MTP Sermon Resources

Luke 2:1-7 December 24, 2024 • Mount Pleasant UMC In the Bible there are two different types of time. Chronos refers to clock time, chronological time, but kairos refers to “the right time,” the critical moment. Things always happen on chronos time, of course, but when something happens and the world changes, that’s a kairos moment. I can’t help but think about certain moments when the right words were said at the right time and history was changed. For instance, five words spoken by Winston Churchill in October 1941 at a private boarding school rallied the British people in their struggle against Nazi Germany: “Never, never, never give up.” Churchill’s determination filtered out to the British people to the point they were willing to make sacrifices in order to defeat Hitler. Or the words John F. Kennedy used twenty years later at his inauguration to unify the American people: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy knew there w...

Luke 1:26-38 December 22, 2024 • Mount Pleasant UMC It was 6:30 a.m. and he was washing dishes at a homeless shelter. Another man was working alongside him in the kitchen and struck up a conversation. “Have you always enjoyed working with the homeless?” The dishwasher, who was an affluent attorney in his other life, smiled. “Who told you I enjoyed working with the homeless? You ever had a conversation with any of these guys? They’re in a mess. One of ‘em broke into my car yesterday while I was in here washing his dirty dishes.” His co-worker sort of stopped and turned toward him. “But there you are, at this hour of the morning. How did you decide to be part of this ministry?” The dishwasher smiled again. “I didn’t get to decide,” he said. “Jesus insisted. Put me here whether I liked it or not.” The other man knowingly called it “God’s rambunctious call” (Willimon, Heaven and Earth , pg. 108). Sometimes that call comes whether we like it or not, whether we think we are ready or no...

  “Edge of the Arrival” Sermon Study Guide for December 22, 2024 Downloadable Version Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 1. Mary “Highly favored” “You will give birth to a son” “The Spirit will come upon you” “Look! God’s _________________!” stress scale “Call his name Jesus” Matthew 1:21 2. Christmas “Here I am” Love: two sides John 13:34-35: “Love one another” Questions to Discuss or Ponder: Have you ever found yourself in a situation you wouldn’t have chosen but Jesus led you to? Have you ever answered “God’s rambunctious call”? What happened? What does it mean Biblically to be “highly favored”? Why would that be unsettling to Mary? What threats awaited Mary with an unplanned pregnancy? How would this factor in to her decision? Share about a time when you cooperated with the Holy Spirit’s leading. Did you do it willingly or grudgingly? Why? What does it mean to be “the Lord’s servant”? Do you think Mary wanted to be Mary? Why or why not? What is the most important val...

John 1:19-28 December 15, 2024 • Mount Pleasant UMC Have you ever had this experience? I bet you have. You’re out somewhere, maybe at Kroger or Walmart, and you run into someone who looks familiar. They know you, but you rack your brain and you can’t remember their name. What do you say or do in such a situation? Do you try to avoid them in the store? What if they see you first? Do you do the “Hey, you!” thing? Or are you honest enough to admit that you are struggling to remember their name? It’s hard to practice that kind of honesty because it makes us feel bad when we don’t recognize someone we know we should know. How do you recognize someone anyway? Their face? Their actions? Their voice? What is it that tells you who that other person is? This morning, as we continue through the season of Advent, we’re continuing to realize that “God is On the Way,” and that Advent is the time we should be using to get ready for his arrival. This morning, we’re going back to the one who wa...