MTP Sermon Resources

John 4:39-42 July 21, 2024 • Mount Pleasant UMC I’ve been thinking about what it might take for a whole city or town to host a party and the images that keep coming to my mind are when a sports team wins a championship—like the World Series or the Super Bowl. There’s a pride that takes over and brings people out to celebrate in a big way. Later this summer, we might see some of that when Olympians return home from Paris with gold, silver and bronze medals. Or, in a whole different direction, I also thought of the pictures I’ve seen when cities used to celebrate the end of a war or the soldiers who came home. Ticker-tape parades and keys to the city being handed out—all sorts of ways people will celebrate when something big happens. In our passage this morning, we read about a whole town coming together to have a party for a whole different reason. Jesus has come to town, and that’s a reason to celebrate! For the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at stories of parties in the Bible

  “Bringing Life” Sermon Study Guide for July 21, 2024 Downloadable Version Scripture: John 4:39-42 1. Woman at the Well avoiding Samaritans… “Messiah” 2. Jesus in Sychar John 10:10; 3:16 “__________________ of the world” testimony - martureo 3. Jesus is __________________________________ three kinds of life… Questions to Discuss or Ponder: Who are the “Samaritans” in your life? Who do you go out of your way to avoid? If you could have a conversation with Jesus, what would you discuss? Why? How would you describe to someone else Jesus’ role as “savior of the world”? What is your testimony? Does it point clearly to Jesus? In what way(s) do you feed your soul life? Which of the practices mentioned help you the most? What other practices might help in finding the abundant life? Is your prayer life more of asking for things or spending time with Jesus? How do you practice sabbath? Scripture for the Week: Monday - John 3:1-21 Tuesday - John 10:7-18 Wednesday - Hebrews 10:1

Luke 15:11-32 July 14, 2024 • Mount Pleasant UMC Bob Goff tells the story of the first vehicle he purchased out of law school: a yellow truck that, let’s just say, didn’t have a lot going for it. He says, “The door locks didn’t work; the windshield wipers didn’t work. The gas cap didn’t even work. How whacked does a car need to be before the gas cap doesn’t work?” Because parking was tight downtown, Goff’s law firm gave each employee $200 a month to pay for parking, but he decided he needed the money more than he needed a close-by parking spot, so he kept the cash and parked a twenty-minute walk away from his building. One winter day when he returned to his car, there was a homeless guy sitting in the driver’s seat. the man had his hands on the steering wheel at ten and two, just like everyone is taught in driver’s education class. When Goff tapped on the window, the man rolled down the window, smiled and said, “Can I take you somewhere?” “Not today,” Goff said as he opened the door.

  “Prodigal” Sermon Study Guide for July 14, 2024 Downloadable Version Scripture: Luke 15:11-32 A lawyer and a yellow truck… 1. Parables of Lostness pig pods… “came to his senses” 2. Prodigal son… father… repentance 3. The Elder Brother _____________________ the good news! Questions to Discuss or Ponder: When you think of home, what emotions and reactions come to mind? Have you ever been in a situation similar to the younger son, where you would even be willing to eat the pig’s pods? What happened? How do you understand the nature of a “prodigal”? Who have you known who showed a true prodigal character (as accurately defined)? In what ways is God “prodigal”? What has been your experience of repentance? Share about a time you found yourself running to the Father. Where do you find yourself in this story? With which person do you most relate? Why? Why does the father say he “had” to celebrate? Do you need to come home? How will you respond to God this week? Scripture for the We