MTP Sermon Resources

Acts 17:22-28 September 17, 2023 • Mount Pleasant UMC She asked us, “Do you want to go to the top?” I looked over at Rachel and nodded. Of course I wanted to go to the top. I had literally traveled around the world to be in Athens, and “the top” is one of the places I definitely wanted to go because at the top of the acropolis was the Parthenon, one of the most well-known sites of the ancient world. The reason the guide was asking the question, though, is because we were in Athens in the midst of a downpour. It was raining hard, and we were huddled under a building’s overhang trying to keep dry. But I still was determined to go to the top of the acropolis because I didn’t and don’t know when or if I’ll ever be back. My biggest regret from that day, however, is that I didn’t go to the top of the other site there, which is Mars Hill. When the guide pointed it out to us, I noticed it wasn’t so much a hill as it is a large rock outcropping, reachable today by a metal staircase. Yeah, I

  “Not Far” Sermon Study Guide for September 17, 2023 Downloadable Version Scripture: Acts 17:22-28 1. A Visit to Athens “greatly distressed” Areopagus Stoics & Epicureans 2. Listening to God’s Voice in Culture a. Turn _________________ the culture 1 Peter 2:9 - “peculiar people” b. _______________ what the culture is saying 1 Corinthians 12:10 Philippians 4:8 c. Return consistently to ___________________ Romans 12:2 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What are the things in your world that easily become idols? What idols do you see in our community? What are the ideas alive and well in our culture that challenge our faith? As you “listen” to Paul’s sermon, what touchstones with the Greek culture do you notice? Why, do you think, are those the things Paul chose to use? Respond to this statement: “All truth is God’s truth.” Why do we tend to attach such strong meaning to particular places or persons? How does worship on Sunday morning help us better hear God’

Luke 24:13-35 ; 1 Kings 19:9-13 September 10, 2023 • Mount Pleasant UMC We live in a world of distractions. Everywhere you turn there are things that pull for our attention. And not just one thing; multiple things. At cardiac rehab, I usually watch some sort of morning news and it’s hard to decide if I want to listen to the anchor or read the scroll along the bottom. Drive down Third Street and see how many signs and billboards and yard signs are calling for us to pay attention. Then there are these little internet portals in our pockets or in the seat next to us in our cars notifying us when we’re getting texts and emails and news alerts and all the things. Sometimes we even get a phone call that we just have to answer right then! It’s not a staff meeting here until Pastor Rick gets a phone call. Do you ever get distracted? And when you get distracted, maybe it’s like this… VIDEO: Dug Distractions aren’t just annoying; they’re a real time consumer. Research from the University of