First Houston United Methodist Church

Pastor Lindsay's sermon begins with two illustrations—a child questioning the need for sleep and a phone plugged into the wrong charger—to show how rest and connection are vital to life. Just as our bodies need rest to be restored, our souls need worship to be spiritually renewed. The message connects to the church’s five spiritual practices—Gather, Get Connected, Grow, Go, and Give—rooted in Acts 2:42–47. This sermon focuses on Gathering, or worshiping God. The biblical concept of First Fruits teaches that God deserves our first and best—our time, devotion, and resources. Worship means placing God above everything else and adoring Him for who He is. Psalm 103 gives reasons to worship: God forgives, heals, saves, loves, and sustains us endlessly. True worship is not passive attendance but offering our whole being—our thoughts, emotions, doubts, and gratitude—to God. Worship isn’t about what we get out of it, but about honoring God because He is worthy. Yet, as a side benefit, worship restores our spirit, just as sleep restores the body. The sermon shares powerful examples of worship’s impact—from personal experiences of deep connection during services to stories of global believers finding joy in worship despite hardship. Ultimately, worship honors God and transforms us. It reminds us of God’s goodness, recenters our hearts, and renews our spiritual strength. The invitation closes by urging everyone to “praise the Lord and forget not all His benefits,” finding rest and restoration in Him. fmhouston.com

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Lindsay's message emphasizes the danger of spiritual certainty and the need for humility in following the Holy Spirit. Using Peter’s vision in Acts 10, the sermon shows how God challenged Peter’s deeply held beliefs and expanded the church to include Gentiles. The lesson is that being Spirit-led often requires surrendering our own assumptions, even when we feel sure we’re right. The preacher explains how the Spirit speaks—through Scripture, nature, other believers, and inner nudges—and offers a four-part test to discern the Spirit’s voice: Does it align with the character of Jesus? Is it consistent with Scripture? Will it produce the fruit of the Spirit? Do trusted Christian friends affirm it? Modern examples, including stories of musicians Forrest Frank and Tauren Wells, illustrate how obedience to the Spirit can lead to unexpected blessings, miracles, and opportunities to share Christ. The call to action: like Peter, we must be willing to give up certainty, listen for the Spirit’s nudges, and go wherever the Spirit leads—trusting it’s always the best place to be. fmhouston.com

The message begins with a personal family story about baseball and habits passed down through generations, illustrating how traits and influences leave lasting marks. In the same way, God’s “fingerprints” can be seen in our lives through the character of Christ passed on to His followers. The focus is on the apostle Thomas. While he’s often remembered only as “Doubting Thomas,” the sermon reframes him as Courageous Thomas. In John 11, when Jesus decides to return to dangerous Jerusalem to help Lazarus, Thomas boldly declares, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” This shows loyalty, courage, and willingness to risk everything to be with Jesus. The sermon emphasizes that Thomas’s courage came from Jesus himself, who modeled ultimate courage in confronting religious leaders, protecting the vulnerable, resisting temptation, and going to the cross. After the resurrection, Thomas carried this courage across nations, bringing Christianity as far as India, where he was eventually martyred. The takeaway is that no personal weakness, excuse, or past failure can stop God from working through us. With the Holy Spirit, the same courage that lived in Jesus—and in Thomas—lives in us. The invitation is to surrender excuses, claim God’s courage, and follow Jesus wherever He leads. fmhouston.com

The message reflects on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:43–48 about loving enemies. It begins by noting how quickly life and technology change, sometimes making the Bible feel hard to relate to. But enemy-making remains a timeless issue—whether personal, political, or cultural. In today’s world, media and technology often fuel outrage and division, tempting us to create enemies out of people we disagree with. While not everyone feels they have “enemies,” negative judgments and divisions can easily become modern forms of enmity. The sermon gives five practical steps for Christians: Consume news wisely – Seek reliable, less-biased sources. Limit media influence – Have intentional boundaries to reduce negative impacts. Pray for enemies – Move from asking God to change them toward praying genuine blessings for them. Reach out – Go out of your way to greet and engage rather than avoid. Show love – Strive toward perfect, Christlike love, as God loves us. Examples from Scripture (David sparing Saul, Esau forgiving Jacob, Jonah preaching to Nineveh) and real-life stories (children responding to a bully with kindness) illustrate that love can soften hearts. The challenge is to pray for and reach out to those we might view as enemies, then act in love. In a culture where hostility is common, loving our enemies becomes a powerful witness to Christ.

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The message reflects on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:24–34 about not worrying. Using vacation planning as an analogy, the speaker explains that focusing too much on details breeds anxiety, but keeping sight of bigger goals brings peace. Jesus’ call not to worry can feel unrealistic, but Scripture reassures us that worry is normal and that God continually encourages us not to fear. The sermon explores Leslie Weatherhead’s framework of God’s will: Intentional will – God’s ideal plan for us. Permissive will – what God allows because of human free will. Ultimate will – God’s final redemptive victory. Worry often comes from clinging to control and relying on wealth or self-made security. Releasing that control—opening our hands to God—frees us to trust in His care. Personal stories illustrate how misplaced worry can consume us unnecessarily, while trust in God’s ultimate will brings peace, even in suffering. The message concludes with Jesus’ reminder that if God provides for birds and flowers, He will provide for us too. Ultimately, God is good, trustworthy, and making all things new. fmhouston.com

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Psalm 8 fmhouston.com

John 15:1-8 fmhouston.com

Genesis 2:4b-9 and Revelation 22:1-5. A "mom stop" on a family road trip lead to a life changing view of heaven on earth for pastor Lindsay. fmhouston.com

Galations 5:1, 13-25 fmhouston.com

1 Kings:1-15a Letting God care for us. Not trying to make all our decisions ourselves, but truly listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us. fmhouston.com

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Romans 5:1-5 Brant Wallace speaks on how the Holy Spirit moves and empowers with the True Father fmhouston.com

Acts 2 -1-21 fmhouston.com

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 inviting the church to remain open, ready, and faithful as the story continues with hope and anticipation of Christ’s return. fmhouston.com

Revelation 21:10, 22–22:5 And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. God’s church is called to be a beacon of healing, justice, and light. FMH is called to join in this work far and near. fmhouston.com

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