First Houston United Methodist Church

Anthony asked us to talk about the new Colin Kaepernick Nike ad, so we talk about it from every angle, from the Biblical understanding of being a prophet, to American consumerism, to turning a blind eye to things we don't want to see, and everything else that jumps out at us. Then, someone writes in to figure out if they're a heretic or not, and we try and figure that out. Ask us a question, or re...

Andy talks about the Great Commission, and all the various ways that our church is reaching out into the world to spread the gospel. Plus, his new plan to reach out with the gospel in Houston that might put him in the emergency room. Matthew 28: 16-20 All month, we will be fundraising to support our missions outreach across the world. Visit the site to learn more: FMHouston.com/commissioned

Ann talks about how our "Mission Impossible" can become a mission possible - because to believe the Great Commission mean that anything is possible. Matthew 28: 18-20 All month, we will be fundraising to support our missions outreach across the world. Visit the site to learn more: FMHouston.com/commissioned

After a listener responded in frustration and disappointment to our answer about the United Methodist Church's struggle to find a solution to gay marriage within the church, Andy, Brandi, and Kaitlyn go back to reconsider their answers. Plus, book recommendations! Here's a list of the books mentioned: Andy: "The Sacred Enneagram" by Christopher L. Heuertz "The Righteous Mind" by Jonathan Haidt Kai...

Brandi talks about her struggles with with a Pizza Hut (and works in a pun so flawlessly Andy should be embarrassed), and the value of authenticity, both within the church and in our every day lives. Then, why a set of pictures from the Chronicle this week moved her so much. James 2: 14-17 fmhouston.com

Ann Spears joins the podcast as three pastors who have battled with talking about our relationship to the Pharisees from the stage gather to talk about what makes this subject tough to talk about, and why hypocrisy is so easy. Plus, we're joined - noisily at first, but gradually much more calmly - by Brandi's one-year-old daughter, and we talk about the Enneagram WITHOUT KAITLYN EVEN BEING THERE,...

Andy looks closely at the way the Pharisees lived their lives, and pushed others to live their lives. Then he compares Biblical hypocrisy to modern hypocrisy, and points out the ways that our actions echo those mentioned by Jesus in the Bible. Plus, why his daughter has banned him from tweeting about Peloton. Matthew 15: 1-11 fmhouston.com

Ann starts off with the story of her new Roomba, and its penchant for attacking things throughout the house (and the terrific name that Max gave it). She then digs into the dirt of hypocrisy in the church - this church, in fact. Telling stories of how she's seen hypocrisy rear its head throughout the church in her years here, she lays bare the problems at the heart of our faith. Matthew 15: 1-11 f...

Three different questions lead to three different conversations, as Andy, Brandi, and Ben work through current debates about homosexuality in the United Methodist Church, compare the Pharisees to the modern day church, and discuss 1 Corinthians 14:34, which tells us that a woman shouldn't speak while in church. fmhouston.com/ama

Andy has a sermon planned out, but an encounter with a woman during the first service derails him and sends him in a new direction. He talks about the planks in our eyes, but he also talks about reaching out, the ways we need to be open to things that are uncomfortable, and the voice of the Holy Spirit we may be ignoring. FMHouston.com

Brant details his frustrations and hypocrisy when it comes to judging other people, and the constant struggle that judgment has been in his life. When it comes to this issue, he knows he has a plank in his own eye (he even brought in the plank!). But a chance encounter with someone he judged at first sight leads him in an entirely new direction. FMHouston.com

While everyone else is away, Andy answers a few AMA questions solo. He tackles questions about the innerrancy of scripture, the Bible as a living, breathing document, and how our interpretations matter. Don't forget to send in your questions or links to any topic you'd like to hear everyone talk about! FMHouston.com/AMA

The new series kicks off with part of an interactive survey conducted in real-time to find out whether Christians follow more in line with attitudes and actions Jesus or the Pharisees. Brandi then talks about how the results can point out a hypocrisy within the Christian faith today, and relates it to the term "Fake News" today, and even to one of her favorite podcasts about magic! Matthew 24:1-4...

The new series kicks off with part of an interactive survey conducted in real-time to find out whether Christians follow more in line with attitudes and actions Jesus or the Pharisees. Brandi then talks about how the results can point out a hypocrisy within the Christian faith today, and relates it to the term "Fake News" today, and even to one of her favorite podcasts about magic! Matthew 24:1-4...

Andy, Brandi, and Kaitlyn respond to two articles written about the importance of having prominent female religious leaders. The group talks through their different experiences within the church, and ask the question 'What are you doing to elevate people around you, who don't look like you?' Click here to read the articles the group is responding to. Article 1 and Article 2 Don't forget to send in...

Acts 16:13-15 fmhouston.com

Acts 16:13-15 fmhouston.com

As Simply Ordinary continues, Ken examines what it means for God to use things by looking at how God uses people to do his work. It leads to the topic of grace, and how we are called to treat each other not with equality, but with equity, giving to those that have needs, not everyone getting the same. Plus, like Oprah, there is a suprising giveaway partway through! thesourcehouston.org

Andy returns from Ithaca to discuss baptism and "remembering your baptism" on the week of First Methodist's "Simply Ordinary" baptism ceremony. Along the way, we talk about how the church does confirmation wrong, a Martin Luther quote worth remembering, and Brandi accidentally calls Ben a demon. fmhouston.com/ama

As Andy returns from his trip, he focuses on what it's like when God calls us back to home - and how he pulls us out of the wilderness. Plus, his experiences in Ithaca, and how "Won't You Be My Neighbor," the new Mr. Rogers documentary, pulled him up sharply. Numbers 20: 1-13 fmhouston.com

Ann tells the story of how Moses called water from the rock with his staff, and reminds us that God will take anything to reveal himself to us, and then we reveal God to other people. Then, the story of the rainbow God used to call Ann into ministry. Numbers 20: 1-13 fmhouston.com

Kaitlyn and Ben talk about the surprising examples of faith and consistency they found while watching the new Mr. Rogers documentary, "Won't You Be My Neighbor." Also, we find out how "Three's Company" kept Ben from having a TV growing up, and why Brandi isn't allowed to leave ever again. fmhouston.com/ama

Where do you go to find God? What does a holy place look like? Brandi explores how we find God, and the places we go to find him. To show what she means, she talks about the holiest place that she knows: a Catholic church on the border of Texas and Mexico, and what she found there. Exodus 3:1-10 fmhouston.com

Brandi, Kaitlyn, and Ben dive into an article about journalism and politics that turns out to be much more about how we oversimplify narratives and how we consistently fail to deal with conflict correctly. How are we as the church, and as its people, getting this wrong over and over again? The article is called "Complicating the Narratives," and can be read here: https://thewholestory.solutionsjou...

Often we don't feel up to the task, but Ann reminds us that the Holy Spirit isn't bothered one bit by where we are. She goes through the Bible to show us the stories of all those people who were called by God to great things despite incredible deficiencies, and reminds us that he is calling us to do the same. Acts 4: 13-14 fmhouston.com