First Methodist Traditional
693 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsAt First Methodist Houston our vision is to have an empowered, diverse faith family built on the foundation of God’s Word, sharing the transforming love of Jesus Christ throughout Houston and the world.
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Episodes
I'm Listening: "Listening To Grace" - Andy Nixon
May 16, 2021 17:00 - 19 minutes - 26.2 MBThe Gospel of John, from its opening chapter, challenges us. Rather than begin with the story of the Nativity, it first rewrites Genesis from a Jesus-centric point of view. John tells us to listen, to hear, that God is speaking to us. This should not strike us as unusual, since God has been in the speaking business for a long time. And if we just want to hear ourselves speak, we miss out our chance to hear God speak. Plus, a trick for making sure you always hear what others have to say. f...
Ask Me Anything: “Are We Ignoring All Incarcerated People By Only Talking About Black Imprisonment?” – Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Ken Coneby, and Ben Wyman
May 13, 2021 13:00 - 39 minutes - 89.6 MBA 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.
The Book of James: "Chapter Five" - Donyale Fraylon
May 09, 2021 05:00 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBChapter 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, underscori...
Ask Me Anything: “The New Jim Crow, Pt. 3 – ‘We Aren’t All Free To Not Be Tired’” – Ken Coneby, Kenneth Jackson & Ben Wyman
May 06, 2021 13:00 - 33 minutes - 76.9 MBAs 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 a...
The Book of James: "Chapter Four" - Andy Nixon
May 03, 2021 13:13 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MBA strange experience on Houston light rail reminded Andy how we need to show grace and love in this time of recovery. “This is a great time for the church to be a pastor to one another." We are mist, James says. So why do our actions matter? Because time IS short. We need to make the most of these moments. “Yes you are mist. But you’re here now. And that MATTERS.” fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “The New Jim Crow, Pt. 2 – ‘There’s More Than One America’” – Donyale Fraylon, Anthony Rogers, Kenneth Jackson, & Ben Wyman
April 29, 2021 13:00 - 39 minutes - 89.9 MBIn 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!
The Book of James: "Chapter Three" - Andy Nixon
April 25, 2021 17:00 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MBAndy’s mom warned him early that his tongue could get him into a lot of trouble - and boy, has it. The third chapter has a very profound idea about how small things can take us drastic directions. A person who proclaims the gospel is someone who must have their words under control. The way we can bring heaven upon this earth can be just as simple as paying attention to the words that we are saying. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “The New Jim Crow, Pt 1 – Colorblindness Is The Problem” – Andy Nixon, Donyal Fraylon, & Deirdre Barrett
April 22, 2021 13:00 - 33 minutes - 76.5 MBOn 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 o...
The Book of James: "Chapter Two" - Andy Nixon
April 18, 2021 22:00 - 18 minutes - 25.1 MBWhile studying the life of Ernest Hemingway via the new Ken Burns documentary, Andy is inspired about the importance of action, and urges the congregation to concentrate on positive, God-honoring actions and see where that leads them. "In our actions, in what we’re doing... let’s see what God can do." fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: "What Are Your Favorite Bible Stories (And Why?)" - Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Ken Coneby, and Ben Wyman
April 15, 2021 14:20 - 26 minutes - 59.7 MBA 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!
James: "Chapter One" - Andy Nixon
April 11, 2021 22:06 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MBAndy digs into the first chapter of James as we start our walk through the book. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “Were The People In Noah’s Time Worse Than People Today?” – Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Ken Coneby, & Ben Wyman
April 08, 2021 13:00 - 21 minutes - 48.8 MBThe 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 This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm
Easter Sunday: "Back To Life" - Andy Nixon
April 04, 2021 20:39 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MBIt has been a very hard year, and there has been much to be afraid of. But we cannot let fear, death, and oppression write our story. It's on us to write another one. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: "Is The Resurrection Real Or Just A Metaphor?" - Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Ken Coneby, & Ben Wyman
April 01, 2021 12:18 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBDuring 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
Altars: "A Place of Covenant" - Andy Nixon
March 28, 2021 22:00 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MBGenesis 15:9-12; 17-18 Andy explores the passage where Abram makes a covenant with God. We may wander, we may sin, but God always brings us home. No matter how far we may stray, our Lord embraces us when we repent and return to Him. Where do you spiritually feel at home? It's not the structure that brings significance, but the realization of the holiness and goodness of the Lord. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “Did Our Church Have a Historic Role In Slavery and Racism in the South?” - Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Ken Coneby, & Ben Wyman
March 25, 2021 13:00 - 30 minutes - 70.3 MBToday’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...
Altars: "A Place of Worship" - Andy Nixon
March 21, 2021 17:00 - 18 minutes - 25.2 MBJoshua 22 During the pandemic, we’ve learned something we should have learned long ago: how to as a church to be a church united with the churches around us. It doesn’t matter who we are, it doesn’t matter where we come from. The Lord is the Lord of all. We celebrate that through the altars we build. fmhouston.com
Altars: "A Place of Encounter" - Donyale Fraylon
March 14, 2021 17:00 - 31 minutes - 42.8 MBGenesis 12:11-19 Encountering the living God is awe-inspiring, and it’s something we don’t want to miss. The question is: “do we expect God in expected places?” When we come together for worship or Bible study, are we expecting to encounter God? fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “As Christians, Are We Called To Encourage Others To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine?” - Andy Nixon, Ken Coneby, & Ben Wyman
March 11, 2021 14:01 - 29 minutes - 67.4 MBAndy, 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. —— Ask us a question! Fmhouston.com/ama
We've Come This Far By Faith: "Called To God's Mission" - Andy Nixon
March 07, 2021 18:00 - 23 minutes - 32.7 MBThe direction of the gospel always moves forward. God wants us to see not only the direction our faith goes, but the impact it can have. As this pandemic ends, who is the person that God is calling you to reach? fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “If We Are To Love Our Neighbor As Ourself… What Happens When We Don’t Love Ourselves?” - Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Ken Coneby, & Ben Wyman
March 04, 2021 14:00 - 27 minutes - 61.9 MBA 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. —— Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama
We've Come This Far By Faith: "Trust In God" - Andy Nixon
February 28, 2021 18:57 - 20 minutes - 27.7 MBLearning to not lean on his own understanding is not something that comes easy to Andy. Andy is trying to become more fluent in the conversation about race around this country. It’s something that’s not come easy to him. And it’s shown him the ways that his own understanding is just such a small drop in a bucket. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “I Grew Up During Jim Crow. Won’t Real Racial Change Take A Great Many Generations?” – Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Anthony Rogers, & Ben Wyman
February 25, 2021 14:00 - 39 minutes - 90.1 MBA 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.
"Painful, Beautiful, and Faithful" - Andy Nixon
February 21, 2021 23:00 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MBIn the midst of a difficult week, Andy finds hope. God has a plan, even though we may not. Crisis can be beautiful and humbling. In moments of need, lean on scripture and faith. HE will make your path straight. fmhouston.com
"In The Storm" - Andy Nixon
February 21, 2021 23:00 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MBIn the midst of a difficult week, Andy finds hope. fmhouston.com
We’ve Come This Far By Faith: "Love for One Another" - Andy Nixon
February 15, 2021 05:47 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBAs we move into Lent, this week’s spiritual encourages us to “be more like Jesus in my heart.” So this Sunday, Andy looks at the heart - and encourages everyone to spend this Lenten season becoming the kind of disciple who gives Jesus the best they’ve got. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: ‘Does The Bible Want Us To Be Afraid Of God?’ – Andy Nixon, Ken Coneby, & Ben Wyman
February 12, 2021 20:00 - 38 minutes - 43.7 MBA 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
We've Come This Far By Faith: "Community" - Andy Nixon
February 07, 2021 23:20 - 20 minutes - 28.8 MBLent is a time where people give things up to prepare their hearts for Easter. What if this year, you accepted the invitation? What if you participated in Lent? All of a sudden your faith has a way to speak to you in an even greater way. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “Is Brokenness A Good Thing?” - Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Ken Coneby, & Ben Wyman
February 04, 2021 14:00 - 29 minutes - 67 MBA 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. —— Got a question? Send it to us at fmhouston.com/ama!
Ready or Not: “Apocalypse” - Andy Nixon
January 31, 2021 18:13 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MBMark 13:9-13 Reading today's scripture, it points out that we need to be ready to go at any moment. Because there will be a point where you're going to have to account for the kind of person that you are, and you need to be ready for that day. Who are we as Christians? Do we take ALL of the Christian life on? We either love God and love neighbor, or we don’t. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “Is it time for the Church to reject literal interpretations of the Bible?” - Andy Nixon, Ken Coneby, Marty Vershel, & Ben Wyman
January 28, 2021 14:08 - 30 minutes - 70 MBThe 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. ——— Ask us a question! fmhouston.com/ama This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm
Ready Or Not: "Spirit" - Andy Nixon
January 24, 2021 18:00 - 16 minutes - 22.2 MBThis has been a tough year financially for our congregation, for the people of our city, and for our church. But looking forward, how is the Holy Spirit going to move in the next year? How is he going to change us. Because that's what the Holy Spirit does - he makes us into more complete and sacred people. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “How Do We Actually Pray For Our Enemies?” – Ken Coneby, Donyale Fraylon & Ben Wyman
January 21, 2021 14:00 - 27 minutes - 61.8 MBA 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
Ready Or Not: "Transition" - Andy Nixon
January 17, 2021 17:39 - 21 minutes - 29.5 MBOn MLK weekend, Andy considers Dr. King's legacy, and encourages listeners to go an listen to MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech. (We've made the speech available at fmhouston.com/mlk if you'd like to do so) He also talks about the transition we are going through - as a nation, as a people, and as a church - and reminds us of where our values should always be. “If we hold on to the future, the present, and the past, and do each equally well, I believe the Lord will bless us. I am excited to se...
Ask Me Anything: “What Made You Become A Pastor?” – Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Marty Vershel & Ben Wyman
January 14, 2021 14:00 - 32 minutes - 74 MBThe 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
Ready Or Not: "Now What?" - Marty Vershel
January 13, 2021 02:47 - 23 minutes - 32.9 MBWhen God spoke aloud after Jesus was baptized, he wasn't speaking just to His Son - he was speaking to the world, so that they could understand that God had come to live among them. fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: “Isn’t It Relationships That Drive Young People To Church?” – Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Ken Coneby & Ben Wyman
January 07, 2021 14:00 - 30 minutes - 69.2 MBA 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 ...
Ready Or Not: "Raise Your Hand" - Marty Vershel
January 04, 2021 02:05 - 27 minutes - 37.2 MBWhen Moses was trapped by the Red Sea, he had only to lift his hand, and God did the rest. Can we learn to be hand-raisers, too? fmhouston.com
Ready Or Not: "Crossing/Escape" - Andy Nixon
January 03, 2021 18:18 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MBAs we begin to explore moments of change in the Bible, we start way back in Exodus, with Moses trapped by the Red Sea. In Moses’ moment of crisis, it is there where he discovers his faith. When Moses steps into the water and obeys the orders that God has given him, he realizes that God has provided a way. When we find ourselves in the same spot, when we step forward in faith, God provides. If we learn anything from this 2020 experience, learn that God is always with us. fmhouston.com
Keeping The Lights On: "Arise, Shine" - Donyale Fraylon
December 27, 2020 18:15 - 18 minutes - 25.9 MBWhenever she's on the road at a hotel, Donyale always makes sure to have the front desk give her a wakeup call. Because as not a morning person, it is difficult for her to arise - never mind to arise and shine. But the prophet Isaiah has given us a call to action. We have a divine summons to be active in the restoration of God’s kingdom. We are to be walking lamp stands, reflecting the glory of heaven. "We may, too, have to answer that call in times of darkness. But, friends, we have the c...
Christmas Eve: "The Light Shines In The Darkness" - Andy Nixon
December 25, 2020 02:55 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MBAt the end of a terrifically difficult year, Andy thinks of the people in his life who have made a difference in the world, the people who’ve been the Holy Spirit in action. People who went an extra mile to do the right thing, the things that meant so much to the people who received those acts of love. As he thinks about the story of Christmas, it is people like that who make him see the same love of God that came down all those years ago alive in the world today. fmhouston.com
Christmas Eve: "The Biggest Bestest Story" - Mary Vershel
December 25, 2020 02:46 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MBHave you ever tried to wrap your brain around how big God is?
Christmas Eve: "The Biggest Bestest Story" - Marty Vershel
December 25, 2020 02:46 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MBMarty is worried that we know the Christmas story so well we've forgotten just how big this story really is. fmhouston.com
Keeping the Light On: "Overwhelmed With Joy" - Andy Nixon
December 21, 2020 13:00 - 25 minutes - 35.6 MBAndy shares Biblical parallels between the story of Christ’s birth and a story from the Old Testament - and the story of his eventual death. As he stresses over tough decisions, he reminds us that all that matter is "is Jesus who he says he is?" fmhouston.com
Ask Me Anything: "What Have You Learned In 2020?" - Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Marty Vershel, & Ben Wyman
December 17, 2020 14:00 - 27 minutes - 63.6 MBFor 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
Ask Me Anything: "Why Is This Christmas So Hard? Why Does Something So Joyous Bring So Much Pain?" - Andy Nixon, Marty Vershel, & Ben Wyman
December 10, 2020 14:00 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBSomeone 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
Keeping the Light On: "Now All Nations Will Call Me Blessed" - Andy Nixon
December 07, 2020 17:24 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBAndy tells the story of the “LEON” Christmas tradition that his family celebrates every year. He explains how we need to allow room for God to come in and change where we’re going. Mary doesn’t hold to one thing, she allows God to turn her life in an entirely new direction. And that’s what gives us this Christmas story. “Sometimes we get in ruts… we get established, we get focused. And if we take that too far, we shut ourselves off from what we need.” fmhouston.com
“Is Contemporary Worship Just Going To Replace Traditional Worship?” - Andy Nixon, Donyale Fraylon, Ken Coneby & Ben Wyman
December 03, 2020 14:14 - 27 minutes - 62.7 MBA 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. This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm
Keeping the Light On: "A Light Has Dawned" - Marty Vershel
November 29, 2020 21:26 - 14 minutes - 19.5 MBIsaiah 9:2 & 6 It's Marty's first sermon with us, and he launches us into Advent by talking about the difficulties of walking in the darkness (especially this year) and the everlasting hope that came to us in the Light of the World. fmhouston.com
Keeping The Lights On: "Waiting In The Dark" - Donyale Fraylon
November 29, 2020 19:25 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBIsaiah 64: 1-9 Donyale begins our Advent season by reminding us what it means to be clay in the Potter's hands. fmhouston.com