Munger Place Church - Dallas, Texas

Faith takes a willingness to sacrifice and tough questions need answers. This is what we learn from Abraham when he is willing to offer even his son at God’s command. As we look at our life and faith we might ask - What are we willing to do for the Lord? What has our faith cost us? What are the sacrifices we make in obedience to God’s call. These are tough questions, but like all questions faith give us the answer. Scripture: Genesis 22:1-8 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

God delivers. God promised Abraham and Sarah an heir who would be biologically connected to each of them. In our passage, God sets a timeline in place by which this promises will be fulfilled. Genesis is continuing to tell a story of how God is faithful. In matters sweeping and small, the Lord is faithful and this is an attribute of God we can trust. Scripture: Genesis 18:9-15 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

We have all heard the expression, ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’. Well….that might work for some of us but I have learned the hard way that someone better - the angels are in the details! In our Bible passage today Abram is beginning to worry about who will continue his family line. He wants an heir. God assures Abram that the Lord has this covered in another reminder that God offers both sweeping visions and takes care of the details too. Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

‘Covenant’ is a weighty word in Scripture. It simply means a substantial agreement, but it is not an agreement of equals. God initiates covenants, and the interesting thing about them is that even though God holds all the power the covenants are generous towards us. God wants us to thrive and the covenants between God and humanity set the context for us to do exactly that - thrive. Scripture: Genesis 9:8-11 Pastor:Rev. Andy Nixon

Dominion, we’ve got it. As the Lord created human beings, the Lord also gave human beings authority over creation. The earth, sky, waters, animals, plants are all ours to care for all over the earth! This means that the closet we need to clean out, the unwatered plant, the junk drawer, the Christmas decorations we still have out (no!) are to be tended to because they are part of creation! Come to Munger this Sunday and get inspired to - are you ready? - get organized! Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27 Pastor: Sean McDonald

Do you remember jumping off the diving board for the first time? The first day at a new school? Maybe the first day of a new job after a promotion? That’s Joshua rolled into one! A new leader, a new time - and God gives Joshua the call to enter the promised land. Joshua, in response to God’s call steps forward in faith, and in doing so gives us an example on how to do the same. Scripture: Joshua 3:14-17 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

Jesus told stories, quite a few! As we start 2023 this Sunday we are in Luke 13:6-9 where Jesus tells a story about a fig tree that had not produced figs for three years and the owner wants to cut it down. The gardener intercedes, however, and promises to care for the tree for another year and see what happens. In 2023, the story asks us this - will this be the year where something you have wanted finally happens? Scripture: Luke 13:6-9 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

Merry Christmas! Every now and then someone does something that compels a response - a musician’s performance will cause a standing ovation or an athlete will make such a play as to make us cheer! Christmas is that moment where God’s action brings about the greatest reaction from us. We can’t help it! Jesus is a gift so beautiful and perfect the world cannot help but praise! This Christmas, join the world in pride of the Lord because you have seen what the Lord has come! Scripture: Luke 2:13-21 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

Scripture: Luke 2:1-12 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

Tradition, at this time of year, is at its best. As Christmas approaches, many of us are preparing to celebrate family and all the celebrations that come with Christmas. A suggestion? Throw yourself into them all and make Munger a strong part :) Our ancestors celebrated this time of year and those who come after us will continue our traditions into the future. Let’s celebrate them well! Scripture: Matthew 1:6-11 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

We all have sayings we like. It may be from Scripture or a word of wisdom from our parents, or even popular culture. From time to time I find myself quoting Yoda from Star Wars, ‘Do or do not. There is no try’. Of all our sources of course, Jesus is the greatest, and in our Scripture this week (Matthew 5:43-48) Jesus takes the greatest teachings of the Old Testament and expands their truth. Jesus takes tradition and makes it more and this Sunday we will see how Jesus gets that done. Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

At our house we have an ‘Alexa’. She is capable of a great many things from reading Bible verses to knowing when the Cowboys play. Alexa can also tell me when a package is on the way, invoking a common theme of Advent - waiting for something to arrive. Towards the end of Isaiah, the prophet looks forward, “One is coming” and He will change us and the world forever, and right now we are waiting for Him to arrive. God’s message to us? Wait well. Scripture: Isaiah 61:8-11 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

The Kings of Israel opened up their schedules to administer justice for the public - a sort of ancient Israel version of The People’s Court. King Solomon is asked to decide which of two prostitutes is the true mother of the baby. Solomon’s method (I will let you read for yourself) forces a decision and the difference is that the true mother sacrifices her own interest for the interest of the baby. Willingness to sacrifice reveals what we love - that’s the Munger theme this weekend! Scripture: 1 Kings 3:16-27 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

A faithful man who loved the Lord and a man also with a tragic flaw who disobeyed - this is David. He was capable of great faithfulness and also was ambushed by great pride. In his example we learn much. We are capable of both faith and disobedience and it is important we know the difference. Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

What makes for a good leader? With Election Day this week, the question is in the air. Saul is the first King of Israel. From Samuel we know that he was tall and handsome. He would also have some military success against the Philistines in the chapters ahead. The Bible is offering the question - What is the difference between political success and advancing the Kingdom of God? A worldly kingdom and a heavenly one have differences - what do you think they are? Scripture: 1 Samuel 10:1-5 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

We all make bad choices - the question is ‘Why???’ One answer to this question is - security. We believe that we are safer if we are in control. In our Bible passage Israel asks for a king ‘like other nations’ thinking that a person just like them will provide better leadership than the Lord. The choice turns out to be disastrous. The Kings of Israel are a mixed bag to say the least, and the truth is for Israel and for us is that God needs to be in charge and no one else. Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:1-5 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

The truth is - we want to win. Remember any team that you were on - do you ever go into a competition or step onto a field wanting to lose? For almost all of us, the answer is ‘no’. We want to win. The Apostle Paul tapped into this nature of ours when writing 1 Corinthians and he encourages the church to be like a team and when we compete, compete to win. That is what following Jesus takes. We are asked to give Jesus everything we have got, and we should. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

The song I Know You’re Out There Somewhere by the Moody Blues is a typical searching for love kind of song. Looking to find love, the lyrics offer an optimistic view that we will all find the love we are searching for in life and we know love when we find it. Love, however, also surprises. Jonah discovers the love of God he is looking for only to find it takes a different course that what he expects. What do you think? Is love consistent and familiar or surprising and new? Jonah 4:1-11 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

We often think of people as hard-hearted or soft-hearted. What is the difference? In the Bible, Pharaoh is described in the Book of Exodus as hard-hearted in his contests with Moses and Israel. Egypt is defeated and Israel escapes. In Jonah, however, the citizens of Nineveh are soft-hearted. They repent. They change. God relents, In your mind, what is the difference between an Egypt and a Nineveh and as we think about the condition of the two hearts which one would you say you have? Scripture: Jonah 3:6-10 Pastor: Rev. Andy Nixon

Scripture: Jonah 3:6-10 We often think of people as hard-hearted or soft-hearted. What is the difference? In the Bible, Pharaoh is described in the Book of Exodus as hard-hearted in his contests with Moses and Israel. Egypt is defeated and Israel escapes. In Jonah, however, the citizens of Nineveh are soft-hearted. They repent. They change. God relents, In your mind, what is the difference between an Egypt and a Nineveh and as we think about the condition of the two hearts which one would you say you have?