MTP Sermon Resources

Genesis 14:17-24 October 12, 2025 (Generosity Sunday) • Mount Pleasant UMC For the last three weeks, we have been engaged in a time of reflection and challenge centered around the themes of joy, simplicity and generosity. You might remember that, two weeks ago, I asked every one of us to be open to whatever God might say to us, and to ask God to give us the courage to be able to act on what he says. Two weeks ago, I spoke about discerning the difference between needs and wants. And last week, we talked about giving our life to a greater purpose than our own pleasure, how we were made for more. So today, on Generosity Sunday, my task is to bring those themes together as we think about our commitments for the coming year. I’m thinking again about the beginning of that old Shaker song “Simple Gifts:”   ’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free ’tis the gift to come down where you ought to be I love that second line because, s a follower of Jesus, I want to come down ...

  “To Come Down Where We Ought To Be” Sermon Study Guide for October 12, 2025 Downloadable Version Scripture: Genesis 14:17-24 1. A Mission To Give Your Life For 2. Two Fears & One Practice Fear of   ________________ Fear of   __________________ Practice of ________________________ Proverbs 11:25 3. The Tithe Melchizedek = Jerusalem =   2 Corinthians 9:7: God loves… Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What does it mean to be a disciple? What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? What does transformation look like? What would it look like if our world was transformed as Jesus would want it to be? Why do we so often give ourselves to lesser missions? Which fear (or both) do you deal with the most when it comes to handling and managing your finances? In what way(s) have you experienced generosity bringing relief from fear and also joy? Why does Solomon in Proverbs say a generous person will prosper? How have you experienced that truth? What will be your comm...

Luke 15:11-16 October 5, 2025 (World Communion) • Mount Pleasant UMC How did he end up here? Face down in the mud, longing to eat pig slop…how did he get here? He was a good kid, from a respectable Jewish home. His father had lots of land, and was well-known in the community. Of course, that’s where the problems began, with his father. What was it that caused him to go to his father and tell him, “I wish you were dead”? Well, he hadn’t said it quite that way, but when he asked to get his inheritance right now, it was the same thing. And then, when the father signed over the deed to his portion of the land, and he turned around and immediately sold it to someone else—he knew he was heaping shame on his father and his family name, but at that moment, he didn’t really care. He just wanted out. And out he went, pockets full of cash. He knew he was abandoning his responsibility to care for his parents in their old age, but he didn’t care about that, either. All he cared about was gett...

  “In The Place Just Right” Sermon Study Guide for October 5, 2025 Downloadable Version Scripture: Luke 15:11-16 1. Biblical Story a. He wanted it all… b. He chose the wrong… c. He had no… d. He did not live… 2. Our Story It’s not about… Genesis 12:1-4: blessed to be… Giving ourselves to… SHORT-TERM MID-TERM LONG-TERM Scripture for the Week: Monday - Genesis 12:1-9 Tuesday - John 21:15-19 Wednesday - Acts 1:1-11 Thursday - Acts 9:1-19 Friday - Psalm 37:1-11 Saturday - Genesis 14:17-24 In response to this Scripture, how will you live? Prayer Prompt: For a mission bigger than myself.