The Amazing Power of Rejoicing!

The Amazing Power of Rejoicing!

Author: Highland Park United Methodist Church - Dallas, Texas December 14, 2025 Duration: 29:19

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

Following Jesus is serious work. But have you ever met someone who seems to take themselves way too seriously in the process? In all their religiosity, there’s no laughter, no whimsy, no joy—just a rigid seriousness they assume God must clearly require for approval.

Churches do this, too. Sometimes, in the name of reverence, we create environments with no room for passion and emotion. Just keep your head down and be quiet. God can't possibly want you to celebrate. Given how many times we see the word "rejoice" in our Scriptures, I've often wondered why we repress—or never even realize—the power of joy in our lives. Thankfully, joy is one of the four themes of Advent. 

This week, we'll take a look at what it means to embrace one of God's greatest gifts to humanity.


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: 100

HPUMC - Sanctuary Sermons (Traditional Worship)
Podcast Episodes
Again I Say [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:46
Rev. Matt Tuggle
A Living Surrender [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:58
Rev. Dr. Abe Smith | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. What does it mean to live with open hands and open hearts before God? Open hands are a posture of surrender—releasing our grip on the things we try…
It Only Looks Empty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:34
Rev. Chip Robertson | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. We tend to fill the buckets of our lives with things that, in the end, fail us—these things are empty of the promises they held for us when we acq…
Thy Kingdom Come: A Final Image [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:33
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In 2 Timothy 1:1-7, Paul reflects on the sincere and genuine faith that shaped Timothy’s life, which was first seen in his grandmother, Lois, and his…
An Unfeigned Faith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:18
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide In 2 Timothy 1:1-7, Paul reflects on the sincere and genuine faith that shaped Timothy’s life, which was first seen in his grandmother, Lois, and his…
The Lord Bless You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:06
Rev. Chelsea Peddecord
Full of Emptiness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:31
Rev. Chip Robertson | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Empty. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “empty"? Sometimes it refers to the absence of something; we open a box, and there is nothin…
As You Go: Dress for the Job You Want [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:07
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. What is downstream of you? You want to make a difference; all of us do. Who we are, what we value, how we speak, how we spend, how we love, how we fo…
As You Go: Glorious Power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:55
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. God’s will is something we’ve all wrestled with at different points—whether we’re facing a major life decision like a move or career change or simply…