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.

The HPUMC-Sanctuary Sermons (Traditional Worship) podcast offers a weekly connection to the pulpit of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Each episode presents the full sermon from the church's traditional worship service, featuring the thoughtful and grounded preaching of Senior Minister Rev. Paul Rasmussen and Rev. Matt Tuggle. This isn't a produced talk show, but a direct audio recording from the sanctuary, capturing the depth of biblical teaching and its thoughtful application to modern life. Listeners will find a consistent source for spiritual reflection rooted in Christian tradition and Methodist theology. The messages grapple with scripture, faith, and the challenges of living with compassion and purpose, providing substance for personal study or simply a moment of weekly inspiration. Whether you are a longtime member of the congregation, a seeker exploring faith, or someone who appreciates substantive sermon content, this podcast delivers the core of the Sunday message directly to you. It serves as an audio extension of the church's community, allowing the worship experience to travel beyond the physical walls of the sanctuary. Tune in for a regular practice of contemplation and to engage with teachings that encourage a deeper, more intentional spiritual 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…