HPUMC - Sanctuary Sermons (Traditional Worship)

Highland Park United Methodist Church - Dallas, Texas
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Join us each week for traditional worship and an inspiring message from Senior Minister Rev. Paul Rasmussen and Rev. Matt Tuggle.

  1. 1d ago

    We

    Rev. Chip Robertson

  2. Jul 19

    Real Rest

    Rev. Dr. Abe Smith | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. What, or who, fills your tank? We’re not talking about your car. We’re talking about your soul, your spirit, your body, and your energy. What helps you find rest and recharge for the journey of life? Many of us know how to keep going, stay busy, and meet the next responsibility, but we may not know how to receive the kind of rest that truly restores us. Our culture celebrates productivity. We admire people who are always available, always accomplishing, always moving on to the next thing. But eventually, even the strongest among us begin to feel the weight of constant striving.  We may find ourselves physically exhausted, emotionally drained, or spiritually dry. We often try to refill ourselves with vacations, entertainment, hobbies, or distractions. While those things can be good gifts, they cannot ultimately satisfy the deeper weariness of the soul. Jesus recognized this kind of exhaustion. He knew what it was like to live in a world full of demands, expectations, and burdens. Yet instead of telling weary people to try harder or work longer, he offered something radically different: an invitation.  In this sermon, you are invited to reflect on Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28–30: “Come to me… and I will give you rest.” We’ll discover the “Real Rest” Jesus offers: rest that renews our souls, realigns our lives, and helps us live with greater purpose and meaning.

  3. Jul 12

    Bet Ab

    Rev. Chip Robertson | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide When you think of “the Father’s house,” you may think about the children’s song talking about it as a big, big house with lots and lots of rooms, or you may begin to picture the clouds of heaven. The Father's house is not primarily a location but a way of living in communion with God and one another. Scripture consistently points toward God creating a people who belong together in a covenant relationship. God's desire has always been to invite people into His family. That desire runs throughout the entire story of Scripture—from Eden to Abraham, through Jesus, and into eternity. Hand in hand with God’s desire for a people of community is the constant theme of redemption and restoration. In this sermon, the theme of redemption is explored through the metaphor of reweaving. Sin is described not merely as breaking rules but as tearing the fabric of our relationships—with God, with others, and even within ourselves. Redemption is God's patient work of taking those torn places and weaving them back together so that what seemed beyond repair is restored. God does not simply cover over the broken places in our lives; He restores them, weaving together what has been torn until they are made new.  Every life is immeasurably valuable to God, and no tear is beyond His ability to restore. Like the father in the Prodigal Son, God continually watches, waits, and welcomes people home. Ultimately, the Father's house is not only a promise of where we will one day be. It is a present reality wherever people live in God's love, practice reconciliation, care for one another, and allow God to reweave the torn places of their lives. The invitation has always been open, and the door to the Father's house remains open still.

  4. Jul 5

    The Joy of Freedom

    Rev. Dr. Abe Smith | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In Hebrews 12, we are invited to “throw off everything that hinders” and “run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. That’s a powerful image because most of us know what it feels like to carry things we were never meant to carry: brokenness, regret, disconnection, wrongdoing, pride, or the weight of trying to hold life together on our own. The good news of the Gospel is that Christ meets us with grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love. When we receive that grace, we discover a joy that is deeper than happiness and stronger than our circumstances. Christ lived and died so that we could know the joy of reconciliation, forgiveness, love, and the joy of freedom.  Jesus does not simply call us to run harder; he invites us to lay down what binds us and receive the life only he can give.

  5. Jun 28

    Again I Say: In All These Things

    Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Is there a more iconic Bible verse than Philippians 4:13? It is one of the most recognizable verses in all of Scripture. Christians have memorized it for generations, and it has found its way into popular culture. Your grandmother needlepointed it on a pillow. Your niece posted it on Instagram. Tebow put it on his eye black. Philippians 4:13 is everywhere. Because it is so familiar, we often feel like we know exactly what it means. Many read it as a promise that God will help us accomplish whatever goal we set our minds to—we'll win the game, get the promotion, or overcome any obstacle standing in our way.  Although we know this verse by heart, many of us struggle to live it. When life becomes difficult, when our plans fall apart, when we face disappointment, loss, uncertainty, or suffering, we often discover that our strength isn't enough. We become anxious, discouraged, or exhausted because we've unknowingly emphasized what we can do instead of the One who gives us strength. In this sermon, Matt unpacks Paul’s injunction to “Rejoice.” We’ve seen how a robust prayer life and an intentional thought life can yield rejoicing; now, we turn to our actions. What we do can lead us to a life of rejoicing. But could Paul possibly be right? Can we really do ALL things!?

  6. Jun 21

    Again I Say: Take Account

    Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. We're all keeping score. Naturally, we are creating a daily curated account of what our lives look like and what we tend to dwell on. Whether that is a conscious decision or an unconscious one, what we dwell on directly affects our daily account. And what we do with our account of life has everything to do with whether or not we can live lives of "rejoicing." In Philippians 4:8, Paul encourages us to focus on “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, and commendable.” In this passage, Paul intentionally repeats the word “whatever” to slow us down and emphasize each quality individually. These are not just positive-sounding words but specific things that deserve our attention.  Turning our focus onto the good things is not an invitation to ignore problems or pretend everything is okay. We as Christians are still called to address difficult situations honestly, but we should not allow negativity to become our primary focus.  Because we believe that Jesus has already won the ultimate victory, we can face hardships while still returning our attention to what is good, true, just, and honorable.

  7. Jun 14

    Again I Say: The Presence of Peace

    Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide When we think about peace, we tend to think that peace is the absence of problems, conflict, or worry. We tell ourselves, “I’ll finally have peace when this situation is resolved, when this relationship is repaired, when this diagnosis changes, when my schedule calms down, or when life feels manageable again.” But Scripture invites us into a deeper understanding of peace. The peace of God is not simply the absence of angst or conflict—it is a presence that can exist in the middle of difficult situations. It is a gift from God that accompanies us through the storms of life rather than waiting for the storms to pass before appearing. This is why Paul speaks of a “peace that surpasses understanding.” It is a peace that doesn’t always make logical sense because it can coexist with grief, uncertainty, disappointment, and hardship. Worry, on the other hand, naturally yields something in our lives. It often produces stress, impatience, frustration, sleeplessness, and attitudes that spill over into our relationships with others. Left unchecked, worry can quietly begin to shape the way we see ourselves, others, and even God.  But what would it look like for worry to yield prayer? Prayer is a powerful tool for us, and it can become even more powerful when we are honest with God in our prayers. God does not expect polished words or perfect faith. He invites us to bring our real fears, our frustrations, our disappointments, and our hopes before Him. We can thank Him for the blessings we already see while also honestly asking Him for the things we need.

  8. Jun 7

    Again I Say

    Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice." This Scripture, along with many other famous verses, all come from one singular chapter in Philippians, which will be the focus of this new sermon series. “Rejoice” is a word we Christians hear often, especially around high holy days like Christmas and Easter. We often think of rejoicing as merely feeling happy or joyful, but what if it is something much deeper and more active? Rejoicing is not simply an internal feeling; it is a way of living. Rejoicing is connected to recognizing God's work and celebrating His presence.  In Philippians, Paul does not say to rejoice only when things are good. Instead, as believers, we are called to rejoice in all circumstances because of one foundational truth: "The Lord is near.” Whether in moments of joy, grief, conflict, uncertainty, celebration, illness, weddings, funerals, or everyday frustrations, we can rejoice because God is near to us and meets us where we are. If He meets you right where you are, that is reason enough for rejoicing. Because God is with us, we can experience strength, peace, and confidence even in difficult seasons. Rejoicing does not mean denying pain or hardship; it means living with the confidence that God is present in every circumstance.

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About

Join us each week for traditional worship and an inspiring message from Senior Minister Rev. Paul Rasmussen and Rev. Matt Tuggle.

Information

  • Creator
    Highland Park United Methodist Church - Dallas, Texas
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    784
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ℗ & © Highland Park United Methodist Church - Dallas, Texas
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    HPUMC - Sanctuary Sermons (Traditional Worship)

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