Munger Place Church - Dallas, Texas

The Lord calls us. After a life of murder, wandering, and perhaps doubt Moses is called. He sees the burning and not-burning bush and hears the voice of the Lord. God speaks to all of us in time, and a lesson we can learn from this is that in the life of faith two of the most important virtues are the ability to see and listen. Scripture: Exodus 3:1-6 Pastor:  Rev. Andy Nixon

It’s the start of the school year…YAY! Okay, some of you may not be all that excited but the one thing we can all agree on is that we want to start the school year strong. While back to school is not the official start of the year, for many of us this is an important time of the year that symbolizes a fresh start. So how do we make this school year different? How can we make sure that this school...

So far in our series we have talked a lot about what not to do on the sabbath. This may leave us thinking that sabbath means just sitting on the couch and doing nothing. Sometimes, this can actually lead us to not take sabbath because we spend all week doing things we have to do and we just want to do something that we enjoy. But this can make us feel like we have to choose between enjoying oursel...

Most of us would say that Sabbath is something that we should do and something we want to do. However, many of us fail to take a sabbath because when we do we feel guilty. We begin to hear that voice in our head that reminds us of all the things we could be doing instead of resting. Why do we feel so guilty? Where does this feeling come from? Most importantly, what do we do when we have this feeli...

Even God took a break. In Genesis 1 and 2 God creates for six days, and after the heavens, the earth, the animals and even we were created God took a day off. Why? Did God get tired? No - to set the example for us. We are at our best when we take one day to relax, be with God, and with each other. Creation is meant to be enjoyed and we do that best by taking a day. If it is good for God, it is goo...

Our Scripture this week is called ‘The Great Commission”. It is literally the last word in the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus gives his disciples and it is simple. Go everywhere and tell everyone about the Lord. It is all encompassing. Everyone, everywhere, needs to know the life, witness, and resurrection Jesus. And the command spans all time - it is a Great Commission to us as well, and maybe the...

God Bless America! We live in a blessed land. And while not perfect, it is a blessing to call this nation home. As we celebrate the 247th birthday of our nation let us be grateful for the freedom we enjoy and all those who have protected us and are protecting us today in order to preserve the life we know. For many of our Founders, there is an embrace between the freedoms we have and God’s plans f...

The Apostles' Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come...

Scripture tells us that we should pray confidently and expect our prayers to be answered. But there are times in life when all we seem to receive is silence. Is God there? Does God care? Why did my prayer go unanswered? Pastor: Sean McDonald

Last week we took a deep dive into why prayer is important, but one of the questions that I receive all the time is "What am I supposed to be praying for"? Scripture: John 5:13 -15 Pastor: Sean McDonald

Is it time for a new habit? Try this on - in the next three weeks I am going to become a person of prayer. Maybe you are new to prayer and have prayed mainly in times of crisis? Maybe you are experienced in prayer and cannot imagine life without it! Wherever you are in the spectrum of prayer, all of us can grow. Prayer never maxes out or hits a ceiling, it is a spiritual gift we can all further ex...

In Matthew Jesus tells his disciples to be like children. But in 1 Corinthians Paul says we are to do away with childish things. So, are we called the be like children or not?  Do we listen to Jesus or do we listen to Paul? Or maybe both… Pastor: Sean McDonald

You have to be ready. Whether a First Responder, a Navy Seal, or a parent people have to be ready to go. There are certain things that when it comes time to move we have to move. Jesus told a series of parables with the same theme. We have to be ready when God moves. Is Jesus going to give us the exact time and way? No. It’s up to him. Our job is to be ready to respond the moment Jesus calls. Get...

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three ten...

Jesus loved parables. A parable is a story, behind which is an eternal truth or truths. To unlock a parable we have to consider it from all sides, each perspective, and discuss it with others. Today, we have the Parable of the Sower. Have a bit of fun with it this week and discuss it over dinner. As you talk with family or friends, you will discover that this is the purpose of the parable. The par...

Teaser: The Gospel of Matthew has a hope for us - not only that we will believe in Jesus but also that we will be sent in his name. For Matthew, every believer has a mission. Every believer has a responsibility to share the Gospel of Jesus. Ask yourself a question - how much of an evangelist are you? Matthew expects believers will be sharers, so take up Matthew’s challenge and prepare yourself to...

The Beatitudes give us the instructions on how to live a blessed life. What is interesting is they seem counterintuitive. Worldly items such as food or wealth, emotions such as happiness or pursuits such as fame or status are not mentioned. Instead, Jesus give a portrayal of blessedness where blessing is connected to real need. We are blessed when we are connected to those with true needs, and whe...

Until Jesus enters Jerusalem, Jesus and His followers have been a minor annoyance. While in Galilee, Jesus was a nuisance to political and religious leaders of the day, but with his coming to the Holy City now Jesus creates a problem. Everything intensifies. In truth, Jesus probably went to Jerusalem many, many times in his life - but Matthew, Mark and Luke structure their gospels to move from Gal...

As we approach Easter, we look at themes important to God in all of Scripture. First and foremost on these themes is this - Jesus is the center. Take your Bible and look at Genesis chapter one and the Gospel of John chapter one. You will see phrases that are repeated, and this is intentional. John’s gospel is telling us that Jesus is central, and while we know this the question to ask is - have I...

Who doesn't love a good plot twist?! From children's books to epic sagas to blockbuster films, we often find the greatest entertainment in the reveal of a plot twist that changes everything we thought we knew about a story. This week we reach the pinnacle of the saga of Joseph and his brothers. After all that they've been through, we reach the moment when Joseph finally reveals to them who he is,...

Are you a brother or a sister? Siblings relationships are, well….sibling relationships. Few people know us better than those we grow up with - they have a unique view to say the least! In our Bible passage this week (Genesis 37:17-24) Joseph is betrayed by his brothers. They plot to kill him, and while undeserved Joseph does not help the situation by flaunting his chosen status. This week the Bibl...

Do you find yourself constantly chasing after something? Something that you are convinced you need and will make you happy, but always seems just out of reach? Whether it's a relationship, success in business, or even the quintessential "American Dream," we have all likely, at one point or another, found ourselves chasing that which seems within our grasp, but somehow, it eludes us--over and over...