Special Announcement & Sermon: It Is Just Beginning

Special Announcement & Sermon: It Is Just Beginning

Author: Highland Park United Methodist Church - Dallas, Texas August 16, 2026 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 and where we want to grow.

As we begin a new school year, Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God is always at work. Long before we were aware of it, God was pursuing us through His grace, and He continues that work today. 

In the Wesleyan tradition, prevenient grace reminds us that God knew and loved us before we knew Him, justifying grace assures us of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and sanctifying grace points to God’s ongoing work of transformation and healing in our lives. God is not finished with us, and the good work He has begun is still unfolding.

This promise is not only personal but communal. God is at work in us and among us, shaping His church and inviting us to participate in His mission. As we journey together this year, we are called to build our lives around the things that endure: faith, hope, and love. 

These virtues are both gifts of God’s grace and markers of spiritual growth. As we follow Christ together, we can trust that the God who began a good work in us will faithfully carry it to completion.


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…
Running Up Towers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 a…
Carved In Stone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
Rev. Chip Robertson
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…