Running Up Towers

Running Up Towers

Author: Highland Park United Methodist Church - Dallas, Texas August 23, 2026 Duration: 25:01

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

This year we are beginning a journey called “Blueprint: Building Lives of Faith, Hope, and Love.” We all want lives that are steady, resilient, and able to withstand life's challenges. Jesus teaches that this kind of life is built on a solid foundation. When our lives are founded in him, we can stand firm even when storms come.

The challenge is that many things compete for that foundation: money, power, pleasure, reputation, and control. Yet Jesus says that true stability comes not from simply hearing his words, but from putting them into practice. Through sermons and Bible studies, we learn God's teachings, but transformation happens when those teachings shape the way we live each day.

C.S. Lewis paints a beautiful picture of this process, describing God as a builder transforming a small cottage into a palace, "running up towers" and creating something greater than we could ever imagine. That is God's desire for each of us. As we follow Jesus and put his teachings into action, God is growing in us the three things that last: faith, hope, and love. Our prayer is that by the end of this series, we will look back and see that we have grown in faith, become more marked by hope, and learned to love God and others more deeply.


Each week, the sanctuary of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, becomes a source of spiritual reflection and grounded wisdom. This audio collection presents the traditional worship services and sermons from that sacred space. You’ll hear the thoughtful, scripturally-rooted preaching of Senior Minister Rev. Paul Rasmussen and Rev. Matt Tuggle, whose messages connect ancient faith to contemporary life with clarity and compassion. This podcast offers a consistent point of connection and contemplation, delivering the full experience of a Sunday service directly to you. It’s more than just a weekly talk; it’s an invitation into a community of faith that values tradition, deep thinking, and meaningful worship. Whether you’re a longtime member, a seeker exploring Christian thought, or someone who finds solace in structured liturgy and substantive sermons, these recordings provide a reliable rhythm of inspiration. Tune in for a moment of peace, a challenge to grow, and the enduring resonance of traditional Methodist worship, captured and shared for your journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

HPUMC - Sanctuary Sermons (Traditional Worship)
Podcast Episodes
Above and Beyond [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
Hannah Buchanan
The Jesus Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:16
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Jesus saw the people who sat with him on the hillside as “the light of the world.” They were meant to reflect Jesus’ light in the world around them.…
A City on a Hill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:43
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Who are you? Once we move beyond the polite answers such as our names, occupations, accomplishments, or even our collegiate football allegiances, the…
Made to Shine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:24
Rev. Dr. Abe Smith
The Only Way It's Ever Happened [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:36
Rev. Chip Robertson | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Maybe you’ve built a house, paid someone to build one, or at least walked by a house being built. Sometimes an old house is torn down. Sometimes t…
He Began To Speak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Every preacher is playing for second place. The greatest sermon ever preached was delivered by the greatest preacher who ever lived. The Sermon on th…
Carved In Stone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
Rev. Chip Robertson
Special Announcement & Sermon: It Is Just Beginning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:11
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. For many of us, the fall season brings its own sense of renewal. New schedules, routines, and rhythms create opportunities to reflect on where we are…
A Rhythm of Remembrance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:31
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. We live in a world full of reminders. The local news reminds us of what is happening in our community. Social media reminds us that it is our friend…