MTP Sermon Resources

  “To Make You Wise” Sermon Study Guide for January 5, 2025 Downloadable Version Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 Questions… 1. To a Pastor in Ephesus… Timothy in a land of false teachers Paul’s Bible… “God-breathed” 2. Is the Bible true? “contradictions” the importance of history the opposite of faith is… studying the Bible… Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What is your first memory of knowing about the Bible? What is the first Bible story you remember learning? What questions have you been asked about the authority of the Bible? What questions to you have yourself? How does education in our world differ from that in Paul’s world? How does the concept of “truth” differ from then until now? React to this statement: “Our story only works when it leads others to follow Jesus.” What is the difference between being “inspired” and “God-breathed”? Why does that difference matter? Do the supposed contradictions in the Bible make it untrue? Why or why not? Why is asking questions ...

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...