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.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

Decisions! Decisions! We make them all day long, and they never stop coming. Some big, some small. Some are worrisome, some are no big deal. But our identity is ultimately derived from the decisions we make—and so is our impact. Every choice—whether personal, professional, or societal—carries consequences that ripple outward. Good decision-making can build trust, reduce risk, and create long-term success, while poor decisions can waste resources, damage credibility, or close off future options. As we consider what great leadership looks like in our community, we'll talk about one of the most important decisions we all face sooner or later.

Click/tap here to view the sermon reflection guide.

Processing so much hatred and violence can feel overwhelming—and everyone has an opinion. From peers to pundits, you don't have to look far to find out how people feel about it. One thing to think about is, has anyone asked God? We often turn to our friends, family, social media, and other sources to process emotions or significant events, forgetting to turn to God. God’s heart breaks with ours, and we see moments of that reflected throughout Scripture. 

It’s easy to get mixed up in all of the chaos and forget our call as disciples to be peacemakers. But when violence happens, we can look to Jesus, our perfect example of peace, and seek out ways to be stewards of that peace for ourselves and those around us.