The Final Four: The Best Definition

The Final Four: The Best Definition

Author: Highland Park United Methodist Church - Dallas, Texas January 18, 2026 Duration: 25:04

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

What do you think about when you think about God? Is God tall or short? Mean or kind? Present or distant? Angry or content? All of the above? At some point, we all consider what God is like. Even the most confident atheist had to come up with an understanding of God that they would decide to reject. So, one more time, what do you think about when you think about God? 

What you believe about God also shapes how you see yourself. If God is loving, then you are lovable. If God is merciful, then you are more likely to forgive yourself. It doesn’t stop there. The way you think about God determines how you love people. A God who keeps score often produces relationships marked by judgment and comparison. A God who delights in mercy forms people who are slower to condemn and quicker to restore. We tend to treat others the way we believe God treats us.

So the question matters deeply: What do you think about when you think about God? Because that belief doesn’t stay in your head—it moves into your prayers, your self-worth, your relationships, and the way you move through the world. Change your understanding of God, and over time, you change the way you live.


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
For Forty Days [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:02
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Resolutions often fail because they demand an undefined, lifelong commitment; “forever” feels overwhelming. Lent, however, offers a grace-filled, 40-…
God Is the Point [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:22
Rev. Dr. Abe Smith
Thy Kingdom Come [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:45
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Jesus offers abundant life. If you’ve been a Christian for a while, this should be a familiar concept. The only way to have an abundant life is throu…
In the Boat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:34
Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Luke 5 opens with Peter, a skilled fisherman, exhausted after a night of empty nets. It is in the midst of this frustration that Jesus steps into Pet…
The Final Four: A New Beginning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:46
Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Life is full of beginnings and endings. Most of the time, we get more excited about the former. With relationships, opportunities, careers, etc., there is a level of ex…
The Final Four: Inside Out [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:34
Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Have you met many shepherds lately? Seems like a dying profession. They’re out there, but they don't get much press. Which is a shame, because Jesus thought the work of…
The Final Four: As You Are [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:11
Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. The comparison trap can be harmful. That insatiable allure of being more like someone else than who we are meant to be. Why is it so difficult to believe in ourselves?…
A Legacy of Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:26
Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Epiphany marks the moment when God’s love was revealed to the world through Jesus Christ, as the Magi followed a star to the Christ child. It is the story of God’s ligh…