Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Psalm 1 invites us to reclaim our lives by paying attention to the habits that quietly shape us each day. Life is not formed by one defining decision but by the paths we walk over time. The psalm sets before us two ways of living: one rooted in God’s life-giving wisdom and another shaped by influences that slowly drain our attention, peace, and joy. The blessed life is shaped not just by our actions, but by where we are planted and what, or rather who, we orient our lives around. At the heart of Psalm 1 is the image of a tree planted by streams of water. This picture reminds us that a flourishing life doesn’t happen by accident or overnight. It is the result of being intentionally rooted in a steady source of nourishment. Faithful lives are reclaimed through daily rhythms that keep us close to God’s sustaining presence. What we give our attention to, again and again, is what shapes who we become. Psalm 1 reminds us that flourishing is not about trying harder, but about being planted wisely. Where we begin our day matters, because where we are planted determines what kind of life—and fruit—we will bear.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Luke 2 proclaims peace—but not the kind offered by the world. Jesus was born during the Pax Romana, the “peace” of Caesar Augustus, which was enforced through power, military strength, and control. Caesar’s peace depended on domination and fear, rewarding loyalty and crushing opposition. It was orderly on the surface, yet fragile and costly beneath it. Luke intentionally sets the birth of Jesus within this context to reveal a sharp contrast. While Caesar rules from a throne, Jesus is born in a manger. While imperial decrees are enforced by soldiers, God’s good news is announced by angels to shepherds. This is not a sentimental story but a declaration that a new king and a new kingdom have arrived. The peace Jesus brings is different in every way. He does not conquer by force but brings peace through humility, self-giving love, forgiveness, and the cross. Instead of demanding control, he invites surrender. Instead of eliminating enemies, he reconciles them. His peace does not depend on circumstances; it meets us in fear, chaos, and suffering and begins within the heart. We are invited to choose between these two kinds of peace: the fragile peace of control offered by the world, or the lasting peace of Christ, found in surrender to the true king whose kingdom will never end.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. This week, we’re invited to reflect on where we are stuck, weary, or struggling to keep going by returning to the birth of Jesus and the very different responses it provoked.  Drawing from Isaiah 49 and Matthew 2, we’ll explore how Jesus’ birth fulfills God’s promise of a servant who would reveal God’s glory, bring salvation to the nations, and draw even kings to attention. The Magi respond to the birth of Jesus with courage and movement, leaving everything familiar to worship the true king, while Herod responds with fear and violence, desperate to protect his throne. Together, their reactions reveal that Jesus’ arrival is not neutral—it demands a response. This challenges the common assumption that Jesus simply wants to improve our lives. Like Herod, we often sense—rightly—that Jesus’ kingship threatens our control. Jesus does not want to merely reside in our lives; he wants to reign over them, claiming authority over our decisions, relationships, finances, work, and future. This is not bad news but good news, because Jesus is far more fit to be king than we are.  Jesus is coming for our crowns, and giving them to him is the way out of being stuck and leads to true life.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. A higher vantage point changes everything. What once felt overwhelming begins to make sense. What felt hopeless begins to open toward possibility. When God gives us a glimpse of the bigger picture, it doesn’t just change how we see the world—it changes how we live in the world. Isaiah 49:1-7 and Matthew 1:18-23, though separated by centuries, belong to the same story. What God promises in Isaiah—the calling of a servant to bring hope and salvation—begins to take flesh in Matthew with the birth of Jesus. God’s people are given a vision for the future so that they can live with hope in the present. Through Scripture, God gives us a view from the top, allowing us to see His unfolding plan across time. From the promises of the prophets to the fulfillment in Christ, God reveals His Son has come to save us from our sin by being with us—Emmanuel. We are invited to lift our eyes above our immediate circumstances and see the bigger picture of God’s redemptive plan. With this vision, we can be confident that God is at work and His promises are true, giving us hope for the future and informing the way we live today.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Psalm 1 invites us to picture a life that truly flourishes—not because circumstances are easy, but because it is rooted in God’s love and shaped by the steady practice of meditating on His Word. The psalm portrays someone who refuses to be guided by voices that diminish life and, instead, finds joy and clarity in God’s presence. Like a tree deliberately planted beside streams of water, this person becomes resilient, grounded, and fruitful.  This image echoes Joshua 1, where God urges Joshua to step forward with courage by holding tightly to the Book of the Law. His strength came not from his own effort but from staying close to God’s instruction and trusting the assurance of God’s constant presence. These truths speak directly into our weary seasons—those moments when we feel drained, uncertain, or spiritually dry. With Advent, we are reminded that God meets us exactly in those places. “Emmanuel, God with us” is more than a title; it is a promise of God’s nearness. As we abide in Christ, we receive the hope, peace, joy, and love our hearts long for, even as we wait for the One who has come and who remains faithfully with us.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. The Bible’s temple imagery reveals the unfolding story of God’s glory—a story He has been writing from the beginning and continues through His people today. God’s presence once dwelled in the temple, then took on flesh in Jesus, and now God’s Spirit dwells within us, making the church the living temple He sends into the world. In this week’s sermon, we explore passages from both the Old and New Testaments to better understand who we are and what we are called to do. With his last words in 2 Samuel, David depicts a life shaped by God as dawn’s first light and refreshing rain, a presence that renews and helps others flourish. Romans 8 shows how this life becomes possible. We are children of God and have been made heirs with Christ, invited to participate in his mission and embody his character. The story of God’s glory continues through us today as He forms us into people who reflect His goodness and carry His presence wherever we go.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. As David prepares God’s people for the building of the temple—an assignment he himself will not fulfill—he gathers them around a vision bigger than their own lives. He reminds them that the work is great because it is the Lord’s. Their giving, serving, and devotion are not the start of God’s work but a response to it. David’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:10–20 is a confession of God’s greatness and sovereignty: “Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.” On Vision Sunday, we step into that same posture. We remember that God is the author of every good work. We offer ourselves, our resources, and our devotion not to build our own kingdom, but to join God in His work—in Dallas as it is in heaven.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. After years of hardship and struggle, David finally experiences peace. The battles are over, the throne is secure, and his home is established. From this place of stability and success, David desires to honor God by building Him a house—a temple worthy of His name. But God gently reminds David that He doesn’t need anything from David; what He desires most is a heart that remains faithful. Rather than allowing David to build Him a house, God promises to build one through David—an enduring “house,” a royal line that will find its fulfillment in Christ. It’s natural to cling to God out of need or desperation. But what happens when the pressure lifts? When life finally settles and success arrives, our hearts face a new kind of test. Will we continue to depend on God, or will comfort make us forget the One who brought us here? Isaiah speaks to this same truth. God’s people were searching for strength in their own strategies and alliances, yet God calls them back to quiet trust: In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength. —Isaiah 30:15 Both David and Israel needed the same reminder—and so do we: true faithfulness isn’t found in what we do for God, but in staying near to Him.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In 2 Samuel 11, David—the man after God’s own heart—makes a series of devastating choices that spiral into deeper sin. What begins as a private temptation leads to adultery, deceit, and ultimately, the death of an innocent man. David’s story reminds us that sin is never isolated. Our choices ripple outward, wounding others, damaging relationships, and distorting the trust God calls us to live in. Instead of confessing, David tries to cover up what he’s done. The more he hides, the more harm he causes. But when the prophet Nathan confronts him, David finally stops running. In Psalm 51, we hear his broken, honest confession: “Have mercy on me, O God… Create in me a clean heart.” In that moment, David learns that the only way forward is not by managing appearances but by coming clean before God. Sin always leaves a mess—both in us and around us—but grace offers a way to clean up. Confession doesn’t erase consequences, but it opens the door for healing and restoration. God’s grace not only forgives the sinner; it can begin to heal the people and places our sin has affected. When we stop covering up and start cleaning up, we discover that God’s grace is bigger than our biggest mess.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Before David was a king, he was a shepherd. In the quiet fields, he learned to guide, protect, and care for sheep—lessons that would later define how he led God’s people. Psalm 23 reveals that before David could lead others, he first had to be led by God. David knew what it meant to depend on the Shepherd who restores, guides, and provides. His leadership flowed from intimacy, not authority—from being cared for, not from striving to control. Centuries later, Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd—the One who knows his sheep by name and lays down his life for them. Jesus leads not through power or position, but through love and service. To lead like Jesus, we must have a willingness to follow—learning what it means to be led by the Shepherd. We cannot lead others well if we are not first following well.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. David knew God had called him to be king—but that promise didn’t come to pass quickly. Around 15 years passed between David’s anointing and the moment he finally took the throne. David faced 15 years of uncertainty, running, hiding, and trusting that God was still at work. We often think of faith as a belief we hold—but Scripture shows us that faith is meant to shape how we live. The life of David in 1 and 2 Samuel offers us a vivid picture of what faith looks like in real time: not only in great victories, but also in the long stretches of waiting. Last week, we looked at one of the fruits of faith: courage. This week, we focus on another: patience rooted in trust. In 1 Samuel 24, David has the perfect opportunity to take matters into his own hands. Saul—the king trying to kill him—falls right into the cave where David and his men are hiding. David can end the threat and get the crown, but instead of seizing power, he chooses restraint. He refuses to harm the one God had appointed for that season. David waits—trusting that the promise would be fulfilled in God’s timing. David shows us that waiting well is not passive—it’s a courageous act of faith.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. When David faced Goliath, he wasn’t the strongest, tallest, or most experienced warrior on the battlefield. He wasn’t even supposed to be there—he was just delivering supplies to his brothers. But David showed up. And when the moment came, he offered what he had: a sling, a few stones, and a heart confident in God. David didn’t try to wear Saul’s armor or fight with someone else’s weapons. He knew who he was and trusted that God could use his own unique gifts and experiences for a greater purpose. What seemed small in the world’s eyes became powerful in God’s hands. The story reminds us that God isn’t asking us to be someone else. He’s asking us to show up with what we have—regardless of the odds. Our gifts, our stories, and our faith can all be used by God when we step forward in trust. Victory doesn’t come from our strength but from our willingness to let God work through us.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In 1 Samuel, God sends His prophet to anoint a new king. Everyone assumes the next leader will look impressive—someone strong, tall, and commanding. But God reminds Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). When God chose David, the youngest and least expected son of Jesse, He revealed something essential about His Kingdom: God’s concern is not appearance, status, or performance—it’s the condition of our hearts.  Later in life, having faced his own failures, David prayed in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” The same man chosen for his heart learned that a heart for God requires continual renewal. Our hearts are shaped not by perfection, but by repentance—a willingness to be remade by God’s grace. This week’s sermon challenges us to ask: How’s your heart? Is it teachable, humble, and open to the leading of the Spirit? God still searches hearts today—raising up people who are less concerned with outward appearances and more devoted to His presence and purposes.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This prayer isn’t just words—it’s an invitation to live as people shaped by God’s kingdom. Likewise, in 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, King David reminds the people that everything—power, greatness, glory, and majesty—belongs to the Lord alone. Both passages call us to orient our lives around God’s reign, God’s power, and God’s glory. Through Project Mockingbird, HPUMC is seeking to embody this prayer and confession right here in Dallas. From the corner of Mockingbird Lane, we long to see God’s kingdom take root—in raising up new leaders, strengthening families, serving the vulnerable, and sending disciples into every corner of the city. This vision isn’t about building our name or power, but about declaring with David, “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the glory and the majesty.” As followers of Jesus, our calling is not just to pray “Your kingdom come” but to live it out: in Dallas as it is in heaven, by God’s power, and for God’s glory.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus faces temptation in the wilderness. Offered shortcuts to comfort, recognition, and power, he responds each time with God’s Word and chooses obedience to the Father. His testing shows us that true ministry flows not from ease or compromise, but from faithfulness and dependence on God. In the same way, Project Mockingbird calls our church to trust God with a bold vision. It’s not simply about buildings or numbers—it’s about creating spaces of worship, raising up leaders, and serving our city so that God’s Kingdom comes in Dallas as it is in heaven. For each of us, the call is personal. Just as Jesus resisted the temptation to take the easy path, we too are invited to surrender our comforts, our pride, and our desire for control, choosing instead to live by God’s Word. This means asking: Where am I tempted to take shortcuts in my discipleship? Where is God calling me to trust Him more deeply? As we give, serve, and pray, we participate not only in a church-wide vision but also in the ongoing work of God’s Kingdom in our own lives and in the city we call home.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray not just for our own needs but for God's Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven—including right here in Dallas. This is a call to live in alignment with heaven's values: relationship with God, justice, mercy, forgiveness, and daily provision. HPUMC’s Project Mockingbird puts this prayer into action—by investing in the church, equipping leaders, and partnering with the community to bring hope, healing, and renewal to our city.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he gave them words that were both simple and revolutionary: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This prayer is more than words—it’s a vision for life under God’s reign. The Lord’s Prayer reminds us that we don’t just pray for heaven to come; we step into God’s mission and embody His kingdom wherever we live, work, and play. Dallas can be a place where glimpses of heaven break through, and we believe God wants to begin that work right here, right now, within us, and through us. We believe that God has big plans for what He wants to do on our street corner and from our street corner at 3300 Mockingbird Lane, and we are invited to be part of His mission in our city and beyond!  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. We all carry worries—not just about what might happen in the future, but about how we’re doing in the present. Am I doing enough? Am I the spouse, parent, friend, or follower of Jesus that I should be? These questions weigh heavily on many of us. In Matthew 28:18-20, often called the Great Commission, Jesus meets us with both grace and clarity. Instead of leaving us to guess what truly matters in life, he tells us plainly: “Go and make disciples… baptizing them… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Jesus gives us direction and purpose—not a rigid checklist, but an invitation to be with him, become like him, and do what he did. If we are leaning into this commission—helping others know Jesus, growing together in obedience, and trusting his presence—we are right where we need to be. The pressure to “measure up” is lifted, because Jesus not only tells us what to do but also promises to be with us always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). So, when the worries creep in, we can rest in this truth: life is not about perfect performance but about faithful participation in Jesus’ mission with the assurance that he is with us.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Before giving the Great Commission, Matthew tells us that when the disciples saw the risen Christ, they worshiped him—but some doubted (Matthew 28:17). It’s a striking moment: face-to-face with the resurrected Savior, both worship and doubt existed side by side in the hearts of his followers. Matthew doesn’t hide this tension, and Jesus doesn’t rebuke them for it. Instead, he meets them right there—in the mixture of faith and uncertainty—and entrusts them with the greatest mission in history. There is a myth that if we do not understand everything, we cannot believe anything. However, in reality, our doubts do not disqualify us from discipleship. The disciples’ story shows us that faith and doubt can coexist and that Jesus still calls us to follow him. When we are rooted in the firm foundation of what we do know, we can be honest about our questions without being paralyzed by them. Like those first disciples, we are invited to move forward in obedience, trusting Jesus’ promise that he is with us always (Matthew 28:20). Even without all the answers, we worship and move forward in faith, trusting Christ to transform us into his likeness.