MTP Sermon Resources

Revelation 2:1-7 May 26, 2024 • Mount Pleasant UMC One of the last days we were in Dublin, Ireland, I headed out in the afternoon—and I know this will be a surprise to you—to go to Starbucks and get an iced chai latte (grande, light ice, with cinnamon on top, in case you’re wondering). As I was leaving, I noticed this big circular monument, and when I got to the front side of it, there was a blank screen with this message: “Portal is asleep—back up soon.” It was strange but I didn’t think much about it until I got back to our hotel room and was catching up on the news. Many of you may have heard about this “portal” which was actually a live video link that had been installed between Dublin, Ireland and New York City. Did you see the news about it? And there it was, just a couple of blocks from our hotel room. What a great idea, to be able to somehow experience life on the other side of the planet through a real-time video feed. But it had been put to sleep because, get this—peopl...

  “Seeds of Revival” Sermon Study Guide for May 26, 2024 Downloadable Version Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7 “The Portal” and the problem 1. John Wesley “a brand plucked from the burning” The Holy Club 2. The Church at Ephesus a cosmopolitan city the good things… orthodoxy the bad thing… 3. Seeds of Revival a. ________________________ b. ________________________ c. ________________________ Questions to Discuss or Ponder: In what way(s) do you experience the brokenness of the world directly? How does that affect your spiritual life? In what ways does the world of Wesley and the world of the Ephesians sound similar to today’s world? How do the struggles of the Ephesian church match or contradict the struggles of today’s church? Respond to Scot McKnight’s comment: “Orthodoxy without love kills.” What’s the difference between having “warm feelings” toward Jesus and actively loving Jesus? What does it mean to repent? How is repentance an action rather than an attitude? ...

2 Timothy 1:3-8 May 12, 2024 (Mother’s Day) • Mount Pleasant UMC Well, good morning, friends. As you are in worship here in Terre Haute, we are finishing up a day of touring in Bristol, England and headed to London for the night. We have been on this Wesley Heritage Tour now for almost a week, and we appreciate your continued prayers for safety as we travel. I am thankful for the blessings of technology to be able to be in two places at once this morning! When I get back from this trip, we’re going to spend a few weeks studying our heritage and the Methodist Christian faith that we share by looking at the life of our founder, John Wesley, and more importantly at the work God did through him, the revival that broke out that changed a nation. And as we look at what happened then we’re going to be asking if it could happen again. What if God might use us to renew and change our land? I think it’s possible that if God did it once before through the people called Methodist, he just ...

  “Sincere Faith” Sermon Study Guide for May 12, 2024 Downloadable Version Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:3-8 1. Susanna Wesley “How is it with your soul?” 2. Eunice, Lois & Timothy “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2) 3. My Life Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What part(s) of Susanna Wesley’s story challenge you? In what way(s) can you relate to her life? Why do you think Paul invested in Timothy’s life? What qualities might he have had that made him a good missionary assistant? What or who do you think of when you hear the word “sincere”? How is that person or thing “sincere”? Who are the people in your life who have impacted you? Who has poured into your faith and how have they done that? What would you like to say to those who have helped you follow Jesus well? Is there anything keeping you from saying it directly to them? Who are you pouring your life into and helping their faith grow? If no one, who is someone. you might be able to do that with? Scripture for the Week: M...