmates, I was ready to change the world. We were the ones the church had been waiting on, we were sure of it. And so we all headed off into the world, most of us to our first full-time appointment as a pastor in the church, and it did not take long to realize that no matter what degree we might have, we were masters of very little. I had been a pastor for just about a ...

"Who’s the Master?” Sermon Study Guide for October 30, 2022 Downloadable Version Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30 1. The Middle Parable “a few things” two attitudes 2. Being a Steward Genesis 2:15 Wesley - “___________ all you can” “___________” on your money John Wesley’s sermon, “The Use of Money” - https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/the-use-of-money-by-john-wesley Questions to Discuss or Ponder: Which of the servants in the story would you be most like? Why do you say that? When you consider what you have, how hard is it to see yourself as a “steward” rather than an “owner”? How does it affect you to see God as the master of your life? In what practical ways do you live that out? What reminds you that your “stuff” doesn’t belong to you? How well does your income and spending balance? What are the contributing factors to your current financial situation? What do you think of John Wesley’s financial directions? Are they still practical today? Why or why not? Am I spend...

Luke 12:13-21 October 23, 2022 • Mount Pleasant UMC Okay, well, if you haven’t been paying attention for some reason, our topic for the next few weeks is money. And yes, I know, some people think (and often say loudly) that the only thing the church ever talks about is money. But I haven’t preached a sermon series directly about financial stewardship and our relationship with money since 2018, so we do talk about things other than money. But in the midst of a difficult and challenging economy, which has without a doubt affected this church, we need to take some time to discuss this topic, and we’re going to do it by asking this question: what would money say if it could talk to us? There are probably a lot of things it would say, and we’ll hear some of them expressed humorously in the videos each week, but we’re going to drill down on four things in particular money would say if it could talk, and the first is this: “I can add meaning to life, but I’m not the meaning of life.” ...

  “Consumption Assumption” Sermon Study Guide for October 23, 2022 Downloadable Version Scripture: Luke 12:13-21 1. “The Most Toys” “divide the inheritance” “be on your guard” 2. Money, Greed & Possessions Greed is the ____________ that it’s all for my   _________________. If we become like the man in the parable, we… a. treat people like _______________ b. forget who we ________________ 1 Timothy 6:9-11 If money talked… “I can ___________________ to your life, but I am not ____________________.” Questions to Discuss or Ponder: Why do you think Jesus responds to the man in the crowd the way he does? How was money treated in your growing up family? What has been your attitude toward the mixing of God and money? How would you define “greed”? What image stands out in your mind when you hear that word? What happens when we treat people like pawns? What happens to us when we forget who we worship? If we don’t live to consume, what is our purpose in l...

“Remember” Sermon Study Guide for October 9, 2022 Downloadable Version Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5 1. Remembering definition… motivates… not passive… 2. Salvation a. Saved from _______________________ b. Being Saved from __________________ John 14:26 c. Will Be Saved from _________________ Romans 12:12 Revelation 21:3-4 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What is your earliest memory? Why does that memory stick with you? Why do you think God calls his people to remember so often in the Scriptures? How does remembering motivate you for the future? How does remembering help you focus on what is most important? Which “tense” of salvation means the most to you at this point in your life? Why? What difference does it make that we don’t have to “earn” what God gives us? What Scripture gives you hope for the future? Scripture for the Week: Monday - John 14:1-14 Tuesday - John 14:15-31 Wednesday - Deuteronomy 8:1-18 Thursday - Isaiah 46:1-13 Friday - 2 Thessalonians ...