HPUMC - Sanctuary Sermons (Traditional Worship)

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. 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. 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. 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. What if the way you spend your time is quietly steering your life in a direction you never intended? In a world that glorifies busyness, it's easy to believe the false gospel that hurry equals a full life, productivity equals worth, and rest equals laziness. But this relentless pace leaves us anxious, exhausted, and distracted. So how do we trade a life of hurrying for the life God designed? In this sermon, we'll explore the guardrails we need to avoid danger when it comes to one of our most precious resources: our time. For anyone who has felt the weight of nonstop deadlines, the buzz of your phone, or the pressure to prove your worth through productivity, this message invites us to consider how we steward our time and what might be lost if we don't.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Do you have the mindset of Jesus? So often we spend time, money, and energy learning to think like others so that we can be more like them—more successful in business or influential in relationships. But what if we could learn to think more like Jesus so that we can be more like him?  The Apostle Paul thought we could, and he gives us a blueprint in Philippians 2 to embrace humility like Jesus did. But that's easier said than done, isn't it? In this sermon, we explore how we as Christians can be of one mind and with each other in Jesus by exploring what it truly means to have a humble heart.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Have you ever found yourself presented with an opportunity you felt totally unqualified for? Two thousand years ago, an ordinary disciple named Ananias found himself in the same position. God had called him to do something that seemed risky, unexpected, and far beyond his comfort zone. But what if being the “right person” for God to work through has less to do with qualifications and more to do with availability? And what if the places and spaces you occupy are exactly where He wants to work? In this sermon, we turn to this story from Acts 9 to explore how God works through unlikely people in unlikely ways, including us.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. What attribute do you love most about your father or a father figure in your life? Maybe it's his steady strength, his listening ear, or his generosity. Maybe it's his dependability to show up when it matters most. In one of Jesus' most famous parables, we meet a father who does something entirely unexpected: he gives away his inheritance early and then runs to embrace the son who wasted it all. Why would he do that? And what is Jesus trying to teach us through his example? In this sermon, we reflect on the Father that Jesus truly wants us to know, whose love changes everything.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In a world where “might makes right,” gentleness can feel like weakness. But what if it is actually a surprising kind of strength? God places a high value on gentleness. Jesus describes himself as gentle, and it is listed among the nine fruits of the Spirit that God wants to grow in each of us. So, what is it about gentleness that God prizes? And what does it look like to choose gentleness when the world around us prefers control and power? In this sermon, we close out our Cultivate series by reshaping our view of gentleness and considering whether it might just be one of the most powerful ways we reflect Jesus to the world.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” These words from the Apostle Paul might be some of the most relatable in the Bible. Have you ever felt that way—caught in a struggle with yourself, wanting to do better but falling into the same patterns? We all do at times. We overextend or overindulge in areas like spending, drinking, working, losing our temper, or overcommitting on our schedules. It can feel like we're powerless to get things under control. Why is it so hard to live the life we truly desire, even when we have the best intentions? This sermon explores the challenge of mastering our desires so that we can live for what we want most, rather than what we want right now. What if real change isn't just about trying harder? What if it isn't something that's missing in our lives, but someone? Understanding this difference could be the key to lasting change and a new kind of freedom.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. What does it truly mean to honor those who have shaped us?  In John 19, as Jesus hangs on the cross, he looks down at his mother and ensures she is cared for. Even in his final moments, he remains focused on honoring her.  Mother's Day reminds us of the call to honor our mothers and motherly figures, but what does that look like in our everyday lives? And how might our relationships change if we lived with that same intentional care and respect Jesus showed, even when it is difficult or undeserved? In this sermon, we explore how Jesus' example and the Ten Commandments shape our understanding of honor and challenge us to show it to one another.