Christmas 2025: The Truth About Christmas

Advent: Disturbing the Peace

Click/tap <a href= "https://www.hpumc.org/uploads/documents/Cornerstone-Reflection-Guide-December-14-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. This week, we’re invited to reflect on where we are stuck, weary, or struggling to keep going by returning to the birth of Jesus and the very different responses it provoked.  Drawing from Isaiah 49 and Matthew 2, we’ll explore how Jesus’ birth fulfills God’s promise of a servant who would reveal God’s glory, bring salvation to the nations, and draw even kings to attention. The Magi respond to the birth of Jesus with courage and movement, leaving everything familiar to worship the true king, while Herod responds with fear and violence, desperate to protect his throne. Together, their reactions reveal that Jesus’ arrival is not neutral—it demands a response. This challenges the common assumption that Jesus simply wants to improve our lives. Like Herod, we often sense—rightly—that Jesus’ kingship threatens our control. Jesus does not want to merely reside in our lives; he wants to reign over them, claiming authority over our decisions, relationships, finances, work, and future. This is not bad news but good news, because Jesus is far more fit to be king than we are.  Jesus is coming for our crowns, and giving them to him is the way out of being stuck and leads to true life.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt;Click/tap &lt;a href= "https://www.hpumc.org/uploads/documents/Cornerstone-Reflection-Guide-December-14-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;This week, we’re invited to reflect on where we are stuck, weary, or struggling to keep going by returning to the birth of Jesus and the very different responses it provoked. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Drawing from Isaiah 49 and Matthew 2, we’ll explore how Jesus’ birth fulfills God’s promise of a servant who would reveal God’s glory, bring salvation to the nations, and draw even kings to attention. The Magi respond to the birth of Jesus with courage and movement, leaving everything familiar to worship the true king, while Herod responds with fear and violence, desperate to protect his throne. Together, their reactions reveal that Jesus’ arrival is not neutral—it demands a response.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;This challenges the common assumption that Jesus simply wants to improve our lives. Like Herod, we often sense—rightly—that Jesus’ kingship threatens our control. Jesus does not want to merely reside in our lives; he wants to reign over them, claiming authority over our decisions, relationships, finances, work, and future. This is not bad news but good news, because Jesus is far more fit to be king than we are. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong id= "docs-internal-guid-84f3b1b1-7fff-630f-e6c2-86ba1c3a5ade"&gt;Jesus is coming for our crowns,&lt;/strong&gt; and giving them to him is the way out of being stuck and leads to true life.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Click/tap  to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. This week, we’re invited to reflect on where we are stuck, weary, or struggling to keep going by returning to the birth of Jesus and the very different responses it provoked.  Drawing from Isaiah...

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. This week, we’re invited to reflect on where we are stuck, weary, or struggling to keep going by returning to the birth of Jesus and the very different responses it provoked.  Drawing from Isaiah 49 and Matthew 2, we’ll explore how Jesus’ birth fulfills God’s promise of a servant who would reveal God’s glory, bring salvation to the nations, and draw even kings to attention. The Magi respond to the birth of Jesus with courage and movement, leaving everything familiar to worship the true king, while Herod responds with fear and violence, desperate to protect his throne. Together, their reactions reveal that Jesus’ arrival is not neutral—it demands a response. This challenges the common assumption that Jesus simply wants to improve our lives. Like Herod, we often sense—rightly—that Jesus’ kingship threatens our control. Jesus does not want to merely reside in our lives; he wants to reign over them, claiming authority over our decisions, relationships, finances, work, and future. This is not bad news but good news, because Jesus is far more fit to be king than we are.  Jesus is coming for our crowns, and giving them to him is the way out of being stuck and leads to true life.

Advent: Blind Courage

Click/tap <a href= "https://www.hpumc.org/uploads/documents/Cornerstone-Reflection-Guide-December-7-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. A higher vantage point changes everything. What once felt overwhelming begins to make sense. What felt hopeless begins to open toward possibility. When God gives us a glimpse of the bigger picture, it doesn’t just change how we see the world—it changes how we live in the world. Isaiah 49:1-7 and Matthew 1:18-23, though separated by centuries, belong to the same story. What God promises in Isaiah—the calling of a servant to bring hope and salvation—begins to take flesh in Matthew with the birth of Jesus. God’s people are given a vision for the future so that they can live with hope in the present. Through Scripture, God gives us a view from the top, allowing us to see His unfolding plan across time. From the promises of the prophets to the fulfillment in Christ, God reveals His Son has come to save us from our sin by being with us—Emmanuel. We are invited to lift our eyes above our immediate circumstances and see the bigger picture of God’s redemptive plan. With this vision, we can be confident that God is at work and His promises are true, giving us hope for the future and informing the way we live today.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt;Click/tap &lt;a href= "https://www.hpumc.org/uploads/documents/Cornerstone-Reflection-Guide-December-7-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;A higher vantage point changes everything. What once felt overwhelming begins to make sense. What felt hopeless begins to open toward possibility. When God gives us a glimpse of the bigger picture, it doesn’t just change how we see the world—it changes how we live in the world.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Isaiah 49:1-7 and Matthew 1:18-23, though separated by centuries, belong to the same story. What God promises in Isaiah—the calling of a servant to bring hope and salvation—begins to take flesh in Matthew with the birth of Jesus. God’s people are given a vision for the future so that they can live with hope in the present.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Through Scripture, God gives us a view from the top, allowing us to see His unfolding plan across time. From the promises of the prophets to the fulfillment in Christ, God reveals His Son has come to save us from our sin by being with us—Emmanuel. We are invited to lift our eyes above our immediate circumstances and see the bigger picture of God’s redemptive plan. With this vision, we can be confident that God is at work and His promises are true, giving us hope for the future and informing the way we live today.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Click/tap  to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. A higher vantage point changes everything. What once felt overwhelming begins to make sense. What felt hopeless begins to open toward possibility. When God gives us a glimpse of the bigger picture, it...

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. A higher vantage point changes everything. What once felt overwhelming begins to make sense. What felt hopeless begins to open toward possibility. When God gives us a glimpse of the bigger picture, it doesn’t just change how we see the world—it changes how we live in the world. Isaiah 49:1-7 and Matthew 1:18-23, though separated by centuries, belong to the same story. What God promises in Isaiah—the calling of a servant to bring hope and salvation—begins to take flesh in Matthew with the birth of Jesus. God’s people are given a vision for the future so that they can live with hope in the present. Through Scripture, God gives us a view from the top, allowing us to see His unfolding plan across time. From the promises of the prophets to the fulfillment in Christ, God reveals His Son has come to save us from our sin by being with us—Emmanuel. We are invited to lift our eyes above our immediate circumstances and see the bigger picture of God’s redemptive plan. With this vision, we can be confident that God is at work and His promises are true, giving us hope for the future and informing the way we live today.

Advent: A View From the Top

Click/tap <a href= "https://www.hpumc.org/uploads/documents/Cornerstone-Reflection-Guide-November-30-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Psalm 1 invites us to picture a life that truly flourishes—not because circumstances are easy, but because it is rooted in God’s love and shaped by the steady practice of meditating on His Word. The psalm portrays someone who refuses to be guided by voices that diminish life and, instead, finds joy and clarity in God’s presence. Like a tree deliberately planted beside streams of water, this person becomes resilient, grounded, and fruitful.  This image echoes Joshua 1, where God urges Joshua to step forward with courage by holding tightly to the Book of the Law. His strength came not from his own effort but from staying close to God’s instruction and trusting the assurance of God’s constant presence. These truths speak directly into our weary seasons—those moments when we feel drained, uncertain, or spiritually dry. With Advent, we are reminded that God meets us exactly in those places. “Emmanuel, God with us” is more than a title; it is a promise of God’s nearness. As we abide in Christ, we receive the hope, peace, joy, and love our hearts long for, even as we wait for the One who has come and who remains faithfully with us.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt;Click/tap &lt;a href= "https://www.hpumc.org/uploads/documents/Cornerstone-Reflection-Guide-November-30-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Psalm 1 invites us to picture a life that truly flourishes—not because circumstances are easy, but because it is rooted in God’s love and shaped by the steady practice of meditating on His Word. The psalm portrays someone who refuses to be guided by voices that diminish life and, instead, finds joy and clarity in God’s presence. Like a tree deliberately planted beside streams of water, this person becomes resilient, grounded, and fruitful. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;This image echoes Joshua 1, where God urges Joshua to step forward with courage by holding tightly to the Book of the Law. His strength came not from his own effort but from staying close to God’s instruction and trusting the assurance of God’s constant presence.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;These truths speak directly into our weary seasons—those moments when we feel drained, uncertain, or spiritually dry. With Advent, we are reminded that God meets us exactly in those places. “Emmanuel, God with us” is more than a title; it is a promise of God’s nearness. As we abide in Christ, we receive the hope, peace, joy, and love our hearts long for, even as we wait for the One who has come and who remains faithfully with us.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Click/tap  to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Psalm 1 invites us to picture a life that truly flourishes—not because circumstances are easy, but because it is rooted in God’s love and shaped by the steady practice of meditating on His Word. The...

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Psalm 1 invites us to picture a life that truly flourishes—not because circumstances are easy, but because it is rooted in God’s love and shaped by the steady practice of meditating on His Word. The psalm portrays someone who refuses to be guided by voices that diminish life and, instead, finds joy and clarity in God’s presence. Like a tree deliberately planted beside streams of water, this person becomes resilient, grounded, and fruitful.  This image echoes Joshua 1, where God urges Joshua to step forward with courage by holding tightly to the Book of the Law. His strength came not from his own effort but from staying close to God’s instruction and trusting the assurance of God’s constant presence. These truths speak directly into our weary seasons—those moments when we feel drained, uncertain, or spiritually dry. With Advent, we are reminded that God meets us exactly in those places. “Emmanuel, God with us” is more than a title; it is a promise of God’s nearness. As we abide in Christ, we receive the hope, peace, joy, and love our hearts long for, even as we wait for the One who has come and who remains faithfully with us.

Advent: It’s About Your Tree

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