First UMC Leadership

Season 5 - Episode 6

The quote that Carol reads, "Even when I don't believe in church, I believe in resurrection. I believe in the hope of Sunday morning." is from Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans.

Season 5 - Episode 5

The two statements that Taylor and Chad discuss in this episode are below: Nashville Statement Wesleyan Covenant Association Statement

Season 5 - Episode 4

Season 5 - Episode 3

Season 5 - Episode 2

Season 5 - Episode 1

Season 4 - Episode 3

Season 4 - Episode 2

Season 4 - Episode 1

Season 3 - Episode 3

Season 3 - Episode 2

Season 3 - Episode 1

Year With Jesus Episode #4

Year With Jesus Episode #3

A Year With Jesus: Episode #2

Year With Jesus Episode #1

Season 2 - Episode 9: FAQs: The Andover Story (Pt 2)

Part 2 of a 2 part story looking at our Andover Community.  I am joined by Jim Nichols, Brad Rudolph and Jill Mahan. 

Season 2 - Episode 8: FAQs: The Andover Story (Pt 1)

Part 1 of a 2 part story looking at our Andover Community.  We are joined by Jim Nichols and Brad Rudolph. 

Season 2 - Episode 7: FAQs: The Downtown Story (Pt 2)

Part 2 of a 2 part story where look at where Downtown has been, where it is now, and where it is headed in the future.  We are joined by Carol Cooper, our Downtown Assistant Pastor and Dulaney Wood, our Downtown Lay Leader. 

Season 2 - Episode 6: FAQs: The Downtown Story (Pt 1)

Part 1 of a 2 part story where look at where Downtown has been, where it is now, and where it is headed in the future.  We are joined by Chas Jordan, our church historian for this look back.  

Season 2 - Episode 5: FAQs: The Offerings Story (Pt 2)

Part 2 of a 2 part telling of the Offerings story.  Recorded live at a recent Offerings family meeting where members past and present talked about how we got where we are and where we go from here.   

Season 2 - Episode 4: FAQs: The Offerings Story (Pt 1)

Part 1 of a 2 part telling of the Offerings story.  Recorded live at a recent Offerings family meeting where members past and present talked about how we got where we are and where we go from here. 

Season 2 - Episode 3: FAQs: How do we get our pastors?

In this episode Todd, Chad, Jim and Teddy sit down with Rev. James Williams, our Lexington District Superintendent, to talk about how United Methodist churches in general get pastors, and what happened here at First UMC over the last couple years. 

Season 2 - Episode 2: FAQs: What is up with our financial model?

In this episode Todd, Chad and Jim sit down with Bill Mattingly to talk about our financial model, the simplicity it actually models, the trust we have at First Church and how it is more affordable to be One Church with Multiple Expressions. 

Season 2 - Episode 1: FAQs: Why is everything so complicated?

In this episode Chad, Todd and Jim sit down with Bill McKinney to talk about how First Church is both complicated as a whole and simple at the community level.  We talk about the difficulty in feeling like one and in how we communicate some really important information without it always being right in front of us.  

Episode 20 - A Summer Special: Renewal in the Church

We are joined for this mid-summer special by Dr. Howard Snyder to talk about the connection between the rise of the church in the first centuries, the renewal of the church through the rise of Methodism, and what that means for First UMC today.  

Episode 19 - Launching New Communities

Teddy, Todd and Chad talk through our heritage, our current realities, and why we will be crossing new streets in Lexington. 

Episode 18 - Witness and Evangelism

Chad, Todd and Teddy talk about evangelism as a local project and the significance of our baptismal vows. 

Episode 17 - Serve

We are joined by Cameron Bibb, Downtown Family Pastor, and Dr. Ruthann Reese, from Asbury Theological Seminary as we discuss what it means to serve in the church and in the world. 

Episode 16 - Grow

In this episode we are joined by Drs. Ellen Marmon and Steve Martyn as we talk about "Grow" as part of our disciple making strategy. 

Episode 15 - Worship

We are joined by Rev. Jessica LaGrone and Dr. Jonathan Powers as we talk about the context, structure and style of corporate worship. 

Episode 14 - The Discipleship Intensive

We are joined by Frances Abel, Susan Nelson, Brad Beach and Wayne Oates as we look at the Discipleship Intensive as our deepest dive into personal discipleship.  We explore the material, the good, the bad, and where we go from here. 

Episode 13 - Equipping Clergy Leadership

We are joined by Dr. Tim Tennent, president of Asbury Theological Seminary, and Dr. Bill Arnold, professor of Old Testament at ATS.  We had a live conversation about the state of clergy preparation and specifically how First Church can join with the seminary in preparing clergy for a lifetime of effective ministry. 

Episode 12 - Answering the Question "How Can We Pray For You?"

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Sharon Bixler who speaks about her experience of prayer personally and how being in a group has strengthened her prayer life. 

Episode 11 - Answering the Question..."Have You Done All the Good You Can? Avoided All the Evil?"

In this episode Teddy Ray, Jason Jackson and Sarah Jackson join us to talk about the question, "Have you done all the good you can? Avoided all the evil?" and how this helps us reflect on what God actually would have us be and do. 

Episode 10 - Answering the Question "How Have You Availed Yourself of the Means of Grace?"

Rev. Felsha Foster joins us to talk bout the question, "How have you availed yourself of the means of grace?" We unpack that question and the broader question of why reflection in intentional groups is so important. 

Episode 9 - Answering the Question "How is it With Your Soul?"

In this episode Teddy Ray, Lead Pastor of the Offerings Community and Heidi Hays, Catecheis Co-Pastor for the Offerings Community join us as we talk about pursuing scriptural holiness through self-reflection using some historic questions.  We talk specifically you the question "How is it with your soul?"  In this episode we ask what it means to be a people who reflect, and ideally a people who reflect in community. 

Episode 8 - One Church....Without Potlucks

In this episode we are joined by Brad Rudolph our new Administrative Council Chair.  We explore what it is that unites us all as First Church despite being three communities...in three locations.  We address the things that have not worked and we begin to work towards an answer to what does work and what does unite us.  

Episode 7 - Invitation and Multiplication

Episode 6 - The Fruit of the Spirit

In this episode Chad, Todd and Carol explore the Fruit of the Spirit as a marker of scriptural holiness and look at the slow cultivation of those fruit. 

Episode 5 - Mercy and Justice

Dr. Chuck Guttenson joins us to talk about mercy and justice.  We explore some of the ways that we can take what is a scary part of scriptural holiness and make it approachable.  Chuck points us to the range of ministry opportunities from policy advocacy to serving a meal. Don't miss this episode as we seek to understand how to care for the marginalized just as Christ did. 

Episode 4 - A Life of Stewardship

In this episode Jonathan Moore joins us to talk about what it looks like to live a life of stewardship.  Jonathan helps us see this idea much more broadly than simply our money.

Episode 3 - The Practice of Spiritual Disciplines

In this episode we are joined by Jim Nichols and Carol Cooper as we explore what it means to be disciples who practice spiritual disciplines.  They help us pull back the veil and understand some simple next steps. 

Episode 2 - Growing in Love of God and Each Other

In this episode Dr. Michael Powers joins us to talk about the marks of one who is growing in love of God and each other. We explore how this relates to the broader idea of scriptural holiness and Mike gives us a few resources for further exploration.

Episode 1 - What Is A Disciple?

We unpack a recent Administrative Council meeting, explore what a disciple actually looks like and interview Rev. Teddy Ray about how we are living out our calling at First UMC.