The Source Houston: Recent Episodes
First Methodist Houston
The Source is a community of people who gather to deepen our relationships with God and with each other. We are believers and doubters, seekers and runners, worshippers and listeners. We hope to become a hospitable community where everyone is able to come as they are. Below you can listen to our contemporary service sermons or click the subscribe button to have the latest podcast downloaded to your device.
Today’s message comes from Acts 17, where Paul visits Athens and sees the Altar to an Unknown God. This text was always preached to Ken as a “gotcha” moment, but Ken fundamentally disagrees with that interpretation.
Paul WAS the ultimate “gotcha” guy. But that’s not what he does when he sees this altar. Instead, he sees it an opportunity to make the people understand that the ultimate understanding of the Creator was found in the embodiment and the life of Christ.
This was an opportunity to recognize divinity.
Acts 17:16-34
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We want simple stories - here’s the hero, here’s the bad guy. We simplify.
Scripture does the same thing. It wants to prove something, it wants to show something.
This message at the heart of today's invites people to the table. But that invitation can disrupt. It can be at odds with the world.
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We are called as a church to see others as our brothers and sisters. That’s not easy.
God does the work. But it only comes about when we first seek after God.
A lot of people feel like the church shouldn’t be involved in politics. Ken disagrees - though he warns us off some of the ways the church has been involved in power before.
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Ken dives into the lessons from a far-flung church in the 11th chapter of Acts.
“So many times, we focus on WHAT a thing is. But every so often, we discover that there’s always a ‘why’ behind it.”
If we don’t start with ‘why,’ we’re living with whatever the world throws at us.
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Ken’s message today is on the time, as Ken puts it, “God showed Peter a bunch of animals in a blanket.”
This was a period of time where Jewish people simply didn’t spend any time with Gentiles. But in the story of Peter and Cornelius, he doesn’t just send one of these people to the other - he sends both of these people to each other. And the events from this story change the whole course of the Church.
Acts 10:1-48
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Ken is fully a Texan, so he starts off the sermon with a bit of a Texas quiz. Why? Because what Texas is… turns out to be a really good way to understand today’s scripture.
Acts 9:1-19
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Ken tells the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch, and the ideology battle explored in the text.
We want to figure life out. We want to do the right thing, but we get in our own way. Humanity always gets in its own way. The ends justifies the means always fail us. Pain always creeps in, justified by a noble purpose.
But God’s will is taking hold. It is continually unfolding.
Acts 8:26-40
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It’s Father’s Day, which gives Lance a chance to start off the sermon with a few dad jokes, to great appreciation from the congregation.
Lance explores a conflict within the early church, and casts that same conflict forward to today’s church.
We each have a calling from God, and it’s important for each of us to live that calling. That’s the only way the church will grow.
Acts 6:1-7
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When the disciples are dragged before the Sanhedrin, it was a battle between two groups absolutely convinced that they were right. But what the members of the Sanhedrin’s ego wouldn’t let them see was that the disciples were offering was something unbelievably important to our faith: an experience with the living God.
Acts 5:12-42
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Ken looks at the early part of Acts, where Peter and John were imprisoned and put them in front of the Council for healing a crippled man. And we find ourselves at a battle of competing purposes at the very beginnings of the church.
Acts 4
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It’s almost Advent - a great time to pick up a new spiritual habit.
Amanda shares some tricks from her seminary days about how to remember some of the more difficult terms, including why she now thinks about pajamas when she thinks about prevenient grace.
It’s almost Advent, which is a great time to pick up a new spiritual habit. As Amanda helps us figure out what that could be, she shares some tricks from her seminary days about how to remember some of the more difficult terms, including why she now thinks about pajamas when she thinks about prevenient grace. Colossians 1:9-14, 21-23, 28 fmhouston.com
Sin separates us from God’s will, and from each other. So how are freed from sin? Where does hope begin?
“Grace is the marrow of Scripture” Description: Ken looks at grace within the Scriptures, and how sin can wound and separate. How are we to be freed from sin? Where does hope begin? Ephesians 2:1-10 fmhousotn.com
A town that turned off the lights to see the stars reminded Ken how to have your eyes trained on God.
If we are a people who come before God, wanting to understand why we’re here, what happens is transformation - not just in our lives, but in the lives of the world around us.
How are we one? How is the church one as part of that? That’s the question for today.
Ken reminds us of the biggest piece of it: a desire to be present with Christ. Ephesians 1:15-23 fmhouston.com
It’s a wonder what we can do when we operate together.
Amanda has an usual metaphor to describe what it is that makes up our faith, but she focuses the most on the middle part that holds things together: unity. There is one God and we are one faith. And it is a wonder what we can do when we operate together.
Ephesians 4:1-7 & 4:11-13
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There is an unquestionable desire to consume in our society, it's everywhere. What is the position we are to take if we really want to encounter God?
We often fall victim to "this is what you give, so this is what you get." And the church is not immune.
But God does not desire our preferences. He desires our presence.
John 6:1-14
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The story of Zaccheus is not just the story of a man, it’s the story of an invitation and a table.
Ken looks back through the stories we’ve already told throughout the series before bringing us to a story that encapsulates everything we’ve already talked about: the story of Zaccheus. It’s a story of justice, of Roman power, of mercy, and of an invitation to the table. Luke 19:1-10 fmhouston.com
If we believe Jesus is the light of the world ,and we want to be transformed by him, it means sacrificing every thing we have. God came to give us light and life - a life of abundance… and a life of justice.
Ken talks about Nicodemus’ late night visit to see Jesus, and the abundant life that Jesus offered him in that encounter. Jesus invites us to be defined fully and completely by God. It is an offer of light and life: a life of abundance… and a life of justice. John 3:1-17
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What Christ invites us to is an unfolding experience of the grace of God.
Jesus invitation to the Samaritan woman meant something in those days that isn’t clear now: it meant that she was valued.
When we think about encountering Christ, we might feel guilt
But what Christ invites us to us an unfolding experience of the grace of God.
John 4:1-30
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In the two stories found in today’s Scripture here, we see Jesus lift up the downtrodden, whether they are rich and powerful or poor and downtrodden. Doing the same remains the call Jesus places on all of us. Luke 8:40-56 fmhouston.com thesourcehouston.org
?In the midst of the storms that surround us, how will we focus on Jesus?
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Our new Senior Pastor Lance Richards visits The Source for the first time. He talks about how we have to keep The Main Thing the main thing - and avoid the "squirrels" that can rob us of our attention.
“What does it look like, to be saturated so much by God that when people see us, all they see is God?"
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“It only takes one person in the boldness of love to change the lives of many.”
Being a peacemaker means doing the unexpected. Be the one bold enough not to engage.
Matthew 5:9
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It's Jim Welch's last few days on the job, and before he leaves, he sits down with Ben to talk about what he's seen in his time here, what he's excited about for the church, and the changes that he hopes to see coming.
Ask us a question! You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
It's Jordan's last podcast, and so she and Ben continue on to part two of their tournament, debating the best comebacks in the New Testament.
Fill out your own bracket! https://www.fmhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Best-Clapbacks-In-The-Bible-NT.jpg
Ask us a question! You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
Jim drops in on The Source and gives them a rundown of the whole Beatitudes before talking about today’s topic: how - and why - to be merciful.
Jim drops in on The Source and gives them a rundown of the whole Beatitudes before talking about today’s topic: how - and why - to be merciful.
We have always been a church that takes seriously the call to be merciful.
Jesus’ mercy knows no bounds. And those who follow Christ always stand with those who hurt in life.
Matthew 5:7
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For Jordan's last podcasts, she and Ben return to an idea that they've been wanting to do for months - having a tournament of the best clapbacks in the Bible. What's a clapback? Tune in and see.
Fill out your own bracket! https://www.fmhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Best-Clapbacks-In-The-Bible-OT-copy.jpg
Ask us a question! You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
Jordan went to Annual Conference this week and ran into a LOT of people who think of justice as something other than she does. So, she asks us, "how do we all pursue righteousness together?"
She starts with the most important part: that we remember that God is God, and we are not.
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When is prayer needing to be accompanied by action?
Incessant evil keeps oppressing people in our communities, THOSE are the meek that will inherit the earth. When is it enough?
These people deserve more than our thoughts and prayers, they deserve our action… because God demands it of us.
Matthew 5:5
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After the shooting in Uvalde, Ken and Ben ditched their podcast plans and sat down to talk about how to respond to a tragedy like this, and what a Christian's response to events like these should be.
Ask us a question anytime. You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
Jesus is preparing the disciples, but the disciples don't understand what's going on...
How can we be disciples when we don't know what's going on either?
John 14
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Answering a question about evangelism, Jim, Ben, and Jordan end up speaking about matters of physics, the beginnings of the universe, the sheep and the goats, Pascal's wager, Nietche's "God is dead," and a whole lot of other stuff we didn't expect when we hit record on this podcast.
Enjoy!
Ask us a question! You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
A reader sends in a Twitter link about a possible mistranslation of a Scripture passage, and it leads to some combatitiveness over different Biblical translations, trying to read multiple* Biblical translations, and a surprising argument over whether we should be bothering to read the Old Testament at all.
*https://twitter.com/lllogannnnn/status/1520393475790979072, though it looks like the user has moved to private.
Ask us a question! You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
We have to stop allowing our worldly perspective to reflect on our perfect creator.
Mother’s Day can be painful. And Ken knows that women have often not had a proper place in society, especially in Biblical times, when they looked at as less than men.
But God describes himself as a mother hen, protecting her brood under her wing.
A new kingdom is being built. And Christ is giving us a new perspective.
Matthew 5:3
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This weeks sermon Ken asks the question, "Are you blessed?"
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1 Tim 4:11-14 “Do the crazy thing. The hard to imagine but somehow you did it thing, the no one would ever do it that way thing, the safety net does not matter thing, the it could kill you but not trying is another form of death thing, the thing on your heart, do it. And let people gasp before they call it a thing of wonder.” -Lanecia Rouse Tinsley
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“Fixing all this is not on us.”
John said the Word was made flesh. That was blasphemy to some people. But the Word being made flesh is what makes Easter the miracle that it is.
If we release the sin the holds us down to the savior that took it, we don’t have to carry it any more.
That’s Easter. That’s the gospel.
Fixing all this is not on us.
We breathe. We release. And we follow.
John 20:1-18
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The phrase "He descended into hell" was removed from the Apostles' Creed a long time ago, and a listener wants to know the reason why.
Of course, that leads to a lot of much bigger questions about the nature of hell, the humanity of Jesus, and what answers preachers are supposed to give to tough questions.
Ask us a question! You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
With Palm Sunday approaching, a question comes in of whether we're celebrating the day completely wrong. Why is it a joyous celebration if we're remembering the crowds that turned on Jesus only 5 days later?
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Part two of our conversation, and it turns out there's almost nothing that Jim can't talk about for hours on end, and it's a fascinating ride. We start with "what's going to be happening at the church?" and end up at "is there a true limit on the universe?" in very short order.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/streets
If you've been aware of what's been happening at First Methodist, you'll know: it's been a very topsy-turvy week. Here to hopefully settle some things down is interim pastor Jim Welch, who answers some questions and allows us to start getting to know him a little bit.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/streets
Amanda, Ken, Jordan, and Ben talk about some positive sides to how their ministry has changed over the course of Covid, while admitting that they've seen the church atrophy in some ways over the past two years.
Ask us a question! We'll address it on the show. You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
A listener talks about how a betrayal from a long time ago has left them unable to forgive the person who wronged them. The group talks about the difficulty of forgiveness, how to work towards reconciliation, and the things inside ourselves that keep us from moving forward.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/streets
Ken starts the sermon with a poll on patience, and waiting on God, before talking about the story of the Israelites failing to wait on God so badly that they made a false God in the meantime.
How is that impatience showing up in all of our lives? And this Lent, how can we find a way back to patience, to sitting and waiting?
Exodus 2:23-25; 32:1-6
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A member comes from a faith tradition that doesn't allow for female clergy, so they're asking whether there should be pastors who are women or not. Jordan and Amanda talk about female preaching and leadership in the Bible, their journeys to get to where they are now, and some of the road bumps they've run into.
Oh, and if you're looking for the Instagram picture we're talking about, it's here.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/streets
Anthony tries out a new word: “imputed,” in order to talk about imputed righteousness versus imparted righteousness. What does that mean? Anthony has some examples, but he needs a jacket, some duct tape, and to drag Spencer onto the stage to do it.
This got fun enough that Anthony almost had to take Spencer’s mic privileges away. There’s a whole treasure hunt happening on the stage! This was a good time.
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Andy, Ken, and Ben are divided on the nature of bad churches and whether they can still do good, which leads to Andy coming out against the Bible (not really. Or does he?), and Ken announcing that First Methodist is going to war. There are some stirring pronouncements about the spiritual character of Houston, and at the end of it all, we try and buy Andy a yacht.
Leave us a response or ask us a question! You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
There are things in our lives that bring our guiding principles into conflict, and we get lost. We exist in the gray.
The church of Corinth is a mess of conflict, and Paul is writing back to try and get them to make sense of what to do next.
That guidance must always come from the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:6-11
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A question about finding peace and rest gives us stories about various intentional practices, romantic dinners at Waffle House, and the time Amanda thought she was going to die at Disney World.
Ask us a question! Hit us at fmhouston.com/streets to leave a question or a comment about the show.
The group takes a question about why the church has embraced the Sinner's Prayer when it never appears in the Bible, leading to a brief history of revivals and the Sinner's Prayer, plus the questionable theology we keep running into, and figuring out just what our role is in bringing people to Christ.
Got a comment or a question? Visit us at fmhouston.com/streets
We are called to be bold - boldness that expresses God’s love for all creation. We can’t just recognize the Spirit that is within us, we have to act on it.
We are called to take part, to take hold of the goodness that we see in the world.
2 Corinthians 3:12-18
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The gang fields a question about how John Wesley treated confession, and how the church treats it today. It turns out to be a fertile topic, featuring some wide-ranging stories from everyone's experience, and a very specific callout of a certain church nearby.
Send us a question or a comment, and help shape what the next episode of the show could be. You can reach us at fmhouston.com/streets.
Jesus is aware of the risks it takes to follow the will of God.
But we as people of God are called to focus on letting go. Because God is good, we can know the Kingdom has to be good.
Matthew 6:28-34
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This week, the group has a question to wrestle with, as they explain what Jesus was doing when he changed the use of the word "blessed" in the Sermon on the Mount. Along the way, the group debates whether Jordan's opinions are going to ruin her chances of being ordained.
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God gave his son to build relationships with humanity, that we might have everlasting life. It’s more than just his death and resurrection - Jesus came to teach us and help us understand God.
Being willing to stand in the dirty places and the beautiful places and see where they intersect. Jesus said that if you’re called to be with me, you need to get your hands and feet dirty. To be like Jesus is to dwell with people.
John 3:13-17
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Our idea of who God is comes from sitting in the places God has sat - the dark as well as the light. We need to recognize balance, that God’s radiance of love is a light that illuminates the most in the darkness. That illumination is how we’re able to understand God.
Genesis 1: 1-5
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Andy discusses a passage where God sends us out to bring peace to the world - something that's important because, as he notes, “We’re not very good at creating our own peace.” And a lesson he learned from a 91-year-old friend about how God gets him out of bed in the morning.
Micah 5:3-5a
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Admits to nerves at his first sermon back in a while, but soon he's back to form, trying to get us to look past the "macaroni-and-cheese" version of the text.
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The Lord wants a full communion with every one of us - each person has a seat at the table.
Jordan recalls be asked what her “theology of dinner parties” is, and the example that led her to be able to find one.
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We are surrounded by people living in emergency at all times, and it wears people out, it destroys their soul.
Long Description: Today’s verse in Isaiah speaks to a people who were living lives of constant fear and impulse. Ken talks about how little has changed - but how much needs to.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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Today’s scripture is a parable - a lesson on how to short-circuit our tendency to want to get back at those who have hurt us.
We constantly wander off and come back again, and each time Christ releases us from our debts. And we have to go out into the world and share that same mercy.
Matthew 18:21-35
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Ken launches our Missions series with a call to conviction - a reminder that being convicted is just a brief moment, but we are required to take that moment. In order to recognize justice, we have to be convicted of our own guilt, and to take some time to actually sit with it.
The world is unfair to so many, and Ken reminds us how easy it is to ignore that. “So many times we just play the game of the world and assume it’s not keeping down the people around us.” That oversight keeps us not just from God’s truth, but from the world’s restoration.
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As we draw our series on The Lord’s Prayer to a close, Pastor Sylvia wants us to recognize how important it is for us to resist the temptations that trouble us. And in order to resist those temptations, the most important thing we need to do is pray.
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Ken is concerned that Church might have lost its vision: The Lord’s Prayer offers a glimpse of what the world is going to be - and it’s a vision in conflict of what the world envisions.
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Ken confesses that he is finding it hard to find hope in the world around us. But he is reminded of how the solution is always surrendering ourselves more fully to a God who created and cares for us.
We are a people obsessed with control, but God leads us to a greater truth.
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1 Peter 5:1-4
One of Jesus’ defining characteristics was his humility. It was more than just a passing trait - For Jesus, “being humble was literally a death-and-life situation.”
The closer Jordan looks at Jesus’ humility, the more she unearths our need to match that humility in our own lives.
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1 Peter 4:12-17
We have a habit of glazing over our own suffering when talking to others, or dismissing it because “others have it worse.”
But your suffering matters. It is valid. And God cares about all of the things that hurt us and keep us up at night.
However, suffering can refine us. If we let it, it can bring us closer to God.
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YouTube Notes:
1 Peter 3:8-12
As Timb takes his last chance to preach, he has a lot of hot takes, including why he hates the Bible, why you shouldn’t try to be a better person, and why he might be the Christian Batman.
But his focus, ultimately, is on how we treat others. “My hottest take is gonna be this: God cares more about how we treat people than what we know. No one’s getting to heaven on perfect theology.”
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This week The Source pastor Ken Coneby dives into chapter 2 of 1st Peter.
The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who [a]are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”
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1 Peter 1: 13-16
Pastor Jordan Dives deep into first Peter.
Jordan goes on to explain How we can be more Hopeful, More non conforming, and more holy.
Micah 6:7-8
Micah understands that justice and mercy are wholly the possesion of God. Being the people of God means letting Him lead you in all that you do.
We are called to be a refuge. That is the Church's job. We are called to be something different.
"No group in the world, no faction, no country, can escape the brokenness of humanity."
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Jordan tells the story of a woman she knew who found ways to give back even when it seemed like the world had given her nothing.
There is unnecessary suffering in this world. It is our job to do something about it.
God has gotten us this far with his generosity - we need to find the generosity to give back.
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God has called us to use our gifts, but Ken highlights the two things that we need to be aware of that keep us from using them.
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On a weekend in which we celebrate freedom and justice, we can look back at Scripture and see how God has guided humanity towards this from the very beginning.
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Some of us are uncomfortable with the word “prophet.” But prophets are not people who have power, but people who rely on the message of God. We need to be able to rely on that message the same way.
Our call is to be a place of refuge from the brokenness of this world. God has given us gifts to share in community together. Because it is not a place that is the presence of God, it is in a community together in which we see God.
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On Father’s Day, Ken looks at the way God loves us, and the way he’s finding he doesn’t measure up.
As he looks at the period where the Israelites built the temple; Ken speaks about worship, and the false dichotomy of the old and the new. We make the old and the new our idols, and we lose sight of the whole purpose.
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As we exit the pandemic, there are many of us who are ready just to forget what happened and move on. But this is a powerful moment we should not let pass by: how do we step forward well and allow God to take the lead?
In Joshua, the people of Israel are leaving the wilderness and entering a new land. As God pulled back the waters of the Jordan to allow them to cross, Joshua had the people get stones to build an altar to remember that crossing. Joshua is calling on them, in that moment of transition, to rely on God’s power, on God’s faithfulness.
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Ken digs into Jesus' words in Matthew 22 to show us that we just need to be a part of what God is doing in this world.
As we embody the love of God, the more we find hope.
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Mandy considers her spiritual gifts, remembering that while her gift is teaching, she used to hate standing up in front of large groups. And yet, today she is preaching!
She reminds us what Paul reminded the Corinthians: everyone has a spiritual gift - and all gifts are created equal.
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It is Donyale’s last podcast, and the group talks about the year of ministry that followed George Floyd’s death – the way their approach to ministry changed, and the need to be a church calling for justice. It’s a reconsideration of faith in politics, and call for faith in politics.
The Ask Me Anything Podcast will be on a brief hiatus, but will return with new co-hosts later this summer! In the meantime, send us new questions at fmhouston.com/ama.
Ken gets glasses to deal with eye strain and, as glasses do, they give him a little clarity.
When Paul writes the Book of Romans, he's writing about the clarity he’s found.
Paul is all about the Spirit. He believed that the central pursuit of the Christian life was living from the Spirit of God. Just knowing the law is not enough, we must commune with God.
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On a very loose podcast, the group tries to answer what to do when you feel you need your faith back, and how you're doing better than you think you are.
This podcast sounds undedited, but trust me, it is very edited.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
The book of John starts with connecting Christ to Genesis, so that from the very beginning he can show the enormous magnitude of who Jesus is.
We have been designed to be lost in the grandness of God. But even though we are impossibly tiny by comparison, “smallness does not mean insignificant.”
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A follow-up question about the New Jim Crow podcast series asks if the conversation about black imprisonment is perhaps too one-sided. The group… does not agree!
Ask us a question! Fmhouston.com/ama.
Chapter Five brings us to a fitting bookend for our series, as the whole book has called us to a life of action. The verses remind Donyale of a Twitter hashtag: #nomorethoughtsandprayers - a call to people to bring about concrete action, not vague feelings.
James was also bringing a similar mindset against those who said “go in peace,” yet did nothing to stop the problems of the day. But James also calls on those same people to pray - in fact, call the community together to pray, underscoring it is our collective responsibility to care and alleviate suffering.
When we pray, we are responding to God’s urging. We are responding to God’s invitation to get a glimpse of God’s understanding of others and the world.
We can understand the hashtag, but let us not give up our prayers.
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As we wrap up our discussion on Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow” with Trinity United Methodist Church, Kenneth Jackson returns to the conversation to address the problems of trying to address a system built to consistently, repetitively keep people down. It leads to a discussion about what the church – and what we, as individuals – are required to do by our love of Jesus and willingness to follow his direction.
The discussion will continue in the coming weeks, depending on what you ask us about! Reach out to us with a question: fmhouston.com/ama.
When it's time to plan a new sermon series, Ken always pitches the Book of James for a sermon series.
Ken remembers a time when his father taught him how to lose control when driving in the rain - and learn how to regain control from the experience.
Often, we try to gain control in our lives through selfish desires, or envy. But the truth is, we are often not in control of most of the things in our lives.
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In the middle chapters of “The New Jim Crow,” Michelle Alexander breaks down racism baked into the justice system, and the group talks about being raised with different expectations, and passing those lessons along to their children. Plus, the exhaustion that comes with constantly being teachers, but the responsibilities we have to educate the people that we talk to.
Got a question or a response? Reach us at fmhouston.com/ama!
On our first podcast discussing “The New Jim Crow,” Andy and Donyale are joined by Trinity United Methodist’s Deirdre Barrett. The group discusses what stands out in the early chapters of Michelle Alexander’s book, including her statement that “colorblindness is not the answer, it’s the problem.”
The discussion fans out into the call each member felt like the book put on them, including learning to find beauty in diversity without being threatened by it, and trying to find an equal amount of justice and forgiveness.
The discussion will continue for two more weeks! Got a question? Visit us at fmhouston.com/ama.
Ken hammers home the point of being a people of action, even if that action is messy and difficult. “We can only claim to be a people of mercy if we practice mercy. To claim otherwise is damaging.”
Plus, why Ken's daughter decided she must be God.
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A pretty straightforward question leads to a surprisingly fun and revealing conversation as the group each talks about their favorite sections of the Bible.
Got a question? Ask us at fmhouston.com/ama!
Are you seeking the goodness of God or the ways of the world? We are called to listen to Gods wisdom and goodness. We listen, we reflect, and we do.
We don’t shout, ignore, and distract. How can I reflect on my own self, do good, and seek after Christ?
thesourcehouston.org
The group considers the people God chose to destroy in the story of Noah’s ark, and point out the flaws inherent in comparing ourselves to people in the past, both for good and for bad.
Ask us a question! Fmhouston.com/ama
thesourcehouston.org
Ken decides to get a little Bible-nerdy for a little bit to tell us about the people that first found out about Jesus' resurrection. And in their failings and in their successes, it is a reminder that God has come to save even the darkest parts of us, and find us even in our darkest moments.
thesourcehouston.org
During a very tough recording session, the group fights through to talk about metaphor and reality in the Bible, how to approach the gospels, and dealing with matters of faith and the heart.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
Ken discusses the importance of the covenant of marriage –
“The covenant of marriage was established by God who created us for each other.”
This sacred moment of commitment serves as a reminder that we were created to be in relationship with one another and with God.
Our relationship with God was broken, and God chose to restore it.
He chooses to have a relationship with us and continues to love us, even in our brokenness.
thesourcehouston.org
Today’s question covers a wide span – starting with John Wesley’s abolitionist stance, to the division of the United Methodist church in the run up to the Civil War, to its history within Houston and the Civil Rights movement. Plus, a long look at the ways Scripture has been used to maintain white supremacy in America, and an acknowledgement that this conversation can only be had when we recognize our failures – and learn from them.
Books referenced in today’s show:
Jamar Tisby, “The Color of Compromise” (https://www.amazon.com/Color-Compromise-American-Churchs-Complicity-ebook/dp/B07BB6R827)
M. Shawn Copeland, “Enfleshing Freedom” (https://www.amazon.com/Enfleshing-Freedom-Intersections-Innovations-Religious/dp/0800662741/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CPT8VEKJP48J&dchild=1&keywords=enfleshing+freedom&qid=1616532938&sprefix=enflesh%2Cdigital-text%2C206&sr=8-1)
Our podcast with Trinity UMC regarding “The New Jim Crow” begins next month! Ask us a question: fmhouston.com/ama
Numbers 4
God wants a new life for us - but he will not force you into that life for you.
Ken tells the story about how he slowly made the move into that new life.
thesourcehouston.org
Genesis 12:11-19
We often assume we need to go to a place to find God, but God is in all things. We can encounter him anywhere.
We think our limitations somehow limit God.
Jacob was in the middle of a big mess. He was a flawed person. But it didn’t keep God from working in his life.
thesourcehouston.org
Andy, Ken, and Ben debate whether the church has a role in talking about personal health, what our role is when your actions affect the health of the whole community, and how best to talk to friends and family about the vaccine.
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Ask us a question! Fmhouston.com/ama
Lent is an opportunity to tune our hearts, to turn back to God, to listen.
We need to be people who radically pursue the living God. And we need to be reminded of that, to be brought back to that mindset.
As the church, we both radically pursue and love others, and we practice our faith. And as we do that, we become more of who God called us to be. It changes what we value in this life.
thesourcehouston.org
A questioner wants to know how you’re supposed to treat other people with compassion when it’s difficult for you to treat yourself the same way.
The gang talks about mental health, how God’s goodness affects how you interact with the world, and get honest about some of their own struggles.
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Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
Proverbs 3:5-6
Being faithful to someone else, to truly trust someone, you have to be 100% in. And you get there in two different ways: through love, and humility.
There’s an expression, “let go, and let God.” But this isn’t a one-time decision. God is 100% in - it’s up to us to take that step to match him, over and over again. Are we 100% in, or not?
thesourcehouston.org
A member who remembers growing up with separate schools and water fountains wonders about how long the process will take before full racial healing is reached. The group talks about the process of doing work on yourself, what it means to try and become someone who brings about change, and how we need to pass things on to the next generation after us.
A new podcast series on “The New Jim Crow” is coming soon! Send in your questions at fmhouston.com/ama.
A nice moment in the snow finishes with disaster at the house. Ken comes to us from his destroyed garage to talk about how the love of God we show should be an outpouring of the love we have inside us.
thesourcehouston.org
Jesus tells the people to “love one another” - telling them to love as HE has loved THEM. It raises the stakes, because the only way they could do that is by God’s grace.
She proposes a new hashtag: #loveisourlogo
As we look at this week’s spiritual, “Lord I Want To Be A Christian,” the slaves who wrote the lyrics understood that the love that Jesus was offering was different from the love that they were seeing in action.
The love mentioned is the love that eradicates injustice, one that shows up and is present to others, even in the messiness of life. It is our charge to show that kind of love to others.
thesourcehouston.org
A listener confides that the way the Bible pushes “the fear of God” terrifies them – is that supposed to be the point? The group discusses some of the roots of the term in the Bible, how Jesus fits into all this, and the way we need to be aware of people’s experience when talking about the Bible.
Ask us a question! Fmhouston.com/ama
The community created in Acts speaks to something powerful in us that has been intended from the very beginning. We need each other. We need these deep relationships - they are a fulfillment God intended.
Pandemic has made us long for these things, as they are harder to get. But it doesn’t mean we can’t explore ways to go deeper.
What spaces can YOU create?
thesourcehouston.org
A question asking about whether brokenness is a good thing or not takes the group all over the Bible, through Old Testament and New, as they discuss the various ways God combats brokenness in the Scriptures, and what it is that he desires for us.
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Got a question? Send it to us at fmhouston.com/ama!
thesourcehouston.org
Ken learned by accident that his wife Whitney is much funnier than he is. And that’s partially because Whitney is always willing to tell the truth.
That truth-telling needs to translate into our own lives. Our message needs to be that everyone, no matter who they are, step into the space and hear, “you have worth.”
And no matter what the world throws at us, we are called to endure. And we can have hope, because we know that God will restore.
thesourcehouston.org
The group sorts through the various ways Scripture is viewed by modern-day Christians, try to differentiate between historical events and metaphorical stories, and knock down some common misconceptions.
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Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
thesourcehouston.org
We are at a moment, a decision point. Because the world has changed. And coming out of this moment, there are things that are going to need pruning.
But pruning means that growth can happen. Pruning means that fruit can go stronger.
Being a peacekeeper is difficult - yet it’s touching something eternal. Jesus calls us to be peacekeepers in the middle of hate, and that’s hard. But it’s always worth it.
thesourcehouston.org
A listener asks a question that came up in their small group - how do you actually pray for your enemies? It seems awfully difficult. And how do you know what to say?
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
On MLK Sunday, Ken references the Drum Major Instinct, one of MLK’s last sermons. The entirety of the sermon is available here: https://www.fmhouston.com/mlk/
As he consider's MLK's legacy, he talks about the change that happens when all lives are valued.
“The church has the power to speak something better. To speak a voice for equality, peace, justice, truth.”
thesourcehouston.org
The group discusses what led them to become pastors, and why they abandoned other avenues to head towards ministry. Plus, is it ever too old to enter full-time ministry?
Then, at the group's urging, Ben shares his journey into the world of church media.
fmhouston.com
Andy talks about stepping into the gap of faith and letting Jesus work through us.
thesourcehouston.org
A follow up to one of our earlier episodes – Episode 96: “Why Are Young People Leaving The Church?” – an actual young person writes about how relationships helped them maintain their connection to the church, and he finds that to be the magical elixir for other young people who get connected to churches. So what does the group think?
There’s conversation about how to be a person who listens to questions, how to handle questions you don’t know the answers to, and how the long history of the church can help you out of a tough situation even if you don’t know much about it.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama thesourcehouston.org
Ken welcomes us into the new year and reflects on the journey of change and transition.
thesourcehouston.org
Marty talks about not missing the quite "wow" moments that are right in front of us.
thesourcehouston.org
Every Christmas Eve Ken’s family would go to a barn and read the Christmas story - a way to make the story of Christmas accessible.
Ken talks about the first live Nativity, and the need for “a touchable place.” God so needed to make his Word something real that He came to earth and became the most humble, vulnerable thing that he could be: a baby.
thesourcehouston.org
Anthony breaks down the meaning of joy and where we often look for it. He tell us joy is not about what happens to you but who lives through you.
thesourcehouston.org
For their last show of 2020, the group looks back on the lessons they learned, the things that they missed the most, and the things they've discovered how to appreciate.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
Andy Nixon brings us the word this week. He tells us not to be afraid to announce who Jesus is and be intentional about seeing His bigger plan.
thesourcehouston.org
Someone who thought Christmas would be easier without all the busyness is discovering that this is a much tougher season than they expected. Andy, Marty, and Ben talk about why so many people find Christmas to be hard, how to handle this year's particular difficulties, and the way loss affects the Christmas season.
fmhouston.com/ama
With Christmas drawing near, we remember the incarnation of Christ and all he came to restore.
thesourcehouston.org
A question about whether traditional worship’s days are numbered brings out four strong opinions on the nature of worship, experiencing God in all contexts, and how we ignore church history at our own peril.
thesourcehouston.org
The Source welcomes Pastor Marty Vershel! He dives into the power of God’s love and reminds us we never have to doubt His love for us. He’s got us even when we walk through darkness.
thesourcehouston.org
Ken talks about being intentional about encountering God through the darkness. To see His grace we must walk into the places He working in.
thesourcehouston.org
This commonly-asked question is quickly flipped on its head, as Ken questions the motivations of the people who most frequently ask it. Soon, it becomes a conversation about the way we cling to the church that we already have instead of becoming the new church that we need to be.
Also, Andy is very excited to be “the 24th most influential United Methodist podcast.” Here’s the link so you can see what he’s talking about: https://blog.feedspot.com/methodist_church_podcasts/“
thesourcehouston.org
Ken dives into what we ask God to be in the midst of grief. He calls us to seek and practice God’s goodness with one another.
thesourcehouston.org
The group talks about the way action creates feeling, the various times Jesus addressed this very thing throughout his ministry, and how to know if you’re asking good questions or just beating yourself up.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
thesourcehouston.org
Ken talks to us about the journey of finding silence and sitting with our grief, explain how burying it doesn't make it go away. Instead, he invites us to unpack what aches us.
thesourcehouston.org
For Marty's first podcast, Ben decides to throw him in the deep end and asks a listener question he hadn't been allowed to ask before: why does the Church struggle to talk about sexuality?
It leads to a surprisingly emotional conversation about the responsibility of a pastor when they stand on a stage, preaching vs. dialogue, and how to handle the reality of abuse and pain among the people you're trying to talk to.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
Today's question concerns if we are making Jesus "relatable" enough - is he too separate from us, and from our lives? Are we failing the young people we teach? Is that why young people leave the church?
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
On Brandi's last week in the office, she sat down with Andy and Ben to answer some final, rapid-fire questions - the things she's most proud of, the things she's most disappointed to leave behind, and as many things as we could suprise her with as possible.
Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
Brandi gives her final sermon with The Source and uses it to talk to about courage, wanting us to always to keep our eyes on what matters.
"Sharing our faith is not an elevator pitch for our church, it’s about keeping people alive. What the church needs is not a new, shiny flyer, but courage."
She asks us to never stop stirring the gifts God gives us.
thesourcehouston.org
Brandi tells us how Jesus redefines discipleship when he's questioned for sitting with tax collectors. Compassion connects us all, His grace and love extends to saints and sinners and everyone in between.
thesourcehouston.org
With Brandi on her way to becoming a head pastor of a nearby church, the group answers the question of whether head pastor is actually a role women are supposed to move into, or is that against what the Bible says?
Brandi has stories, Bible passages, and books to recommend. Even when she’s not ready for the question... she’s ready for the question.
Ask Brandi a question before it’s too late! Fmhouston.com/ama
thesourcehouston.org
On one of our last few podcasts with Brandi (this is your last chance to send in questions you’d like to hear Brandi answer, so please send those in!), the group takes on how involved Jesus was in government, how much they think he’d be involved today, and what a Jesus-like approach to politics would look like.
Send in your question! FMHouston.com/AMA
thesourcehouston.org
This week the group take on a question dealing with loss of faith in a relationship. They take a look at what causes people to walk away from God and how to both parties can navigate through their wilderness. Questions? Contact us at fmhouston.com/AMA
Acts 13:47
Brandi announces that she has not and will not watch The Sixth Sense, but uses the surprising ending to talk about how the disciples felt when Jesus appeared to them after his crucifixion.
It's the beginning of a conversation about how to remember we are talking about a risen savior - and what His sacrifice means.
thesourcehouston.org
Luke 18:9-14
Brandi looks at the parable of the tax collector and the pharisee, and the ways we see that story wrong.
“The parable is not about forcing ourselves to be something that we’re not. It’s recognizing something that God IS.”
Justification is not earned. It’s not worked towards, or for. It’s ALWAYS the work of God.
thesourcehouston.org
During such uncertain times, should we be saving our money or sharing our abundance with others who are struggling to keep their heads above water? The group discusses battling the fear or generosity and the emotional side of giving.
fmhouston.com/ama
Scripture: Luke 12:22-34
Brandi looks at how God asks us not to worry, and how worry is often not something we can control - but what we can control is to make sure others have the things they need.
We are only well when all are well.
thesourcehouston.org
It’s Ben’s birthday! He lays out the definition of cancel culture and opens the floor for the table to discuss it’s place in not only the modern world but also in christian living.
thesourcehouston.org
Luke 10:25-37
As she tells the story of the Good Samaritan, Brandi remembers the time where she was herself the person in the ditch - and how it felt to be there, alone and ignored.
fmhouston.com
Persevering through technical difficulties, Andy, Ken, and Ben answer a piggybacked question for our last podcast about colonization. A questioner asks whether we've screwed everything up by showing Jesus as a white man, and what level of personal interpretation we should bring to the Bible.
Ask a question! FMHouston.com/AMA
Luke 4:14-21
Brandi talks about what it meant when Jesus came from Nazareth - what a small town it was to come from. People expected Jesus to put Nazareth on the map, and they became frustrated when Jesus failed to meet their expectations by not giving them a double portion of what he was giving to everyone else.
“Jesus doesn’t go elsewhere because he is rejected. He is rejected because he goes elsewhere.” People want to keep Jesus for themselves.
The church has been looking back, hoping to be what we were. We have sometimes let “today” slip into “yesterday” or “tomorrow.” But God wants us to be about His Kingdom TODAY.
fmhouston.com
thesourcehouston.org
The group takes a close look at the history of evangelism and its lasting impact on native cultures. They strip down the misconceived notions of missionaries as well as the responsibility we bear to be part of the solution to a larger issue.
fmhouston.com/ama
A moment as a kid where he discovered his voice was being valued vaulted Ken into a new understanding of how the world - and the church - should operate.
thesourcehouston.org
A listener dealing with the loss of loved ones asks for some guidance on intercessory prayer. The group share their insight dealing with death and filtering through the awkwardness of praying for the dead.
thesourcehouston.org
1 Timothy 4:12
Paul’s letter is not just to Timothy - it’s a letter to the whole church. It’s to remind them of recognizing what the young can do for their church.
“Our sanctuaries are not sanctuaries FROM our children - they are sanctuaries FOR our children.”
And, why Brandi has to check for invisible dinosaurs and chickens every night.
thesourcehouston.org
Anthony Rogers, Yesly Antu and Deborah Nixon join the conversation to tackle the issue of racism within by Latinx against the black community. They dive into the toxic stereotypes streaming from the history of Hispanic and Latin countries, and the repercussions of comparing oppression. Also, how to combat issues that come from an us vs. them feeling, and the power in learning from each other's stories.
FMHOUSTON.COM/AMA
thesourcehouston.org
Deuteronomy 4:9
Whenever Brandi went anywhere, her mother always said “Be careful - I love you.” Because she couldn’t go everywhere with Brandi, but she wanted Brandi to always remember what she’d been taught, even when she wasn’t there.
It’s similar to the words Moses gave to the Israelites in Deuteronomy, and that God is giving to us.
Kids - and adults - need more than rules, they need the WHY.
thesourcehouston.org
The table discusses ways of reading spiritual text. Ben starts us off by diving into Ignatius of Loyola and the examen practiced by the Jesuits.
thesourcehouston.org
Matthew 18:1-5
Caroline has reached the “why?” phase of her childhood. And in answering those questions, Brandi is realizing how those answers are opening up her own eyes to see the world a different way.
thesourcehouston.org
As we continue to settle into the new normal, a questioner wonders how it’ll shape the Church. The table discuss stripping our church norms and embracing simplicity. As well as the new ways online church is changing how we practice discipleship.
thesourcehouston.org
We are living in a time where people work to make things, always making new things as trends come and go. Some things are easier to pick up than others.
But how to we make peace?
thesourcehouston.org
The group explore how they’ve handled difficult but necessary conversations. Donyale reminds us that sometimes the road to peace means disrupting the “peace”.
thesourcehouston.org
Matthew 5:6
During a vacation, free from email and a constantly ringing phone, Ken is reminded of the old adage that “ignorance is bliss” - but as he looks back in his life, he sees all of the ways that not knowing things has hurt him and the people he knows.
Ken instead comes to a new conclusion: ignorance is sin.
thesourcehouston.org
Tension remains on high, consequently fueling the growth of keyboard warriors. A questioner who’s noticed Christian friends on opposite sides of the spectrum asks what it looks like to be followers of Jesus online. Donyale shares some words to defuse online courage.
thesourcehouston.org
Today's sermon is a conversation between Brandi and Donyale - a conversation about the Beatitudes, about justice, about how protesting is a form of mourning, about how these are hard conversations that need to be had.
Matthew 5:4 - "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
thesourcehouston.org
Anthony joins the table as Ben hosts this weeks episode. A questioner reaches out to get clarity on what separates hope and prayer. The table discusses their practiceses talking with God and explore the limits of hope.
thesourcehouston.org
Brandi talks about an apocalyptic Scripture - but, apocalyptic in the other sense (who knew there was another sense? I didn’t). It’s a Scripture you wouldn’t expect: the Beatitudes.
thesourcehouston.org
The group look at the different ways we service and give but also what it means to be humbled by receiving.
thesourcehouston.org
In death are we healed of our illnesses or does it come with us? The table shares their insight and hope for those struggling with mental health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health contact your mental health professional or other qualified health provider.
thesourcehouston.org
Ben waits to surprises the group with today’s question - was it racist of God to single out the Israelites? The table discusses what Scripture tells us about why He chose the Hebrew people. Andy uses a food metaphor that has everybody questioning what kind of food they are.
fmhouston.com/ama
Brandi considers the story of Paul's Damascus experience from the point of of view of the man he is brought to meet: Annanias, the one who healed Paul's eyes, and brought him into the church whose message he would transform forever.
thesourcehouston.org
On today’s episode, the group takes an opportunity to have a conversation about the events happening in Houston. Donyale and Andy share their experience at George Floyd’s funeral. They reflect on the impact of these events and what it means for us as a nation.
thesourcehouston.org
Brandi and Anthony decide to team up and take on the story of Philip and the eunuch together, with both of them diving into the intricacies of the original story, and the way it reasonates today.
thesourcehouston.org
The group take a moment to reflect on their experiences at the downtown march for George Floyd. Bloomed from our Ahmaud Arbery episode, today’s question searches for specific guidance on what the church can do to combat evil and what we as individuals can do.
Below is more information on the book recommendations mentioned in this podcast.
-Divided By Faith, by Michael Emerson -Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson -The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander -Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman -How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi -The Post-Racial Negro Green Book by Jan Miles -So you want to talk about race by Ijeoma Oluo
Books for Kids: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor White Flour by David LaMotte Monster by Walter Dean Myers
The UMC is already helping us talk to our kids. These are books that lift up the sacred worth of every human, no matter their gender, race, ability level, or sexual orientation. https://www.umcjustice.org/sacred-worth-books?fbclid=IwAR20VyKJ3ILh21SXuf5WE_RiboNC6M6LKcMoo0BdxqDtMSrOIMF2TH20ETM
thesourcehouston.org
On Pentecost Sunday, Brandi wanted to go in a more elaborate direction, but instead she comes to us simply, from her kitchen table, to talk about the wondrous and world-changing thing that happened at Pentecost - and the dramatic things happening in our own world today.
Acts 2:1-11
thesourcehouston.org
A non-member asks whether the Methodist church disciplines members, and if people are required to confess their sins to a pastor or another authority. It leads to a discussion of what rules the Methodist church actually has, the importance of accountability, and how pastors work to try to be someone who stands in your corner rather than punishing you.
FMHouston.com/AMA
Brandi talks about how the presence of is more than just the absence of violence - it is a gift given to us.
John 14:25-27
thesourcehouston.org
Questions of racial justice, privilege and discipleship surface as the group breaksdown the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. They reflect on the heavy price payed for racial harmony, the work that still awaits and the steps the church can take to be the champions of love.
thesourcehouston.org
Anthony explores what it means to be "a new creation," but is faced with a change in his thinking when he considers the tragedy of Ahmaud Arbery, and how it relates to his own life.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
thesourcehouston.org
We’re talking about social holiness and what John Wesley meant by it. What that it looks like today and how it differs from how we interpret God defines it.
thesourcehouston.org
From Isaiah 65:17-25:
Brandi talks about the power we have in this time: some things within our lives have got to end, forever. It’s up to us to decide what those things are.
thesourcehouston.org
All hands are on deck as the group dives deep into examining the consequences the precautionary actions we take to stay safe during the pandemic may have on others around the world. They find themselves wrapped in the same chaos our questioner finds themselves in.
fmhouston.com/ama
John 5:1-9
Brandi talks about Jesus' encounter with the man at the healing pool, and how important the question he asked was: "Do you want to be healed?"
thesourcehouston.org
We welcome our first guest to the Ask Me Anything table, Bishop Scott Jones! The group pick each others brains’ on how they’re managing daily life, spouses, parenting and the “new trend” growth during this pandemic. They lean into the changes they’ve seen in how we’re worshiping due to the pandemic and the possible impact on the future of the church
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As we settle into our quarantine routines, everything that was new starts to feel a little old. So how do we find a "new" hope?
We can't, actually... because hope is a gift. And it's one that, by being part of the body of Christ, is part of our inheritance.
thesourcehouston.org
The group tackles two similar questions regarding the book of revelations. Ben’s pastoral side really shines when discussing the misconceptions of how we read this part of the bible. Everyone shares their experiences learning about the rapture growing up and the Left Behind series.
thesourcehouston.org
Ken points out that in the midst of crisis, our walls come down. The realest part of us is exposed. It’s on us, as Christians, to live that faithfully, and let people see the ways that we try and find hope amidst the despair.
Isaiah 11:1-8 paints a message of a glorious day coming soon, where peace reigns across the world.
“We live, and we serve a God of life.”
thesourcehouston.org
Today’s question puts the structure of our worship services under a microscope. The group examines what elements of a service really matter and the roles that lay and clergy people play.
thesourcehouston.org
Brandi reflects on how this Easter morning is set apart from the rest. Although things may look and feel like the end, she tells us not to be afraid. Jesus is with us, defying fear with hope.
thesourcehouston.org
Andy, Brandi, and Ben dissect the cons of staying busy for the sake of being busy. Moreover, the struggle to slow down our lifestyle.
thesourcehouston.org
On Palm Sunday, Brandi tells us not to mistake settling for peace. Let God's love disturb our peace and breakdown our excuses. So that we can be transformed into the person we're meant to be.
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The group discuss the different ways they’re each adapting to daily life during the Covid-19 quarantine and the struggle of battling loneliness as a result of social distancing.
thesourcehouston.org
Brandi asks us to open our eyes so that we may be changed. Our mighty God is the light in the darkness. His light will outlast through all our battles.
thesourcehouston.org
The group begins today’s discussion picking up our conversation from last week’s episode and touching on the priesthood of all believers. However, they decide to hijack the question and talk through how they think the current pandemic will effect how we practice being the church.
thesourcehouston.org
Amidst all the wilderness of these trying times, Brandi reminds is that the compassion of Christ means we never suffer alone.
thesourcehouston.org
The group tackle what the rules are in taking communion during extreme times and what make separates communion from a love feast.
thesourcehouston.org
The group discuss what they’re each doing for lent and what they hope to gain from it.
thesourcehouston.org
In our new sermon series "The Rejected", Brandi makes a call to all those who feel like they are in Jesus' back seat. The only thing keeping you from Jesus is you. There is no one out of the reach from God's gaze.
thesourcehouston.org
On today’s episode the group tackles the second part of a question they never got around to finishing earlier - should we consider other specific perspectives on the Bible? They reflect on whose interpretation of scripture we tend to acknowledge more and explore what the practice of reading scripture in different environments does to our perspective.
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- Don't forget to send in your Lent questions!
FMHouston.com/AMA
As we close our sermon series "Dream", Brandi asks us to put our faith into action. Where in our world needs Jesus?
thesourcehouston.org
Scripter paints a picture of a world filled with the promises of God. Brandi asks us to reflect on dream we have and what the road to get there looks like.
thesourcehouston.org
The group takes a closer look at romans 12 to discuss how literal that scripture is. Ken takes the question a step further and ponders if the church falls short in “living sacrificially” for each other.
thesourcehouston.org
Anthony charges into our new sermon series called "Dream", dedicated to the dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. through scripture. He takes us through the dark point in history when racial segregation tore through our nation. He stresses the importance and power of loving our enemies as we do our neighbors.
thesourcehouston.org
Andy and Brandi are ready to charge into today’s conversation on why there is only sixty six books in the Bible. The group finds themselves on different ends of the spectrum as they discuss what the conversation would look like if the canon was opened.
thesourcehouston.org
On Neighborhood Sunday Brandi invites us to reflect on who our neighbors are. She tells us love requires us to waste time on one another and to put our selfish needs aside.
thesourcehouston.org
Ben pulls a question from Christmas that questions how literal Isaiah 9:6 is meant to be interpreted. The group discusses what history tells us about it and how it translates today. Ben also makes another plea for more meaty questions so send yours in!
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Brandi tells us that the process of building community and church takes work from all of us. She tells us to invest in what God is moving us to do.
Side note Due to some technical issues the introduction of this sermon isn't available.
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The group breakdowns the assumption that people who take their own lives don’t go to heaven. David Wyman (Ben’s Dad!) and Ken Coneby join the conversation.
Today's subject deals with suicide, and mentions that suicide crisis lines now have a texting feature. If that's something you'd like to know about, you can find out more at https://www.crisistextline.org/
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Brandi tells us not to let our fear of security take control of what God is trying to set us free from. She asks us to give courageously and to put Jesus first.
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Our trio discusses what they believe Paul meant in his letters in regards to women in the church.
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Brandi takes about the four habits of the church and how we can use them to level up.
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We have a full table this week as the group takes on what it means to be a peacemaker on a personal and global scale.
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Brandi tells us giving isn't only monetary or worth doing unless we're getting something in return, it comes from our hearts. Our faith in Jesus helps us fight the obstacles that stand in our way of practicing generosity.
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The group returns for the first episode of 2020 to tackle the question everyone has been asking, what is "The Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation" proposal and what does it mean for our church?
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Brandi kicks off the new year and our sermon series 'Level Up' . This time of years invites us to evaluate our habits. She tell us not to forget to follow Jesus because we're busy 'doing' church. She reviews the results from our survey and shares the vision for the future of our church.
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As the year closes out Emil asks us to remember there's more to come. He tells us to keep the mindset that Mary and Joseph had when someone tries to steal your light. God's gift continues to give.
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With Christmas right around the corner Brandi reflects on the command that God left us, which is to love.
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On the last podcast of the year Anthony Rogers stops by to join the group as they discuss the old saying “there but for the grace of God go I”. Andy may have set a new personal pun record in this episode.
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Brandi asks to reflect on what is making you poor. She speaks of the good news and of what God's kindness demands from us
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The group talking about the birth story of Jesus, and how God always moves through truly unexpected people. Then, Andy and Ben tell the story of the Christmas Eve service that almost got them both fired.
Ask us a question! Especially a Christmas one. FMHouston.com/AMA
Brandi speaks about the power of God's love. She tells us though sometimes we battle the feeling of being forgotten, we must open our eyes to see He is already working on putting us back together.
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The group discusses dealing with death and grief and the churches stance on cremation. Ben shares his experience working at a cemetery.
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Brandi leads us into our new sermon series 'Under Wraps'. The jealousy of God's love tells us how he longs for us to put Him before our wants and temptations. As we enter the season of giving we must not forget the gift He's already given us.
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Emil Niz closes out our sermon series to talk about thanksgiving. Practicing giving thanks keeps on our path with Jesus and guides us through our struggles.
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From transactional blessings, iPhones, Kayne West and wealth, the group doesn’t hold back when discussing the prosperity gospel. Anthony Rogers stops by to join the conversation.
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We all go through seasons of blessings and seasons of storms. God doesn't reward one more over another. He is with us through the good and the bad leading us to find peace so that we may share and multiply our goodness with others.
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The group dives into the importance of being apart of a small group and how different age groups have isolated themselves or navigated towards joining one. Emil Niz joins the conversation to share the small group opportunities available at out West campus.
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Brandi polls the congregation to see how many of us struggle to take rest. It can be far too easy for us to fall into unhealthy habits of overfilling our plate with work and other distractions. She tells us rest is a discipline of receiving grace, it's a gift from God meant to restore us.
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Scripture mentions being good stewards of all creation but what responsibilities do Christians bare in regards to our environment? The group discusses the different challenges they face living in Houston and trying to take of our planet.
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We're starting a new sermon series called 'Unbalanced'. Brandi tells us who and what we imitates matters. We mirror the behaviors of those around us. Scripture says we should behave as citizens of heaven. To live as such, builds and creates a community of Jesus here on earth.
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Out of all the ways there is to pray, does praying out loud really make your prayer more effective? The group breaks down some questionable advice given to a listener about written prayers.
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Ken Coneby takes the mantle to talk about community. He tells us hope and faith are not the foundation on what we build church community on because it can crumble. Even through hard times, a foundation of love can weather all. We're all different parts coming together as the body of Christ.
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Is there a difference between christians and people outside the church when it comes to practicing forgiveness? Is it harder to forgive people who claim to be christian but turn their backs on you? Donyale and Ken join the conversations to discuss the hurdles that come with letting go of anger and overcoming difficult situations.
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Brandi preaches about the union of marriage and tells those who may not be married not to take that as a cue to check out. The commitment and behaviors of love can be applied to all relationships not just marriage. Although relationships can be difficult, Jesus weaves us together with his love.
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Skeptical on the authenticity of speaking in tongues, a listener asks for some clarity on the spiritual gift and it’s relevancy today. Anthony Rogers joins the conversation as the group shares their experiences speaking in tongues and it’s place not only in the Charismatic Movement but the Methodist church as well.
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Content Warning! Today's scripture may be sensitive to younger audiences. Donyale dives into the deep layers of love and intimacy, and the uncomfortable conversations that come with it.
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This week, a listener wants to know how much of the Bible they can believe, or if everything is just made up in order to get us to be better people. The answer: some of both! It's complicated! Take a listen.
fmhouston.com/ama
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With a little help from the Source Band, Brandi kicks off our new sermon series Love Song and we're discussing relationships. What does it really take to be a good friend? Can we really call God our friend? She breaks down the appearances and the reality of friendships.
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In today’s world where communication can be so instant, how can we identify who our enemies and neighbors are? A listener asks how to love our enemies like the Bible tells us to. The group questions if it’s possible to separate a person from their action.
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Dr. Steve Shadrach helps those around the globe find and spread the word of God. This week, he shares how the Bible calls for us to be missionaries.
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This week the group breaks down the “insider language” in the Affirmation of Faith and the history behind it. Should the Methodist church follow suit like other churches and change the language to be more easily understood or should we bide by tradition? Brandi shares her favorite new creed.
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Brandi asks us what our lowest point is. It is there where living water seeks you. The water Jesus offers flows towards your most wounded place, to fill you, to heal and replenish you.
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The group discusses what to do when you experience the restlessness of feeling like you’re not doing enough. A surprise gift for Ben inspires Andy to send us off in an unprecedented way.
For the curious mind: Below are the links to the material referenced in this episode. Far Side Cartoon: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a5/ed/03/a5ed0391108aa830e4c8aabfe2fea3d9.png
Ted Loder - Guerrillas of Grace: https://books.google.com/books/about/Guerrillas_of_Grace.html?id=ds0wANApF0IC&source=kp_book_description
“Ah! Sunflower” by William Blake: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43649/ah-sun-flower
Got a question? Reach us at FMHouston.com/AMA and let us know! thesourcehouston.org
This week Brandi reflects on the power of empathy. She tells us Jesus weeps with those who weep. Empathy is a vulnerable choice, we must take steps to go into those places where there is pain. It's the work of the church to help unbind those who are suffering and set them free.
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The group tackle questions about heaven, what it looks like and who/what we’ll find there. Andy shares what his heaven would look like. Ben and Donyale try to keep Andy’s puns at bay.
Got a question? Reach us at FMHouston.com/AMA and let us know!
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What would it look like to aim at the kingdom of God? Brandi launches our new sermon series on missions. She asks us to open our eyes and recognize the needs of our neighbors, not to wait for someone else to step up. She invites us to partner with the Holy Spirit to bring light to those around us.
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The group takes a look at "Red Letter Christians," whether we're qualified to translate what we read in the Bible, and the various slants that individuals take on Scripture.
Thoughts? Questions? Ask away: FMHouston.com/AMA
This week's story is from the night Peter denied Jesus three times in the hours before his death - a story about fear and losing faith, and one that somehow leads Brandi to talk about cognitive bias and the Dunning Kruger effect. And why not?
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The group debates the two messages the Bible seems to send about money - one about giving a portion of your money, the other about giving up all you have to join the church. Which one applies to us? And are we thinking the wrong way about our money?
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Today's scripture tells the story of Pontius Pilate, who when faced with a difficult decision gave into the pressure to crucify Jesus. When we can make decisions to remain idle or just serve our self interests we can't do the justice that God requires of us. Donyale reminds us that in spite of our mistakes and sins, God's plan for human redemption continues to move in unlikely ways and the most unlikeliest people.
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Sadden by the District Attorney’s decision to seek the death penalty for the gunman responsible for the El Paso Walmart mass shooting, a listener struggles with the choice to trust the states decision for justice or oppose it. The group weighs in on the Church’s stance and reflect on the frequency of practice in Texas.
Got a question? Reach us at FMHouston.com/AMA and let us know!
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Brandi asks why are you running from God? She shares the story of Jonah and the bad decision he makes for being angry at God's unwavering grace. She tells us God's love has no bounds, there is no place He won't go to save us all. To be faithful we have to be willing to let God change us and be the person he made us to be.
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On Kaitlyn’s last podcast, the group reflects on what they’ve learned in the past three years while working at First Methodist. Their discussion leads them to contemplate the changing dynamics of the church and how it might look in the future.
Got a question? Reach us at FMHouston.com/AMA and let us know!
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It's a bittersweet day at The Source as Kaitlyn delivers her last sermon with us. Like Gideon did, sometimes we don't feel that we are strong enough to answer God's calling. Kaitlyn tells us that God invites us into partnership with him. She tells us not to be afraid and remember we are never sent out alone.
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Today’s question has lots of ground to cover, Brandi takes over on this weeks episode with the help of familiar and new voices. A listener questions whether prayer without action is enough.
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In the wake of tragedy, Andy tells us to turn to prayer to guide us through. He challenges us to be the kind christian Paul writes about. He urges us not remain idle but instead to get involved. We can't live up to what Jesus's asks of us by ourselves.
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Today’s questions comes from a listener who wonders if there is a need to go out into the secular world like John Wesley did in the 18th century, in order to spread the word of God. The group shares some recommended material for another listen who wants to learn more about John Wesley and others like him who formed and shaped the UMC.
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With two Kaitlyn episodes left, we're trying to tackle all of the subjects we can that speak to Kaitlyn's heart. A listener questions whether or not divorce is an option when Scripture suggests it isn't. The group tackles the challenges of marriage, what the Bible really says about divorce, and makes sure to offer help to those who are in need of it.
If you or someone you know if dealing with domestic violence, please don't hesitate to reach out to any of our pastors. As she mentions in this episode, Brandi is always available and ready: bhorton@fmhouston.com
Ask Us A Question! FMHouston.com/AMA
Our scripture today teaches us prayer is about seeking. Brandi tells us we shouldn't come to prayer just to avoid the bad things in life and that we cannot mold God into our image. We must answer the call to pray and seek the relationship He wants for us.
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With Kaitlyn’s last podcast on the horizon, the group keeps going through the topics that Kaitlyn most wants to answer before she goes. The discussion of faith, joy, and facing that perhaps happiness is not the end result of prayer also features new pastor Donyale Fraylon, joining the podcast for the first time.
Got a question? Reach us at FMHouston.com/AMA and let us know!
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Brandi asks us to pay attention to what we put on repeat. She takes an in depth look at what the Lord's prayer is telling us.
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We're talking baptisms! Andy can't stop the puns from pouring out of him. The group answers why methodists practice infant baptisms and why methodist pastors don't rebaptize.
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We kick off our new sermon series Prayer 2.0 by taking a closer look at how we communicate with God through prayer. Brandi tells us to seek our truth through confession and remember that it is always followed by forgiveness.
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A political question about the problems at the border camps leads to a lot of different topics, including Christians’ place in the political sphere, the importance of prayer, and the calling God places on us to help the foreigner and the orphan. Includes very light and cautious wading into political waters.
Ask us a question! Or (as you discover when you listen to this episode), send Ben hate mail! FMHouston.com/AMA
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Brandi reflects on what legacy she hopes to leave behind. We flourish not for ourselves but for those who will follow behind us. She asks what are you planting so that it will look like the kingdom God has planned for us.
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Kaitlyn talks about a movement that means a lot to her - the emerging/emergent church (she explains the difference, don’t worry). It leads to a lot of conversation about what the modern church should be trying to do, and why we battle internally over smaller issues.
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Kaitlyn doesn’t shy away from telling the story of David and Bathsheba (The G rated version of course!). Like David, we might find ourselves struggling to be obedient to the word of God. Kaitlyn tells us to let go of our need to be defensive and instead experience the grace He is giving us.
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With the help of some familiar voices, the group takes on two questions this week. One listener asks how we can work together to bring unity in our divided political atmosphere. Another questions whether Paul means individuals should seek greater gifts or the corporate body.
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In our scripture today, David learns what it means to be a worshipper of God. To uplift those around us we must put Jesus at the center of our lives. Brandi tells us she's convinced that by worshipping this way, the blessings we give will ripple out and change the world.
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Andy and Kaitlyn talk about what the life of a pastor is like in practice, talking about some of the more surprising pressures, the oddities of the life, and the problems that happen when your work life bleeds into your private relationships.
Ask us a question! Especially if you have one that you want Kaitlyn to answer. Fmhouston.com/AMA
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In a world riddled with violence and temptation Brandi urges us to reject the ‘eye for an eye’ mindset and break the cycle of violence. She tells us to drop our weapons and practice forgiveness.
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The group tell us what lead them to become pastors. We explore Brandi’s long list of degrees and Ben shares why he didn’t go “Hollywood”.
Link to the Poem mentioned in today's episode: https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/two-tramps-in-mud-time/
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Brandi dives into the importance of good friendships. She challenges us to not allow our faith to be anonymous, but instead to reach out to the those around us. We must ask ourselves, who calls us a good friend?
Ken shares the story of David and Goliath as a message for the every day person. He reminds is that though we face many giants in our lives, we can take refugue in our church and through the word of God conqure our giants.
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Andy and Ben take a harder-edged question about asking for money head on, and spend some time talking about spending money on bounce houses, why you should show up to church, and the difference between giving to the church and being the church.
Ask us a harder-edged question yourself! Reach us at FMHouston.com/ama.
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As we kick off our new sermon series 'David', Brandi throws up some classic optical illusions to bring up the question of perception - checking our understanding of how we see the world, how we see ourselves, and how God sees us.
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The name of the game is 'Unfinished Business'. The group gets another shot at answering questions from Sunday's live AMA podcast - specifically on two question they want to reconsider: why did we have animal sacrifice, and why do we have female preachers? Meanwhile, Andy and Kaitlyn suggest an interesting read on what Houstonians are really thinking.
The link to that is here : https://kinder.rice.edu/houstonsurvey2019
Ask us a question! FMHouston.com/AMA
After a Sunday answering questions from kids, the group kicks around some of the questions they got and ponders why it is that straightforward answers from children led to deeper and more meaningful answers.
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The children of First Methodist take over this week's AMA questions and to Brandi surprise they didn't hold back.
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No denomination is spared after Andy and Brandi are let loose on this weeks episode! The group follows up on a AMA question from Sunday about chooseing Methodism over other denominations.
Ask us a question!
FMHouston.com/AMA.
Brandi launches into our new sermon series 'Ask Me Anything' by answering questions off the cuff! She tackles questions about christian denominations, discipleship and pain.
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After a brief interlude to answer a question about how our Lenten practices are going, the group delves into a complex question about what discipleship After a big Easter weekend, someone wondered why an Easter bunny was included as part of our celebration – and whether the bunny and the eggs have any extra meaning, or if we’re just letting in some bad traditions.
WARNING: If you still have a tradition of Santa Claus/The Easter Bunny/The Tooth Fairy/etc. in your home, we recommend not listening to this podcast with your kids around.
Ask us a question! Especially now, during this Ask Me Anything series! You may be surprised at how many people want to hear the same thing you do.
FMHouston.com/AMA.
Christ is risen! We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Brandi praises the healing power of Gods love which breathes life into us when we are at the end of our rope. These bones can live!
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As we remember Jesus's lasts words, Brandi asks us to rethink the meaning of his sacrifice. thesourcehouston.org
After a brief interlude to answer a question about how our Lenten practices are going, the group delves into a complex question about what discipleship looks like, what is “enough,” and whether you can be a good disciple while still asking questions like “how much does this cost?”
We need more questions! Get your question in at fmhouston.com/AMA.
With Easter right around the corner, Brandi invites us to prepare ourselves to walk through the wilderness with Jesus. If we are to call Jesus our king, we must choose a path to walk down. Do we choose to align ourselves with the kingdom of God or turn the other way? Which choice will you make?
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Andy and Ben are back from their trip to Israel and full of stories from their time traveling there together. Then, the group takes on a question from a listener who has struggled to connect with people who feel quite differently about the Bible than they do.
Got a response? Send us a question! FMHouston.com/AMA
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What do we do when we feel God has told us no? Anthony challenges us to go to God in our moments of weakness and trust the power he gives us through His grace.
Kaitlyn offers a call to anyone who finds themselves lost in their spiritual journey. She reminds us that God provides the nourishment we need to replenish our bodies and soul.
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Brandi tells us there is a learning curve to being free. By accepting the freedom only God can give, helps us navigate through the wilderness of the world.
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After the shooting in New Zealand, a listener asks if the Church is adequately responding to the trauma. Andy, Kaitlyn, and Ben consider empathy and the ways at which we fail to forgive one another.
Got a question? Ask us at FMHouston.com/AMA.
A C.S. Lewis fan wonders what authors since Lewis will last, which is exactly the sort of question that Brandi and Kaitlyn love answering, and lead the group on a number of different rabbit trails considering the current state of Christian writing.
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When tested in moments of darkness, we must trust God to pull us through the wilderness of our faith. He has the answers to test we're enduring. Will we opt out or make it through?
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After Brandi (reluctantly) gives an update from a very messy General Conference, the group dives into a follow-up question a listener had about why there are sections of the Bible we don’t choose to preach from.
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Responding to an article discussing how experiencing awe is good for you, the gang discusses whether it’s possible to force experiencing awe, and the benefits of religion. Plus, Andy and Ben bicker over whether “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a good movie or not (it isn’t!), Kaitlyn picks her Best Picture winner, and Ben makes the case why you should see “Roma.”
(https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/why-scientists-say-experiencing-awe-can-help-you-live-your-ncna961826)
Send in a question! FMHouston.com/AMA.
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With Lent right around the corner, Andy reminds us that Jesus is our weapon against the threats and attacks of evil.
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The group takes on their very first question - one they have put off for MONTHS - and go into exploring the Biblical accounts of the Nephilim. But, to their surprise, it ends up being one of their most fun conversations! Plus, by the end of it, Andy has rebranded himself as a Millennial, so you know things have gone off the rails.
Send in a question! We’re desperate for more questions. You can reach us at FMHouston.com/AMA.
Lifehacks are supposed to make our lives easier. But are they worth the energy? Brandi tells us we must figure out who we are as disciples of Jesus and be the light in the world.
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Kaitlyn returns, and we celebrate by giving her a question she absolutely does not want to answer. But once the group starts to take the question seriously, everyone is surprised to find that they have a lot to say.
Also! This question is a plea to please send in more questions! Any sort of question. We've answered a lot of questions about human sexuality and we would like to talk about something else!
FMHouston.com/AMA.
After sharing a quick pepper shaker lifehack, Anthony asks us to reflect on whether we allow our words to flourish and bear fruits or let them speak death. What are you creating in your life?
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The group discusses the tragic death of young missionary John Chau, who traveled to try and convert the Sentinelese people and was killed for his efforts, resulting in an online firestorm centered around martyrdom, American exceptionalism, and the role mission organizations are supposed to play.
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Brandi kicks off our new sermon series: LifeHack. With so many shortcuts at our disposal, is there a shortcut to following God?
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After a Source In The City talk about how we, too, are creators, someone wants to know what the group’s favorite things are that are made for the glory of God. The list spans the globe, covers all genres, and at one point Andy makes a pun so bad Ben covers his head in his hands and can’t go on.
Got a question for us? Or feedback you’d like to give? Hit us up at FMHouston.com/AMA. thesourcehouston.org
Brandi polls the audience on the dreams they have for themselves, then the dreams they have for their church. When everyone's dreams for the church turn out to be "growth," she outlines just exactly you go about making that happen.
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Every is back from vacation! It's time to sit down and take a question on where we (as a church? as individuals? It wasn't clear, so we answered both) give our money, and how we're supposed to decide such a thing when there's so many places in need in this world.
FMHouston.com/ama
This week's questions comes from a listener who's not a member of the church and asks, "when choosing a worship service, is it more important to be filled by the people in attedance or the worship itself?"
Andy, Brandi, and Ken give some guidelines on what to consider when "church shopping" and discuss some misconceptions about what worship should be. While also venturing down a rabbit hole to examine what the idea of being '"fed" by worship really means.
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Thirteen days into the new year, Brandi checks in with everyone on their New Year's resolutions (or much to her surprise, their lack thereof). Sharing her theory on how all resolutions can be placed into 3 categories, she explains how sometimes we can mistake God's goals and visions of a good life with what the world has us believe is a good and prosperous life. Using the bumper, and two amusing snack commericals to make a connection between generosity and prosperity, she goes on to show that flourishing is very much about endurance as it is completion, and that fear shouldn't have to get in the way of it.
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Andy and Brandi kick off the new season by hijacking this week's AMA question and discussing the importance of generosity, while also tackling the classic question 'Why do bad things happen to good people?'.
Ask us a question, or send feedback! FMHouston.com/AMA
It's time to look ahead. Andy takes us through his goals for the new year, and the big things he's excited to see God do in the life of our church.
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As Kaitlyn explores the verses from this week, she point out how the foreboding elements in them are rendered harmless by the peace brought by the coming Christ child. Christmas is more than a celebration: it is an end of enmity, a new peace for all creation.
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The question has been asked before, but there’s still a lot to unpack - what is it that’s necessary to believe in order to not be a heretic? And what do we need to keep about the Christmas story?
The group gets into common misperceptions and the way our misinterpretation of the Christmas story doesn’t mean we’re getting the point of it wrong.
Here’s the article Kaitlyn mentions. (Link: https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2018/december/putting-christ-back-in-christmas-not-enough-nativity-americ.html)
We’ll be back in a few weeks! Ask us a question! FMHouston.com/AMA
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Andy takes a visit out West and breaks out his Millenial flannel to fit in with the younger generation. Then he starts to unpack a difficult piece of Scripture from Isaiah, and see how a story like that fits into our lives today.
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After referencing John Wesley last week, a new listener asks about the importance of Wesley, and whether the group could give him a starting point on Wesley's ministry and sermons. Unsurprisingly, Kaitlyn and Brandi are INCREDIBLY excited about this prospect.
Ask us a question, or send feedback! FMHouston.com/AMA
Here's links to the sermons referenced in this podcast: On Working Out Our Own Salvation (link: http://spokanevalleychurch.org/core/files/spokanevalleychurch/uploads/files/Wesley's_On_Working_Out_Our_Own_Salvation_Both_Versions.pdf)
The Scripture Way of Salvation (link: https://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/John-Wesley-Sermons/Sermon-43-The-Scripture-Way-of-Salvation)
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As Brandi gets comfortable watching old Christmas movies (there's a quiz!), she points out the context of this week's verse: for 39 chapters, Isaiah is doom and gloom. And then suddenly: comfort. God expresses his love for his people by promising to come again. But, like love often is, it's misunderstood.
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A woman who had a profound experience in which a stranger told her that she had seen Jesus walking besides her wanted to know: do we believe in angels? Do we think that the person she met could have been an angel?
It’s a question that group hadn’t considered before, and so there’s discussion of the nature of angels in scripture, the presence of the Divine in every day life, and how American culture affects what we think we can and can’t believe.
Ask us a question, or send us feedback! This, plus every AMA episode, is available at FMHouston.com/AMA.
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Brandi reminds us that it's not Christmas yet - and that part of Christmas is about waiting. And through the Old Testaments, as the prophets waited for the Messiah, the waiting was much harder. Isaiah predicts the Messiah, but he also says "where are you, God?" It is a story of being the darkness and waiting for the light.
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This episode’s question comes from Ben’s mom, who wants to know what to do when you pray for a very long time for something that’s in God’s will, such as a family member coming to faith – and yet it never happens.
Ask your own question – reach us at any time at FMHouston.com/AMA.
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Anxiety, Stress, and Fear are real things that live in the same family. God has a desire that we release our cares and anxiety on Him - the worst thing you can do is allow the enemy to convince you you are alone.
We have a call to pray, supplicate, and give thanks to God when we see these things rear up in our lives, in order to enter into the peace of God only He can provide.
Philippians 4:4-9
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Last week’s letter-writer, James, follows up with further queries, and after boiling them down to a few simple questions – “does the Church have a moral imperative in regards to homosexuality? Is it really a choice between following the law and loving people?” and “are we being deliberately wishy-washy so as not to offend certain groups?”
Then, the crew tries to take them on.
Plus, in honor of Thanksgiving, a dive into why gratitude is so important!
Ask us a question! You can reach us anytime at fmhouston.com/ama.
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We are charged as citizens of Heaven to work in the effort of bringing Heaven to Earth. But the self is a strong thing, without the help of God, there is absolutely no way we can defeat it.
Anthony shows us what it is that’s most essential when we meet Jesus face to face and, and how to live a life as a citizen of Heaven.
https://www.thesourcehouston.org/
Brandi looks at the things of this world that are instant, and how they don't measure up to the things that are built to last. She explains that Paul is telling the Philippians that a faith that is properly fleshed out is a faith that brings real joy - real joy has to come from real faith. The depth of our faith - what kind of strong, healthy roots it has - measures what kind of fruit it will provide.
https://www.thesourcehouston.org/
The crew responds to a question with a ton of layers to it, covering Old Testament law, divorce, homosexuality, and about half a dozen more things. It’s a conversation about how to talk about religious beliefs when you’re not in lock step, and what Christian debate should look like.
Ask us a question! You can reach us anytime at fmhouston.com/ama.
thesourcehouston.org
Anthony shows us how God is the master of taking mundane things and giving them a new purpose. What we view as regular “That’s just the way it is,” God continues to show us the way he can make it. God takes us as we are, and give us significant purpose beyond what we thought possible.
thesourcehouston.org
We kick off our series on the Book of Philippians with a look into all the ways the world is getting better - and all the ways we feel worse about it. Brandi looks into Paul's relationship with the church at Philippi, and how it echoes the message we focus on this month - becoming centered on being grateful.
FMHouston.com
The group is back together! Andy, Brandi, Kaitlyn, and Ben break down a couple different questions from listeners - first, they deal with the context of what "he who does not work shall not eat" means, and Brandi throws out some Greek translation off the top of her head.
Then, someone who can't make it to church on Sundays because of work asks what to do about their predicament - where should their loyalties lie?
Ask us a question, or respond back to the podcast! Reach us at fmhouston.com/ama
This week, Kaitlyn and Ben are joined by First Methodist Houston's own [Dr. Ashley Sanford], to sit down to discuss the often-ignored importance of mental health in our lives, and to discuss the stigmas behind mental health and our faith.
Ask us a question! We can be reached at any time at FMHouston.com/AMA [link to: fmhouston.com/ama]
Ken and Anthony return! We get a question about the Holy Spirit – when it shows up, does everybody get it, and what everybody’s experience with it is. It turns out, what the United Methodist church thinks about it might just surprise you.
Ask us a question! We can be reached at any time at FMHouston.com/AMA. [link to: fmhouston.com/ama]
thesourcehouston.org
This week, Ken walks through the book of Ruth chapter by chapter, to explore what it means to face hard change in our lives - and how God is working in the background to redeem the hardships we face.
https://www.thesourcehouston.org/
The gang is back together and answering questions again! On this episode, the group talks about the pluses and minuses of the greet-your-neighbor part of church, and how being an introvert changes one’s perspective on the matter.
Then, responding to someone’s concern, they talk about what happens to our souls when we die, and how we handle parts of scripture written in metaphor.
You can respond or ask us questions anytime at fmhouston.com/ama (link:http://fmhouston.com/ama)
When God calls us to go to the ends of the earth, he isn't calling the people with "big faith." As Brandi explains, it's the "little faith ones." It's the works in progress.
It's for us.
Matthew 28: 16-20
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Kathrin comes by the podcast to talk about how a German woman ended up leading a Hispanic ministry in Port Houston, how a ministry like that has to operate, and how the people in that community are dealing with a difficult political time.
You can reach us any time to ask questions at fmhouston.com/ama.
Kaitlyn returns to the stage to talk about living with passion, and becoming the answer to other people's prayers.
https://www.thesourcehouston.org/
This week, Bill Allen and Alexis McCarty swing by to talk about Lifeline, the homeless ministry of our church, and tell stories about the people they've met and relationships they've made.
Ask us a question anytime: FMHouston.com/AMA
Visiting missionary Peter Swann tells us stories of how God had nudged him to share the Gospel, both in villages in South Sudan - and with people he bumped into in a Houston mall.
fmhouston.com
This week, Loren Trujillo, our Refugee Ministry Coordinator, joins us to talk about the refugee community in Houston, the huge opportunity we have with our West Campus, and the way our church has been able to make connections with the nearby refugee communites.
Ask us a question anytime: FMHouston.com/AMA
Ken talks about Matthew 4 where Jesus calls the first disciples. To try and illustrate how we are all commissioned, Ken has an unusual object lesson that he tries out, showing us that it’s our job to tell people about God’s invitation - and to show them love and servanthood.
thesourcehouston.org
As we launch into our new series, "Commissioned," (focusing on the Great Commision, naturally) Anthony talks about what it mean for us to tell our story and spread the word of God.
Matthew 28:16-20
thesourcehouston.org
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 ask if they're a heretic or not, and we try and figure that out.
Ask us a question, or respond back at:
FMHouston.com/AMA
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
Kaitlyn: "The Sacred Enneagram" by Christopher L. Heuertz "Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman "Stages of Faith" by James W. Fowler
Brandi: "Saint Benedict on the Freeway" - Corrine Ware "I Know How She Does It" - Laura Vanderkam "Just Mercy" - Bryan Stevenson
Ben: "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis
Ask us a question!
FMHouston.com/AMA
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, which will probably lead to some repercussions for all of us.
fmhouston.com/ama
As Ken looks at Matthew 15, he focuses on how Jesus points out that what comes out of our hearts is what corrupts us, not what goes in. We are surrounded by a crowd of people we would consider hypocrites - but that's all of us. Love means that we see other people the way God sees them. That's what humility actually looks like.
Matthew 15: 1-11
thesourcehouston.org
As Brandi relates her story to her love of the movie Mean Girls, we start to look at what real kindness looks like. How do we see rightly in this world? How do we avoid judging? And is it possible to not see the specks in our neighbors' eyes at all?
thesourcehouston.org
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 Jesus or the Pharisees. Kaitlyn unveils how the survey also points out hypocrisy in the church and its members, and how understanding the distinction between that and selfawareness can actually put us on the right path to becoming truly stronger Christians.
Matthew 24:1-4
thesourcehouston.org
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 your questions or links to any topic you'd like to hear everyone talk about!
FMHouston.com/AMA
While the past weeks have discussed ordinary things made extraordinary by God, Brandi talks about how water is always doing extraordinary things. Through the story of Lydia at the river, she explains how water through baptism can bring about a new beginnings, and reaffirming your baptism can recall the origins to one of your earliest connections with God. Also hear Brandi share her own personal origin story. 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
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
What does it means when God shows up at a place? Ken looks at the concept of God as light, and the life of Jesus, as a way to explain how God chooses to reveal who He is, and what He has created us to be.
There's also a fun bit about bug zappers.
thesourcehouston.org
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.solutionsjournalism.org/complicating-the-narratives-b91ea06ddf63
Send in your questions and your comments! FMHouston.com/AMA
Ken explores how God uses us as ordinary people to do - and become - extraordinary things, by taking on a heart and attitude of humility, and living in community.
thesourcehouston.org
This week is ostensibly about unjust laws and how we deal with them as Christians, but that turns out to not at all be where the conversation ends up. Instead, Brandi, Juan, and Ben focus on what Jesus told us about how "the poor are always with you," the parable of the sheep and the goats, and the ways we try to make something complicated into something simple to make ourselves feel better.
Plus, a brief and unplanned interruption by live salsa music.
Send us in your questions and responses!
FMHouston.com/AMA
In response to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' use of Romans 13 during a speech about immigration, the group fields a question about what the Bible really says about the issue, and struggles to deal with commenting on policy in difficult political times. Plus, Ben finds out he's not an Evangelical!
fmhouston.com/ama
Ken shows us the way of of following God involves choosing the path that takes sabbath - and receiving the life that comes with that.
thesourcehouston.org
Kaitlyn breaks down Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus promises a yoke that is light. It includes a trip into The Leader's Journey, which notes "the higher the level of chronic anxiety in a system, the more difficult it is for that system to function in a healthy way."
thesourcehouston.org
Andy, Brandi, Kaitlyn, and Ben respond to a New York Times Opinion Piece that gives faint praise to religion as a generic positive in people's lives. The group breaks down the writer's perspective, considers the actual benefits of a faith in Christ, and considers what their lives would look like without religion in them.
This article was sent in by a listener - send in your questions or links to any topic you'd like to hear everyone talk about!
FMHouston.com/AMA
Anthony talks about how hard it is to take an actual Sabbath, but he makes sure we understand that no matter what we do, it is God who is directing our days - even our days of rest.
thesourcehouston.org
The group is back from Annual Conference, and gives a quick update on the goings on within our denomination and our church. Then, a question about why God blesses people who don't follow him more than he does those who do leads to a discussion of if that's true - and what God's blessing really means.
fmhouston.com/ama
The world makes exhaustion a badge of honor, but God calls us to let go. Brandi argues for the essential nature of both physical - and spiritual - rest.
Rest has an image crisis, but as Brandi points out, Sabbath is not pointless or lazy. It is the design of God.
Genesis 2: 1-3 Exodus 5: 1
thesourcehouston.org
With the pastoral staff out of town, Ben brings in Mandy and Juan to talk about the general questions of youth group and why students leave the church. It leads into a much broader discussion of how kids sense falsehood, the cultural differences with youth in church around the world, and what it is that makes the church a place that students keep coming back to.
fmhouston.com/ama
In a world that fills our lives with frustrations and anger, Ken focuses on peace, and how we as Christians can learn to be filled with it. Plus, we get to hear what Ken thinks of the new Star Wars movie!
thesourcehouston.org
Andy, Brandi, and Ken discuss the fallout that comes after a shooting like Santa Fe, and explore the ways that we, as Christians, can respond to tragedies like this - and return to the Sermon on the Mount to see what Jesus had to say about it.
fmhouston.com/ama
In the midst of an packed, joyous service, Andy takes the stage to talk about the truest meaning of Pentecost - how God created a church to bring the gospel to the world, and how God made this church to bring the gospel to this city.
thesourcehouston.org
Ken returns from paternity leave and joins Anthony in the studio to talk about Pentecost with Andy. The three of them explore their very different backgrounds and common fears and misconceptions people have when it comes to the Holy Spirit.
fmhouston.com/ama
In Anthony's world, SIRI means something quite different. As he breaks down his analogy, there's anagrams, word study, crowd participation, and, just for fun, some singing.
thesourcehouston.org
Today's topic is division within the church - that's church with both a big "C" and a little one - how do we pray for it, how do we avoid becoming splintered, and how do we stop from focusing on what everyone else is doing wrong?
Send in your questions and your feedback!
FMHouston.com/AMA
Kaitlyn closely examines the story of God calling Elijah out of his cave to encounter the Lord. As Elijah stands amidst the earthquakes, fire, and wind, Kaitlyn shows us the intricacies of the Hebrew language, and how Elijah's story can be a model for us to learn how to hear God's voice.
thesourcehouston.org
Andy returns, and joins Brandi and Kaitlyn in a continuation of a discussion from last week about how you decide how to interpret Scripture. But this week they face the biggest issue dividing the church - how to deal with questions about homosexuality. From the church's struggle at large, to the splitting within our own denomination, to personal encounters, each of the three work to try and explore the different shades in an issue many see as black-and-white.
Have a question? Reach out to us at fmhouston.com/ama. All questions are confidential.
As we look at the story of creation, Brandi looks at the power of words, the balance and harmony of the cosmos, and the way that God makes order out of chaos.
thesourcehouston.org
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 during the periods the Bible was being written, our own personal worries, and a into surprisingly long interlude about circumcison.
Plus, the group explores the bigger (though related) question of "who gets to decide what the Scriptures mean?" and how community and the pursuit of truth play a role in how we read the Bible.
FMHouston.com/AMA
Brandi and Kaitlyn handle the last week of Ask Me Anything, featuring questions on what Jesus looks (1:00), and how to tell the difference between your own desires and God's voice (5:20). That one finishes a special visit to the stage by Anthony with a very strange request. Then, someone complains about how boring the Old Testament is, and if Brandi and Kaitlyn can help them figure it out (14:35). And then, finally, politics finally shows up when someone asks if the church has taken a position on #metoo and #timesup (20:20).
thesourcehouston.org
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 the importance of keeping intimacy sacred and also how the church is failing a section of its audience by refusing to engage in the culture (14:20). Finally, an attempt to reconcile a perfect God with a broken world, and to figure out if prayer actually does anything to fix it (24:00).
FMHouston.com/AMA
Kaitlyn and Brandi take a blind stab at the new report of the Pope and what he thinks about Hell (1:25), have many thoughts about sex before marriage (9:55), and try and figure out how to forgive while still protecting your heart. (21:15)
They wrap it up by promising to address what they missed in the follow-up podcast this week.
You can still write in questions for Ask Me Anything!
FMHouston.com/AMA
thesourcehouston.org
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 for the series! Please ask your question at FMHouston.com/AMA
Andy deals with some very tough questions as he starts off this 'Ask Me Anything' series. 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
Brandi talks about why she loves that we say "Christ is Risen!" to each other on Easter morning, and traces the origins back to the day of the Resurrection. Then she tells a story of a funeral that went wrong in the best possible way, and the way that Jesus shows up to us in ways we don't expect.
TheSourceHouston.org
Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem is a story of powerful forces colliding. Brandi walks through the dynamics about to unfold: a confrontation between Peace and War, Humility and Pride, Nobodies and Somebodies - and the arrival of a new kind of king.
TheSourceHouston.org
Brandi introduces the story of Zaccheus and then introduces Kathrin Meier, who has come over from Neighbors in Action, our Port Houston ministry. She tells stories of how the people of NIA have had their lives transformed by Jesus - just like he changed the life of Zaccheus.
In both her stories, and in the stories Brandi tells afterwards, you see how one story and one person causes a domino effect, and changes a whole community.
thesourcehouston.org
Anthony's memorably-named talk is focused on God's love - what it is that God wants to do for you... so that you can do the same for others.
thesourcehouston.org
As Ken looks at the burden of leprosy in Biblical times, he talks about the dramatic, long-lasting effects it had on lives, before expressing bewilderment that of 10 people healed from this disease, only one came back.
That leads into a look at a church of the 10%, and how we fill up our hours.
thesourcehouston.org
Brandi explores how human beings interact with one another, and what happens when that dynamic is changed. It leads through to the story of Jesus and the woman caught cheating, and how his unexpected actions led to a sudden change of heart - and a guide for us to follow.
thesourcehouston.org
To kick off the new series "Dirty Church," Ken gets into the muck about what our lives really look like, and how we often unfairly expect other people to be living cleaner lives than us. Then he brings us back to the story of the woman caught cheating, and the reverberations of Jesus' actions.
thesourcehouston.org
As the Source relaunches as a combined worship service, Ken, Anthony, Brandi, and Kaitlyn take to the stage together to cast a vision for what this community can be.
thesourcehouston.org
In recalling her toughest job interview - her final interview to become a pastor - Brandi describes how what some people might consider purely an intellectual question was for her a gut-level response. She tells the story of Jesus asking the disciples "who do you say that I am?" and how the ways that we get that answer right – and wrong – changes everything about who the church is.
fmhouston.com
Sometimes it's incredibly difficult to know where God is leading us. Kaitlyn, though, shows us how to love God is to trust him, to believe that he is leading us forward - even when we can't see it.
fmhouston.com
Fear is an epidemic, and the 23rd Psalm takes us into the valley of the shadow of death, but Brandi tells a story of even in a very dark moment in her pregnancy last year, she did not fear. She talks about her surprising response - and the equally surprising one God offers in the Psalm.
fmhouston.com
Spending time in Hebrews 11 and 12, Brandi talks about the race that we are encouraged to run and the Bible's focus on the heart. Then, she takes issue with the board game "Life" and the wrong mindset for how to live a life.
fmhouston.com
While brewing a cup of tea (and one for an audience member), Ken talks about the various mugs that have marked his journey through life. It leads him through Hebrew 11 and 12, the troubled community it was written to, and what the term "faith" meant then - and what it means now.
fmhouston.com
Following Jesus means taking a moment to have a second thought when things happen. Ken reminds us that when we take a moment to think about our motivation, and to ask the question what would Jesus call us to, we are faced with a battle of identity. Who will be at the center of our life -Jesus or ourselves?
fmhouston.com
In his first-ever sermon, Nick journeys into the story of the Israelites being fed by God in the desert (Exodus 16). He focused in on remembrance - the way that we, like the Israelites, are prone to forget. But as the Source is traveling into a new place, he reminds us of the way that God has been faithful.
fmhouston.com
A chance encounter with a homeless man in the rain leads Ken down a surprising path towards understanding who Jesus is. Then, he considers the story of Jesus calming the storm from the disciples' perspective, and asks the question they must have faced: are we willing to follow Jesus and learn more about him, even when that information contradicts who we thought he was?
FMHouston.com
Where does your attention lie in 2018?
Kaitlyn looks at where we're looking in our day-to-day lives, and what that means for who we are and what we're committed to.
FMHouston.com
A guest sermon from our Head Pastor to lay out the year, Andy talks about the history of the church, having a lack of vision, and looks ahead to the big things God is calling us to in the coming year.
fmhouston.com
Ken looks at the story of Simeon meeting baby Jesus in Luke 2:22-40 and breaks down the story from 3 perspectives. How Simeon saw God as a cosmic God playing out a play for creation before and beyond his lifetime, how he saw God as someone who cares for each one of us and invites us to participate with him through the Holy Spirit, and how God’s heart was with the poor and unseen. Ken also shares some of the transitions our church is going through and his hopes and prayers for the community in this coming year.
Kaitlyn explores the story of Christ's birth from a perspective we don't talk much about on Christmas Eve – Joseph, and the struggles he must have had. Joseph lived an interrupted life – what does it look like for us if God calls us to do the same?
Andy has to reintroduce himself to the Vine, since he hasn't been able to preach there for quite some time. But he's immediately off and running with stories of Christmas chicken and waffles, sparking microwaves that refuse to be healed, and a very specific bit of preaching he picked up from the head of Houston homicide.
Before he relays the gospels through the real story of St. Nicholas (really!), he wants to talk about the church and its mission - and what being a Christian that acts like Jesus really is.
He also has a shameless though completely unpaid plug for LEGOs.
fmhouston.com
Anthony extolls the holiness of Christmas Jack-in-the-Box before promising a sermon that uses the word "hope" at least 95 times (we didn't count, but we think he got there).
fmhouston.com
Kaitlyn takes a break from "Identity" to talk about the massive changes coming in 2018 for The Source community.
But it would be Kaitlyn if she didn't start off with some Biblical study, so we kick things off with Romans 12 - "conforming" versus "transforming," and what it means to "renew our minds." Then she dives into the struggles that have got us to this place – and a lot of the questions she herself has.
If after the podcast you have questions, oe concerns, or just strong feelings about the whole thing, feel free email Kaitlyn and find some time to chat! She's spent the entire past month visiting people in their homes every night to talk this through - she's committed to getting this message out there.
**kbowie@fmhouston.com
Romans 12:1-2
Brandi explores how ridiculous and laughable the Kingdom of God really is. She bounces from unlikely pregnancies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a story of white flour, and a runaway bunny. It's all tied together by Mary's Song - The Magnificat - and the Kingdom of God it announces. The low are lifted up, the rich sent away empty, the hungry are filled with good things.
Plus, what it looks like when God chooses sides between narcissistic kings but with unwed teenage mothers.
NOTE: This sermon has had a testimony video concerning adopting refugee families for Christmas that needed to be cut out for clarity, since part of the video was in Arabic. The full video is available on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/NsZNWEa8fb4
In order to talk about peace, Kaitlyn breaks down two big questions:
- How is Jesus connected to others?
- How are we connected to others, too?
That begins with a look at the sort of connections Jesus made while he was here on earth.
http://fmhouston.com
NOTE: This sermon has had a testimony video concerning adopting refugee families for Christmas that needed to be cut out for clarity, since part of the video was in Arabic. The full video is available on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/NsZNWEa8fb4
Ken talks about our relationship with the refugee.
In the midst of swarming locusts and the receiving of the Holy Spirit, Ken talks about the limitless love of God and the church's role in living it out.
Brandi starts off by wishing everyone a Happy New Year (trust us, it totally makes sense) and cops to her love of the liturgical calendar. Then, she kicks off Advent by talking about kinship, relationship, and the answer to shame.
http://thesourcehouston.org/
Pastor Ken explores what it means for the church to experience the love of God through the Holy Spirit using the Wesleyan quadrilateral and his favorite song.
This week we continue with our series Equation where we've been learning about the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, a helpful framework for making wise decisions. This week Pastor Kaitlyn digs into the fourth component: experience. How can we learn through our meaningful experiences with the Holy Spirit as we follow Christ forward?
Ken begins our Advent series by detailing why He is Wonderful through the story of Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath.
Anthony presents his first sermon to The Source, and helps us to find the way to God's true purpose for our life by finding out what God's real name is for us.
Andy concludes our Politics series by detailing how we should continue to show the love of Christ in our post-election world.
Kaitlyn continues our series on Politics on how we have all sinned & yet we are not prone to showing grace to each other as God shows grace to us, no matter what our party lines are.
Leo continues our Politics series by helping us to understand how to balance the requirement of Christians to submit to authority and to speak out against unjust actions taken by that authority.
Kaitlyn continues our series by helping to identify the source of potential apathy when it comes to current political events and why and how we should combat that apathy.
Pastoral intern Mandy Jones starts off our series on Politics by detailing how we as Christians are supposed to react to others - even those that do not agree with us.
Rev. Wende Mills joins us to tell us about Gastrochurch and how it is helping bring the community of Houston closer together.
Ken continues our series by going through what it means to be the salt and light of our community.
Kaitlyn begins our series by detailing why we should seek the peace and prosperity of the city we've been called to be in.
Three Source members that attended the first Source mission trip to Honduras tells their testimony and how their experience helped reshape their outlooks on life.
Kaitlyn concludes our cross-campus series by illustrating how community helps us stay on course.
Kaitlyn continues our cross-campus series by asking the question: does it really matter if we're only a few degrees off course?
Ken continues our cross-campus series with exploring how to trust that God has the perfect direction for our lives.
Andy begins our next cross-campus series by addressing the current state of First Methodist Houston and what needs to be done to help us back on course.
Kaitlyn concludes our cross-campus series by speaking on how to truly love those in the world so that it can be transformed in Christ.
Andy Nixon continues our cross-campus series with how we will lean in to the people of Houston and the world.
Ken continues our cross-campus series by helping to make sense of the current state of our world and what we as Christians should do to respond.
First Methodist Houston's new senior pastor Andy Nixon continues our series on Unveiled.
Join us as we welcome First Methodist Houston's new senior pastor Andy Nixon as he preaches the first week of our new series, Unveiled.
Ken and Kaitlyn end our series on disciplines as they speak about confession and worship.
Kaitlyn continues our series by focusing on the practice of fasting. (Editor Note: Due to a technical malfunction, the middle portion of the sermon has been lost. We deeply apologize for this error.)
Kaitlyn continues our series by focusing on the practice of Sabbath and how it is a crucial practice for our physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Kaitlyn continues our series by focusing on silence and how to achieve it in our busy everyday lives.
Ken continues our series by focusing in on meditation and how it is essential to Christian life.
Kaitlyn tells of the story of Ruth and how it relates to The Source, and the community is given the opportunity to respond.
Ken continues our series with the meaning behind Get Out and why it is important to The Source.
Kaitlyn continues our series with the importance of Asking Questions and how it relates to The Source.
Kaitlyn begins our series on The Source's mission and the meaning of the first part of our new tagline: "Get Together".
Kaitlyn concludes our Lenten series on Easter Sunday with the importance of Jesus's last words on Earth.
Ken continues our Lenten series with a Palm Sunday message on who Jesus says in the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Ken continues our Lenten series with the significance of what group of people Jesus chose to build his Kingdom and ministry with.
Kaitlyn continues our Lenten series by detailing the significance of who and how Jesus called his disciples.
Kaitlyn starts our Lenten series by explaining what Lent is, its origin, what fasting is, and explores the meaning behind Christ's temptation in the wilderness.
Kaitlyn is joined by Dr. Steve Wende, Senior Pastor of First Methodist Houston, in our first joint service between Traditional and The Source, as they discuss unity in the Christian body and how it applies to our church and our outreach.
Ken continues the Impact series by telling us about what it's like to be a Christian in Turkey, how it relates to our lives as American Christians, and what important lessons we can learn.
Kaitlyn continues the Impact series by discussing the imagery of planting seeds, harvesting, and how it relates to what Jesus calls for us to do with our church home.
Kaitlyn continues the Impact series by illustrating the body of Christ and how each part matters to the other parts.
Kaitlyn gives an update on the state of the church as well as the community we have been placed in to reach.
Ken tells us the story of Christ's birth from the perspective of Simeon and Anna and the value of obeying God, even when it seems illogical.
Kaitlyn tells us the story of Christ's birth from the perspective of King Herod and the wise men and illustrates the importance of the wise men worshipping Him.
Ken tells us the story of Christ's birth from the perspective of the shepherds and why them learning of Christ's birth first was important.
Kaitlyn tells us the story of Christ's birth from the perspective of Mary learning of her part in the birth of Christ and the difference of reaction between her and Zechariah.
Special guest Gregg Taylor tells us more about the organization reVision, a group that counsels at-risk youth.
Ken speaks on community in small groups and how we as Christians are called to react to those in need in our third week of Rooted.
Kaitlyn speaks on sharing your story in small groups and the impact it can have in our second week of Rooted.
Kaitlyn concludes her answers to your questions about scripture in the fourth week of Say Anything.
Kaitlyn shares answers to your questions about scripture in the second week of Say Anything.
Terence preaches in our launch service on finding the right church and what The Source is all about.