First Houston United Methodist Church

As we introduce a new series on the Voice of God, an explores the mighty voice of God the Creator, who spoke the earth into being. But the focus of this sermon is on us, and the way we live our lives in on fear - the fear of sharing our faith, the fear of speaking up. Ann dives into the dangers of silence. fmhouston.com

With Andy gone to Guatemala, the group puts a pin in some of the questions of the week before and instead focuses in on a question never asked from the stage: "Does our reading of Scripture shape our worldview, or does our worldview shape our reading of the Scriptures?" It will not shock you that this leads Brandi and Kaitlyn all kinds of places, including the Reformation, the political climate du...

Andy keeps asking for Ask Me Anything questions that are a little easier, and we keep throwing him the hardest ones we've got. It starts with someone who is wondering who gets to decide what in the Bible is true and what isn't (2:30), which leads into a question of if we believe Paul's writing is from God, then why would anyone condone homosexual marriage (13:17)? Then, someone asks why God asks u...

Ann and Brant take on some of the more personal questions of Ask Me Anything: first, a person who is being bullied by her own family member and doesn't know what to do (1:45). Then, they get into the history of baptism and how exactly that whole thing got started (8:35) before trying to sort out a person's shame and guilt at being unforgiven for something the did wrong (16:48). Lastly, someone was...

A weekend of tough questions means that the group ends up diving deep into some of the biggest topics of our faith. First, they debate the report that the Pope has denied the existence of Hell, and argue over what the larger conversation of the nature of Hell means for all of us (1:55). Then, a question about whether there's any point in waiting until marriage for sex leads to a discussion of both...

Andy gets a number of fastballs thrown at him in this sermon, including a question about tattoos (1:20), whether there really is a time to hate and a time to kill (4:48), can God really be all-good and all-powerful (10:52), and why we work so hard in life just to die at the end (22:05). If you're looking for the people and podcasts named here: Podcasts Relevant Magazine Ask Me Anything Follow-Up P...

Ann and Brandi team up to tackle their mystery questions, which end up being "How did Jesus choose his 12 apostles?" (1:10) "Are people who are dead already in Heaven?" (5:56) and "Can you lose your salvation?" (15:25). Plus, book and podcast recommendations! (24:30) If you're looking for the people and podcasts named here: Brandi: Writers Lauren Winner Barbara Brown Taylor Podcasts The Moth This...

Andy, Kaitlyn, and Brandi get settled in for our first-ever Ask Me Anything Follow-Up podcast, and start to work through a dramatic Week One of the series. They talk about how to talk to a close relative who is antagonistic to the idea of God (2:00), why God would ask Abraham to sacrifice his song (10:40), and our church's relationship with the homeless in Houston (19:00). We still need questions...

We continue to break Ask Me Anything down, question by question. On this one, Andy talks about the difference between the Old and the New Covenant. You can still ask questions for this series! FMHouston.com/AMA

We continue to break Ask Me Anything down, question by question. On this one, Andy discusses the death of Jesus and what a blood sacrifice really means. You can still ask questions for this series! FMHouston.com/AMA

We continue to break Ask Me Anything down, question by question. On this one, Andy discusses the way the church helps out the homeless men and women of Houston - and the incredible impact they've had on our church. You can still ask questions for this series! FMHouston.com/AMA

We continue to break Ask Me Anything down, question by question. Here, Andy talks about the guilt and worry that soldiers feel in regards to the cost of life from military encounters. You can still ask questions for this series! FMHouston.com/AMA

Andy deals with some very tough questions on his second go-round. First, he's asked whether God forgives soldiers for their actions during military service, why the church allows the homeless to sleep on the steps, why God demanded a blood sacrifice, and what the difference is between the old and the new covenant. It's quite a run. You can still ask questions for this series! FMHouston.com/AMA

We're breaking Ask Me Anything down, question by question. On this one, Andy talks about dealing with a family member who won't accept Christ and refuses to talk about it. You can still ask questions for this series! FMHouston.com/AMA

We're breaking Ask Me Anything down, question by question. On this one, Andy talks about the sacrifice Abraham was asked to make to God to kill his only son. You can still ask questions for this series! FMHouston.com/AMA

We continue to break Ask Me Anything down, question by question. On this one, Andy talks about homosexual and transgender people and how they fit within the dynamic of this church. You can still ask questions for this series! FMHouston.com/AMA

We're dividing Ask Me Anything up into individual answers. In the first question of the series, Andy is asked why no one prays for Satan. You can still ask questions for this series! FMHouston.com/AMA

During 'Ask Me Anything,' Andy gets questions he's never seen before and has to come up with answers on the spot. On his first run through, Andy gets questions on why no one prays for Satan, whether homosexual or transexual people should serve in the church, why Abraham was told to kill Isaac, and what to do about a family member who rejects Christianity. You can still ask questions for this serie...

On Easter Sunday, Andy talks about finding an empty tomb, and invites people to come join him for a week to see how God is moving. Then he explores what it means to be a church that is different in a world that sticks to its own kind, and why he's taking the staff to see "Black Panther" this week. FMHouston.com

As we celebrate Easter, Ann talks about the devastation of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, and how often we find ourselves looking in the wrong direction. Plus, now that Lent is done, what she's planning on doing as soon as she gets home from church. FMHouston.com

In the midst of a contemplative Service of Darkness, Andy gave a short meditation asking us to consider ourselves at our worst , and the frustrating reality of this dark but holy day. FMHouston.com

On Palm Sunday, Andy and Kathrin split up the sermon to talk about the mission of Neighbors in Action, what it actually means to follow Jesus, and what it's like when Jesus breaks through to us. Plus, an update on Andy's rooting interest in March Madness. This podcast has a video testimony that's been clipped from it. To watch the video, click here . FMHouston.com

On NIA Sunday, Brandi and Kathrin take turns on the stage to talk about the mission of Neighbors in Action, Jesus' triumphant entrance to Jerusalem, and the connections between. This podcast has a video testimony that's been clipped from it. To watch the video, click here . FMHouston.com

This week, Andy gets a sermon illustration at the top of the Statue of Liberty but explains why he would have preferred to go without it. It takes us into the story of Zaccheus, and what it looks like to settle our debts. But then he pushes further, to invite us in deeper, and find out what its like to get inside someone's life. Plus, a story from his first preaching job trying to teach a longtime...

Brant finds himself in a bit of a pickle (that's a pun, he starts off with baseball metaphors! Andy would be proud) when he's asked to preach about famed tax collector Zaccheus, since he has had a tempestuous relationship with the IRS, a story which he gets to later. The real story, though, is the discovery that both Brant and Zaccheus found: how grace changes everything, and how God makes Ministr...