MTP Sermon Resources

John 4:7-15 June 25, 2023 • Mount Pleasant UMC I have a complicated history with water. For one, I can’t swim, but that really has nothing to do with the message this morning. For two, I’ve always known I should drink more water. I’ve even had nutritionists and other medical people tell me so through the years. And I would nod, and just do what I wanted to do. But then, a few weeks ago, my cardiac rehab nurse was taking my blood pressure, frowned, and said one thing to me: “You need to be drinking more water.” Well, I knew that, but now it was tied to my heart health, and there was part of me that said, “I have come so far in this rehab journey, I am not going to give up now.” So I texted Kristin and told her I needed to be reminded to drink water at the office, and you know what? She’s really good at doing that! When I finally saw a real need, a real problem that could be taken care of simply by drinking more water, I was moved to action, moved to change. Sometimes you just need...

  “Water from a Deep Well” Sermon Study Guide for June 25, 2023 Downloadable Version Scripture: John 4:7-15 Questions… 1. A Woman at a Well Samaritans Looking for living water… John 7:37-39 Jesus “had” to go through Samaria… 2. Sources of Living Water a. _____________________________ b. _____________________________ small group anam cara Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What questions do you hear searching people ask? What questions do people ask you about your faith? Who in your life is similar to the Samaritan woman? Why did Jesus “have” to go through Samaria? In what way has Jesus come through your neighborhood? What’s the difference between being committed to Jesus and encountering Jesus? How have you encountered Jesus? In what way has the Church been a source of hurt or frustration for you? How has it been a source of healing? What does it mean that the church is God’s ‘Plan A’? Who in your life brings healing by their presence? Do you have a “soul friends...

Revelation 7:9-12 June 18, 2023 • Mount Pleasant UMC Well, for the last two times he has preached, Pastor Rick has complained about the small number of words I gave him to preach on, that the verses he was assigned were too short. Two things I want to say about that. First of all, he doesn’t know this but next time he’s going to preach on John 11:35: “Jesus Wept.” Second, I don’t really know what he’s complaining about because today I have only one word to preach about, the final word in our traditional reading of the Lord’s Prayer: “Amen.” So, for the last several weeks we have been living with this prayer, the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples on at least two occasions. He taught them to pray things like, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” We’ve been challenged to keep God’s name holy, and we’ve heard Christ’s voice whisper, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” At the outset I asked you to pray this prayer every day, and like Pa...

  “Amen” Sermon Study Guide for June 18, 2023 Downloadable Version Scripture: Revelation 7:9-12 1. A Prayer in Review Amen means… the prayer of the saints - Revelation 7 “Your kingdom come” “Your will be done” “Hallowed be your name” “Amen” 2. Two Types of Christians a. _____________ without _________________ John 14:12 b. _____________ without _________________ James 5:14-16 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: In what way does “amen” compare to “I do”? How are promises involved in our praying? Which part(s) of the Lord’s Prayer has meant the most to you during this study? Why? In what way(s) is the church today able to accomplish great things without Holy Spirit power? What is the problem with that model? Which type of Christian are you? Where do you fall in the spectrum between feet and prayers? What can you do this week to join your prayers with your feet? Who can you mentor in the faith? What other actions might God be calling you to take in the community? H...