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Do

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James 1:22-27 June 14, 2026 • Mount Pleasant UMC How many times had he been to the top of this mountain? I mean, he wasn’t a young man anymore. He was on the other side of eighty years old, but every time the eternal God wanted to talk to him he had to climb the mountain. Up the mountain to talk to God, down the mountain to talk to the people. Rinse, repeat. If only Zoom had been a thing then—he wouldn’t have had to do so much climbing! But it wasn’t and so he went up when God called and down when God commanded, and he told the people everything that God had told him. “Here are the laws, the rules, this is the way God wants you to live," Moses told the gathered people of Israel. And the people with one voice responded: “Everything the Lord has said we will do” (Exodus 24:1-3). That little two-letter word “do” has caused all sorts of problems and confusion for people of faith throughout the centuries. Today it is common to hear (and I’ve even said) that religion is all about “d...
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Do (Study Guide)

“Do” Sermon Study Guide for June 14, 2026 Downloadable Version Scripture: James 1:22-27 1. James on Religion John 7:5 - unbelief “to the twelve tribes scattered” 2. The Things We Make Religion Into a. _______________________ b. _______________________ c. _______________________ 3. True Religion Matthew 5:17-18 - the Law will not disappear a. A tight _______________________________ (1:26) b. Look after ____________________________ (1:27) c. Don’t get _____________________________ (1:27) Questions to Discuss or Ponder: In what way(s) does “love” underlie each of these “words of life”? What is the significance of James’ letter being sent to “the twelve tribes scattered”? How does that include us? What attitudes have you encountered about “religion”? What is true and what is false about each attitude? How are each of the things we make religion into actually a false idol? In what ways can the tongue do damage to people and to our world? Who are the vulnerable and marginal...
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The Path to Peace (Study Guide)

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“The Path to Peace” Sermon Study Guide for June 7, 2026 Downloadable Version Scripture: Ephesians 2:14-18 1. Peace a Biblical definition John 10:10 - the abundant life Romans 5:1 - peace with God peace within - deeper than circumstances 2. The Path to Peace peace of God John 16:33 John 14:27 Philippians 4:4-8 pursuing the __________________________ Colossians 3:15; Isaiah 26:3 pursuing _____________________________ Romans 12:18; Hebrews 12:14 pursuing _____________________________ Psalm 4:8 Four Laws of Peace and Contentment Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What images come to your mind when you think of peace? How does the Biblical definition of peace contrast with the world’s definition? Where do people look for peace today? Why do so many go after substitutes for peace rather than looking for true peace with God? If God’s will is for us to have peace, why do so few seemingly find it? Read Philippians 4:4-8. Which part of Paul’s message do you most ...
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Unexpected Hope

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1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 May 31, 2026 • Mount Pleasant UMC How would you describe the color blue to someone who is blind (cf. Wright, Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians , pg. 123)? Think about that for a moment. Those of us with sight don’t even think about what blue is. It just is. But if someone has never seen blue, never experienced the color of the sky or the ocean, how would you describe it to them? Or not just blue, but any color? How do you help someone understand what they have never seen or experienced? This morning, in our continuing journey through these New Testament “Words of Life,” we come to a word that is a little like that: hope. It’s one of the hallmarks of Christian faith, but when you try to describe what it is, it’s a bit like describing the color blue to a blind person. We think we know what “hope” is, but we really use the word to describe all sorts of different things. I hope he will be okay. I hope my flight won’t be delayed. I hope it doesn’t st...
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