HPUMC - Sanctuary Sermons (Traditional Worship)

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Dreams unlock our potential. When God plants them in our hearts, He equips each of us with a unique set of skills and gifts to pursue them. But turning those God-given dreams into reality is difficult. It’s one thing to believe that dreams are from God and carry power; it’s another to stay committed to them through setbacks.

If God gives us dreams, why are they so hard to achieve? What steps can we take to see them through? This week, we will explore what it really takes to bring a dream to life and how we can embrace the challenges along the way.

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We all want to experience Christmas. That’s why we fill our calendars with office parties, carriage rides, and trips to the mall to see Santa. But Christmas isn’t just about the festive parties! If we’re not careful, Christmas will come and go, and we will be so busy and distracted that we’ll miss it altogether.

The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth tell a revolutionary, gritty story of a God who put on flesh to walk among us, show us what it means to truly be human, and heal our wounds. So, how do we avoid missing him? In this sermon, we follow in the footsteps of the Magi who visited Jesus and ask ourselves: Where can we watch for Jesus this Advent—in the likely and unlikely places—and how can we worship him?

Pastor: Rev Edlen Cowley

Scripture: Luke 15:1-2 and 17-32 NRSV

1 Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

17 But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’” 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 22 But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate. 25 ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” 31 Then the father[a] said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.”’

Rev. Sean McDonald has a conversation with Marriage and Family Counselor Tayrn Mau.

Speakers: Rev. Sean McDonald, Tayrn Mau