MTP Sermon Resources

Matthew 6:9-13 May 28, 2023 (Pentecost) • Mount Pleasant UMC I guarantee it was not the day they expected. They had been told, ten days before, to “wait for the gift [the] Father promised,” and that “in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). But, honestly, that’s all the explanation these disciples got. They had spent three years, give or take, with Jesus, and had heard him talk about the Holy Spirit, but they really had very little idea what he meant or what was going to happen when the Spirit arrived. They did know enough, though, to do what he told them to (they had learned that much!), so they stayed in the last place they had been with him (what we know as the Upper Room), and they waited. And waited. And waited. Ten days they waited. And when they got up on this morning, they had no reason to suspect it would be any different than any of the other nine days. Except it was. As they prayed on that Pentecost day, the Spirit came upon them in a fo...

  “Letting Go” Sermon Study Guide for May 28, 2023 Downloadable Version Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13 Pentecost… (Acts 1-2) 1. The Reason for Forgiveness “debts” and “trespasses” Matthew 9:12 - a tax collector Hosea 6:6 2. The Object of Forgiveness harmartia Romans 7:19 “as” 3. The Practice of Forgiveness We can’t _______________________________ Letting go of ____________________________ Psalm 51:17 James 5:14-16 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What makes forgiveness so hard? Where do you find examples of forgiveness in our world today? How does the prayer sound different if you ask for debts to be forgiven? trespasses? What was the purpose of the Old Testament sacrificial system? How did it fail to accomplish that purpose? In what way can sin be described as a broken relationship? How have you experienced that? What is the connection between our forgiving and experiencing forgiveness? Why is the temptation to “take Jesus’ place” in the process of forgiveness so strong?...

  “The Bread of Life” Sermon Study Guide for May 21, 2023 Downloadable Version Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13 1. Trust in the Lord John 6:35 - bread of life Acts 17:28 2. Daily Bread 3. Praying for Food? 4. A Call to Action Matthew 25 James 2:15-17 Genesis 12:1-4 - blessed to be a blessing Matthew 4:4 - not by bread alone Isaiah 40:31 - rise up like eagles Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What is your association with bread? What is your favorite type of bread? What does it mean to pray this prayer in a culture where most of us don’t have to worry about finding daily bread? How does God answer this prayer? How have you seen God answer this prayer in practical (and maybe unexpected) ways? When have you been called to be the answer to your own or someone else’s prayer? What is the best response to someone who is asking for food or help on the street? How do you usually respond in your spirit? Respond to this statement: “You cannot be a blessing without being blessed.” How and...

Matthew 6:9-13   May 14, 2023 • Mount Pleasant UMC Two politicians, both of whom were trying to position themselves as the faith and values candidate, squared off in a debate. In the course of the discussion, one of the candidates said to the other, “I’ll bet you $20 you don’t even know the words to the Lord’s Prayer.” The other candidate puffed himself up and said, “I’ll take your bet. I do know the words to the Lord’s Prayer.” “Great,” the first one said, “Let’s hear it.” To which the second candidate looked right out at the audience and proudly said, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep…” The first candidate was shocked, then he reached into his wallet and took out $20, saying, “I really didn’t think you would know it!” (Hamilton, The Lord’s Prayer , pgs. 27-28). Now, what I’m hoping right now is that you get the joke and aren’t like the candidates who think that simple bedtime prayer really is the Lord’s Prayer! But whether you are brand new to ...