In the Middle of the Mess

Click/tap to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Family can be messy and complicated. In this week’s sermon, we look at the story of Sarai, Abram, and Hagar in Genesis 16. Sarai tries to control God's timing, Abram goes along without resistance, and...

An episode of the HPUMC - Cornerstone Sermons (Contemporary Worship) podcast, hosted by Highland Park United Methodist Church - Dallas, Texas, titled "In the Middle of the Mess" was published on May 12, 2025 and runs 25 minutes.

May 12, 2025 ·25m · HPUMC - Cornerstone Sermons (Contemporary Worship)

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Summary

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Family can be messy and complicated. In this week’s sermon, we look at the story of Sarai, Abram, and Hagar in Genesis 16. Sarai tries to control God's timing, Abram goes along without resistance, and Hagar finds herself exploited and abandoned. Yet, God shows up, reminding us that God does not ignore the suffering of the vulnerable. In fact, the first person in Scripture to name God is Hagar—a pregnant, runaway servant. Being in the middle of a mess—whether it's a family struggle, personal failure, or broken relationship—doesn't mean God does not see us. He meets us there, not after we've cleaned everything up, but right in the middle of the chaos.

Episode Description

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

Family can be messy and complicated. In this week’s sermon, we look at the story of Sarai, Abram, and Hagar in Genesis 16. Sarai tries to control God's timing, Abram goes along without resistance, and Hagar finds herself exploited and abandoned. Yet, God shows up, reminding us that God does not ignore the suffering of the vulnerable. In fact, the first person in Scripture to name God is Hagar—a pregnant, runaway servant.

Being in the middle of a mess—whether it's a family struggle, personal failure, or broken relationship—doesn't mean God does not see us. He meets us there, not after we've cleaned everything up, but right in the middle of the chaos.