Munger Place Church - Dallas, Texas

Jesus never worried. He grieved and suffered and cried, but he never worried. Which is why the 3rd clause of the Lord’s Prayer (“give us each day our daily bread”) is so important. Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13 Matthew 26:26

The number one question people ask me regarding prayer is: “How do I know if I’m praying for the right thing?” After all, if we’re supposed to be praying “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” (as it says in the Lord’s Prayer), then how do we know if what we’re praying for is God’s will? My short answer: it doesn’t matter. Listen for the longer answer. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Matthew 6:9...

Jesus prayed in a way that made his disciples ask him, “How do we do that?” His answer was what we call the Lord’s Prayer. This week: What does “Hallowed Be Thy Name” actually mean? Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Luke 9:28-29 Luke 11:1 Matthew 6:9-13 Quotation: This request is based upon the deepest need of the human world. Human life is not about human life. Nothing will go right in it until...

Is it possible to love someone you don’t like? Is it possible to love someone while still disagreeing? Do you have to agree with someone before you can love him or her? Can you love someone while not liking what that person believes? This is not an academic question. In 21st century America, we’re each surrounded by people who don’t think the way we think. And, according to Jesus, his followers wi...

We’re always waiting for something, but Pentecost reminds us that what we’re waiting for is now. Scripture: Acts 2:1-39 References: “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist in either Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hol...

There is one thing you can do to immediately to improve your relationship with your parents. This one thing applies to everyone, including: • people with bad parents; • people who never met their biological parents; • even people whose parents are no longer living. Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:16 Ephesians 6:1-3 References: The lyre bird: http://www.npr.org/2015/10/20/450038490/flights-of-fancy-explor...

It’s a simple concept, but one that’s hard to really trust and believe: What if God’s mercy is actually hunting us down? Scripture: Psalm 23:6 Luke 15:1-7

Christianity is not a crutch. The gospel is honest about how hard life is at times. Sometimes we really are in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. But, we can learn to face the bad things without fear. We just need to practice the paradox. Scripture: Psalm 23:4, Romans 8:15-16. References: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shout...

In week 2 of our Hello Hurricane series we continue to explore the simple steps we can take to prepare for whatever comes at us. To be able to say “Hello Hurricane” with confidence, to be able to face life’s storms without fear, you’ll need to be more sheepish…. Scripture: Psalm 23:1-3 John 10:11-15 Luke 15: 1-7 References: “cast” sheep (3 examples) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fttt3fFTxk http...

Fight for the Forgotten: Andrew Forrest interviews professional MMA fighter Justin “the Big Pygmy” Wren. Justin Wren was a suicidal drug addict, had a conversion experience, and then had a vision that God was telling him to go to the Congo rainforest and befriend these really oppressed pygmy people who are treated like animals. They adopted him and called him “The Big Pygmy.” Justin’s story is a s...

Storms in life are inevitable. Are you prepared? Unlike meteorological storms, life storms can’t be predicted or evaded: Life storms can only be endured. In week 1 of our Hello Hurricane series, we look at one of the shortest parables Jesus tells, and one that specifically tells us what we need to do to prepare for storms. Scripture: Matthew 7:24-29 Also Matthew 5:13-16 Matthew 5:27-28 Matthew 6:3...

Easter is one of those situations where the truth is right in front of us, but we just keep missing it. What was it that the angels said? “Don’t you remember what he told you? Weren’t you listening?”   Scripture: Luke 24:1-8 John 16:33

If you squeeze a lemon, you get lemonade. What about you? What does pressure reveal about your soul? When Jesus entered Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday, his followers couldn’t help themselves: they had to shout and praise. What about you? What does your ability (or inability) to praise God say about the state of your soul? Scripture: Luke 19:29-40 Zechariah 9:9-10 Psalm 118:26 Psalm 96:12-13 Isai...

On the night before his death, Jesus shared a Passover meal with 12 of his closest friends at followers. During the meal, Jesus shares the secret for how to be the greatest. But his insight leaves us wondering: Why would anyone ever do this? Guest Preacher: Hannah Buchanan

Why did Judas do it? We’re continuing our series “The Last Week” this Sunday with a look at Judas Iscariot. He was handpicked by Jesus to be one of the Twelve. He was an eyewitness to the ministry and miracles of Jesus. But he intentionally betrayed his friend and deliberately led Jesus’s murderers to Jesus. Why?

For much of his ministry, Jesus has tried to keep a low profile, avoiding attention and conflict as much as possible. But in the last week of his life, however, he sets out to deliberately provoke the religious authorities in Jerusalem, and he is never more provocative than when he tells the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, a parable that is equally explosive and offensive.

On the occasion of the 100th birthday of Highland Park United Methodist Church (Munger's parent congregation), HP senior minister, Rev. Paul Rasmussen, shares a vision for the future.

You wouldn’t register for a marathon, buy new shoes, get all the gear, attach your race number to your shirt, and show up on race morning expecting to do well if you hadn’t done any training, and yet that’s exactly what we do when it comes to marriage. No wonder so many of our marriages fail. Weddings don’t work. Thank God there is another way…. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13 References: Mitsuo Fuchi...

The human body thrives in difficulty and discomfort. Too much comfort, too much food, too much ease makes us weak. The human souls also needs difficulty and discomfort to thrive. And this is exactly why the 40 days of Lent matter. Scripture: Luke 4:1-2 References: Richard Wurmbrand, "Tortured for Christ" www.persecution.com

Daniel is faithful in all he undertakes, and his faithfulness causes others to give him more responsibility. But at the same time Daniel is so faithful that he’s willing to lose all that he has been given to maintain his integrity. Daniel, in other words, has what he has because he is faithful, and because he’s faithful, he’s willing to lose what he has if that’s what faithfulness requires. To put...

Difficulty and conflict are guaranteed. Jesus tells his followers to be different—to be like salt. But be prepared: if you are different, you will face difficulty and conflict because you are different. In Babylon, we are constantly being asked to bow to false idols, and if we refuse—if we insist on being different, it will make things difficult for us. Even with that threat, though, it is still p...

We are an advanced society and we have lots of technology, but there are some things we don’t know, and some things we will NEVER know, unless someone tells us. For example: Does suffering have a redemptive purpose? What is the good life? These are the sorts of questions that can only be answered through divine revelation. Fortunately, as Daniel tells the Babylonian king in this week’s passage, Go...

Everybody knows things need to be different, but nobody wants to BE different. But if God’s people aren’t any different, what good are they? Jesus calls his followers the “salt of the earth.” Salt is meant to preserve and to add flavor. But, if salt loses its saltiness, it’s useless. (Matthew 5:13). Daniel knew that being different in the small things would set him up to be used by God in a big wa...

Babylon is Plan B. Plan B is when life isn't what you've want; it's a diagnosis or divorce you didn't ask for; it's unemployment; it's when life doesn't go according to plan. Whether you're in Plan B as the new year begins, or whether you'll find yourself there at some point in 2016, either way, Plan B is where we often are. Daniel and his friends found themselves in the ultimate Plan B in Babylon...