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At the Root

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John 13:31-38 August 2, 2026 • Mount Pleasant UMC At various times and in various places, I have attempted to put together furniture—bookshelves in particular. A book addict needs lots of bookshelves. And you know how it goes—you buy the box at Walmart or on Amazon and the picture looks so nice. Sometimes the demo model in the store even looks nice, and you start the project with such optimism. But then you open the box and discover two things. One, there are not real instructions, just poorly drawn illustrations with no words that attempt to show you how things are supposed to go together. And then, inevitably, either there is a piece or two missing or you break one of the pieces trying to insert tab A into slot B. It looks so simple in the picture and on the box! But it’s never as easy to put together as it should be. There’s something broken in the process. Almost everyone today would admit that something is broken in the process of putting our world together. Things don’t work....
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At the Root (Study Guide)

“At the Root” Sermon Study Guide for August 2, 2026 Downloadable Version Scripture: John 13:31-38 assembly… 1. The Final Meal washing feet… a new command: Leviticus 19:18 2. The One Nonnegotiable Matthew 22:37-40 a. _____________________________ Matthew 25:31-46 b. _____________________________ John 15:13 Romans 5:8 Matthew 16:24-25 The image of God… Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What do you see on a daily basis that tells you the world is broken? What is the word “love” most associated with in the world today? Why? How does that compare or contrast to the Biblical definition of love? Why was John’s favorite sermon “Love one another”? Skim through some of the laws in Exodus or Leviticus. How does “love God, love people” sum up or relate to these laws? Have you ever participated in a foot washing service? What was that like? What message does such an action communicate? How does Jesus laying down his life demonstrate God’s love for us? When has someone sh...
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Much Afraid

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Mark 16:1-8 July 26, 2026 • Mount Pleasant UMC I would imagine that, after a short time of running, fleeing really, they stopped to catch their breath. In the warm, moist air of a Middle Eastern springtime, they probably stood across from each other, saying things without saying a word. What did they just witness? What happened back there? And, most importantly—where was his body? They were headed back to the place where all the disciples had spent the night, where the men were still sleeping, but before they got there, they had probably better get their story straight. What were they going to tell the men? This they knew for sure: they had gotten up early Sunday morning to finish the burial of their friend and teacher, Jesus, who had been brutally murdered on Friday. He had been put in a borrowed tomb before sundown Friday night so that they could honor both him and the Sabbath, the day of rest. Saturday had been a long day, and as soon as they could barely see outside, they had h...
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Much Afraid (Study Guide)

“Much Afraid” Sermon Study Guide for July 26, 2026 Downloadable Version Scripture: Mark 16:1-8 Running from the tomb… 1. Resurrection “terrified” Jesus is the ____________ Son of God why aren’t we afraid? 1 Corinthians 15:19, 26 2. What Resurrection Changes a. The way we ______________________ 2 Timothy 2:12 Revelation 14:13 Philippians 4:8 b. Our _________________________ “There are no _____________________” c. Our _________________________ 1 Corinthians 15:20 Romans 6:5 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: Why, do you think, did the disciples completely miss Jesus’ promise to rise from the dead? Why was the empty tomb not enough proof of resurrection? How do we experience the risen Jesus today? Why do we take the reality of Jesus’ resurrection so lightly? In what way should we be more afraid? In what way does Mark 16:8 make sense as the ending to the Gospel account? Why do you think Mark ended it this way? What would our faith be if the resurrection...
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