MTP Sermon Resources

“Keeping It Real” Sermon Study Guide for February 23, 2025 Downloadable Version Scripture: Matthew 23:23-28 1. Hypocrite meaning: _____________________________ 2. Jesus & Hypocrisy the religious leaders “whitewashed tombs” Luke 6:45 - a matter of the heart rules and faith motive… method… message… Christians aren’t just forgiven… Romans 7 sanctification… Galatians 5:13-14 Hebrews 2:13 2 Corinthians 5:14 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: When you hear the word “hypocrite,” what images or actions come to mind? Why do you think Jesus talked so much about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders? Where do you see rules declared but not lived out by the leadership? How does that affect their followers? How do we in the church distinguish between what actions and behaviors are critical to the faith and what is not? How does majoring on the minors miss the spirit of godliness? How does pride get in the way of living out true faith? Why does Christian faith...

Isaiah 40:28-31 February 16, 2025 • Mount Pleasant UMC One day, Jesus was teaching his disciples, as he often did, and this day the topic was sin and forgiveness. He’s emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the importance of forgiveness by saying even if they sin against you again and again, you should forgive them. And the disciples are standing there wondering how in the world this is possible. I mean, sure, you might be able to forgive someone once or twice, but over and over again? When they keep doing the same thing against you? That’s going to take a lot more faith than any of them have, which is why one of them interrupts Jesus and says, “Increase our faith!” I picture Jesus smiling and turning toward them as he says, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you” (Luke 17:6). Faith as small as a mustard seed. Jesus says, “You don’t need more faith. You can do everything you need...

  “The God I Want” Sermon Study Guide for February 16, 2025 Downloadable Version Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31 faith like a mustard seed… Luke 17:6 Matthew 13:32 1. Faith and Idols 2. Faith Alternatives a. _____________________ (40:15) b. _____________________ (40:19-20) c. _____________________ (40:22-24) d. _____________________ (40:25-27) 3. Have You Not Heard? a. _____________________ b. _____________________ Colossians 1:16-17 c. _____________________ Wait… Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What “idols” do people put their faith in today? What “idols” are most tempting for you to have faith in? Why are idols more comfortable to worship? Which of the god-like alternatives are still alive and well today? Which one(s) have you worshipped from time to time? How do you conceive of an “everlasting” God? What questions do you have about God being “eternal”? What about creation inspires you to worship? What does it mean to you that God is a creator? When have you experi...

Jeremiah 12:1-4 February 9, 2025 • Mount Pleasant UMC Let’s try this. God is good… all the time . And all the time… God is good . Well, now I know some of you have been around here for a while. When I was a new pastor in Indiana, Bishop Woodie White taught us all that call and response, and a lot of churches adopted it; I know I did in the church I was serving at the time. We used that response every Sunday for quite a while. Some credit worship leader Don Moen with starting it though a song of the same title, but for me it will always belong to Bishop White. God is good, all the time—and all the time, God is good. It’s a wonderful truth. God is good. God is always good. That calls for an “amen!” So, if God is so good, and if God is in control of the world, why is the world in such a mess? Why do wars happen and why are children suffering and why is there so much political turmoil all the time? These sorts of questions are not new; they have been around a long time. “Christiani...