HPUMC - Sanctuary Sermons (Traditional Worship)

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. What do you think about when you think about God? Is God tall or short? Mean or kind? Present or distant? Angry or content? All of the above? At some point, we all consider what God is like. Even the most confident atheist had to come up with an understanding of God that they would decide to reject. So, one more time, what do you think about when you think about God?  What you believe about God also shapes how you see yourself. If God is loving, then you are lovable. If God is merciful, then you are more likely to forgive yourself. It doesn’t stop there. The way you think about God determines how you love people. A God who keeps score often produces relationships marked by judgment and comparison. A God who delights in mercy forms people who are slower to condemn and quicker to restore. We tend to treat others the way we believe God treats us. So the question matters deeply: What do you think about when you think about God? Because that belief doesn’t stay in your head—it moves into your prayers, your self-worth, your relationships, and the way you move through the world. Change your understanding of God, and over time, you change the way you live.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. The comparison trap can be harmful. That insatiable allure of being more like someone else than who we are meant to be. Why is it so difficult to believe in ourselves? We were fearfully and wonderfully made, and we tend to forget that when comparison seeps in. We look around constantly at the masterpieces that God created, forgetting that we are also a masterpiece created by God. Humans were specifically and intentionally created by the God of the universe. Every part of our lives—our gifts, personalities, stories, and even our struggles—is connected to our lives for a purpose.  Believing in ourselves becomes difficult because comparison trains us to measure our value externally rather than anchor it in truth. Instead of resting in who God says we are, we look for validation in people’s achievements, appearances, or approval. Fear creeps in—fear of not measuring up, fear of being overlooked, fear that we somehow missed the mark in who we were created to be. We were not short-changed when God created us. Over time, this fear erodes confidence and replaces faith with insecurity. Letting go of comparison is an act of faith. It is choosing to believe that we are enough—not because we are perfect, but because we are God’s.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Epiphany marks the moment when God’s love was revealed to the world through Jesus Christ, as the Magi followed a star to the Christ child. It is the story of God’s light shining in the darkness and making God known to all people. In this sermon, we invite you to worship with us as we explore what it means to live a legacy of light. The Magi were guided by the star to Jesus, but their journey didn’t end there. After encountering Christ, they returned home changed, carrying the story and the light with them. Epiphany reminds us that Christ is the Light of the World and that light is meant to be shared. There is no better way to begin a new year than by discovering how Christ’s light can shape our lives, our choices, and the legacy we leave behind.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Following Jesus is serious work. But have you ever met someone who seems to take themselves way too seriously in the process? In all their religiosity, there’s no laughter, no whimsy, no joy—just a rigid seriousness they assume God must clearly require for approval. Churches do this, too. Sometimes, in the name of reverence, we create environments with no room for passion and emotion. Just keep your head down and be quiet. God can't possibly want you to celebrate. Given how many times we see the word "rejoice" in our Scriptures, I've often wondered why we repress—or never even realize—the power of joy in our lives. Thankfully, joy is one of the four themes of Advent.  This week, we'll take a look at what it means to embrace one of God's greatest gifts to humanity.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Got any storms in your life? Of course you do. This world is full of chaos and turbulence—unexpected waves that crash into our plans, sudden winds that shake our confidence, and silent pressures that weigh on our hearts. Sometimes that chaos rises from within us. And sometimes that chaos originates in the world around us. If only we could find some peace. Christmas reminds us that God sees our storms. God knows our chaos and cares deeply about guiding us into peace. The miracle of Christmas is not just that Christ came into the world—it’s that he came into our world with all its mess, noise, and struggle. Peace didn’t wait for the world to quiet down; peace stepped into the noise. And the good news is, peace is closer than we think. On this second Sunday of Advent, we will dive deeper into how to find that peace that is closer than we think.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. As we begin this Advent season, many of us carry places in our lives that feel hidden, heavy, or dim. We don’t always name them out loud—pride, resentment, fear, exhaustion, comparison, old wounds that still ache—but they quietly shape how we see the world and how we experience God. In this sermon, we’ll explore a hope far deeper than optimism or holiday cheer. In John 1:1-9, we’re reminded that Christ is the Light that shines in every dark place, and no darkness can overcome it. If there are places in your life that feel discouraged, uncertain, or dimly lit, the hope is that this message is impactful. We’ll discover together how the light of Christ can reach even the hidden places of our hearts and bring a hope that is steady, faithful, and life-giving.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Thanksgiving is a time for abundant activity. And for many, one of the more common activities is getting together with THOSE PEOPLE. You know what I mean—THOSE PEOPLE—the ones you don't get along with, agree with, or even enjoy being around. The good news is, being around those people doesn't have to be a bad experience. In fact, Jesus gives us a pretty good model for being around people who were nothing like him. So whether it's during Thanksgiving—or any other day—if you struggle with those people, you'll want to hear this message.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. I am my own worst enemy! Have you ever felt that way about yourself? Maybe in one of those moments when you end up somewhere you really don't want to be because you've done something you really didn't want to do, but you did it anyway. We all have moments when we realize that we are solely responsible for a decision that we've made. But we're not alone. As we conclude our look at David in 1 & 2 Samuel, we'll talk about one more lesson from the Great King that might just be helpful.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. This week, we are finishing the story of the Good Samaritan—a story that begins with a question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” That’s a big question. It is a question that many of us have wrestled with at some point on our journey of faith. And the lawyer who asked it was about to find out what happens when what he thinks is obvious is placed in the Son's light.  The question seemed straightforward. The lawyer wanted a clear answer and to test Jesus’ understanding of the law. Jesus doesn’t respond with a formula or checklist—he turns the question back on the man, asking, “What is written in the law?” and “How do you read it?” That simple shift invites the lawyer, and us, to look inward. It’s not just about knowing the right words but living them. That is how we inherit eternal life, living our lives like Jesus and living out the words he teaches.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Everyone knows the story of the Good Samaritan. They could practically tell it in their sleep. It’s the classic tale of helping your neighbor. There’s nothing to add to it. But what if we looked at the story from the viewpoint of a new journey? A journey that ends in Jericho. If there is another way of looking at it, maybe this story is like one of those pictures where you see one thing, then either turn it around or focus on a different part of it and see something else—like the duck that could also be a rabbit, or the chalice that is also two faces looking at each other. We’ve all seen Jesus’ story one way, but maybe there’s another way to look at it. In this sermon, we’ll unpack how the story is about more than defining our neighbor. Much more.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Have you ever done something and then felt guilty about it? Whether we deny it or face it head-on, we’ve come up with a million ways to deal with the guilt. Guilt can be something that comes so easily but is so hard to move on from. Learning to move on from guilt doesn’t mean forgetting what we did; it means understanding, taking responsibility, and using the experience for growth. Guilt can be heavy and dark, but the good news is we don't need to be so inventive when it comes to dealing with our guilt. The life of David gives us a pretty simple playbook to use when we’ve fallen short.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. God is good, all the time! And, all the time, God is good! We believe that. We proclaim that. But c'mon... Aren't there days when you feel like you've lost all momentum when it comes to experiencing the goodness of God? You've been following God, worshiping God, and praying to God just like you were told, and your life seems to be anything but good. What then? If you have ever wondered where the goodness of God has gone, you'll want to hear this message. We'll be in the third week of our exploration of 1 & 2 Samuel as we look at the life of David.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. You have nothing to fear! Has anyone ever said that to you when you were fearful of something? And they probably meant well. They were just trying to calm you down by minimizing the object of your fear. But what if the object of your fear really exists? How do you avoid being fearful when there really is something to be afraid of?  Fear is a natural part of life and something that we can often hide behind. But just because we can hide behind it doesn’t mean we don’t have to. Frequently in the Bible, we see “Do not be afraid” or “Fear not,” and those can be reminders that fear does not need to be in control. In this sermon, we learn about a young David standing firm in the face of fear and leaning into the strength of God.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. It's time to celebrate! When Project Mockingbird began, we invited you to be part of the "echo" in order to continue the great work of HPUMC over the past 109 years, both ON and FROM the corner of Hillcrest and Mockingbird. We believe the brighter HPUMC shines, the more light we bring to our community and the city of Dallas. You have answered that call.  Your support is a testament to the strength of a church that has made an impact and will continue to do so for years to come. Thanks to your generosity, we are moving forward with initiatives focused on a thriving church, thriving leadership, and thriving community partners. Our work remains ahead of us, but through this celebration, we are encouraged to keep moving forward.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. There is extraordinary power in partnership. Two partners, with synergy and collaboration, can yield extraordinary results. That’s why our church loves joining together with other churches and nonprofits to do miraculous things for the city of Dallas in the name of Christ. Connectionalism is a vital aspect of United Methodism, and we see its fruit through our partnership with St. Luke UMC.  In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus says that everyone is our neighbor. Our neighbor is not limited to our physical neighbor, our city, or our job, but everyone we interact with. We are challenged in this story to expand our vision of who we typically consider our neighbors.