Houston's First Baptist Church
Houston's First Baptist Church is a relevant biblical community focused on gathering hearts, growing souls, and giving lives to fulfill the Great Commission. This podcast features weekly messages from Pastor Gregg Matte and other speakers. Listeners can learn more about the church and its ministries at HoustonsFirst.org.
Episodes
What Got You Here Will Not Get You There: Seeing Differently
Life has seasons where the next step feels unclear, even when you know God is at work. Numbers 13 speaks directly to that experience through the story of twelve spies sent to scout the land of Canaan. Before they left, Moses gave them a simple but powerful charge: be courageous. The first essential drawn from this story is to explore the land, meaning to become an expert on the opportunit
Trusting God: Quit Complaining
Life rarely goes the way we plan, and the wilderness seasons can feel confusing, uncomfortable, and even unfair. Numbers 11 pulls back the curtain on what happens in our hearts when the journey gets hard. The Israelites had been freed from slavery in Egypt and were being led clearly by God, with a cloud by day and fire by night. Yet they complained openly, weeping over the food they misse
Trusting God: God's Clock and Cloud
God led the Israelites through the wilderness using a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When the cloud moved, they moved. When it stopped, they stopped. This was not a system built around human schedules or preferences. It was a daily, visible reminder that God provides direction, not a timetable, and that His people are called to trust Him with both. The cloud rose up
Trusting God: To Heal
When sickness enters our lives, the instinct is to ask why. But Scripture redirects that question toward something more important: where do we turn? The Bible offers several reasons why sickness exists in the world, including the brokenness of a fallen creation, the consequences of unwise choices, divine correction, spiritual attack, and God's higher purposes that we may not fully underst
Trusting God: Seasons of Life
Life moves through seasons, and God has a distinct purpose for each one. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that there is a time for every activity under heaven, and Numbers 8 gives us a surprisingly practical picture of this through the lives of the Levites. Their service followed a clear arc: a time to prepare, a time to work, and a time to coach. These three seasons map directly onto the rhyt
Live Worthy - Brandon Ayers
What does it actually look like to live a life worthy of the Gospel? Paul answers that question with striking clarity in Philippians 1 and 2. It starts with one thing: living as citizens of heaven in a way that reflects the good news as genuinely true. His roadmap begins not with more prayer or more Bible reading, but with a call to unity. Standing firm together, thinking the same way, an
Moving with God Together: Four Attributes of an Impactful Person
What does it truly mean to make an impact? A women's basketball coach at Texas A&M offered a simple but powerful distinction: success is what happens to you, while impact is what happens because of you. Numbers 8, set against the backdrop of the Israelites preparing to journey through the wilderness, gives us four clear attributes of a person who makes a lasting difference. God was li
Moving with God Together: Blessed
The Priestly Blessing from Numbers 6 is one of the oldest and most significant passages in all of Scripture. Archaeologists discovered it inscribed on silver scrolls dating back to 600 BC, predating the Dead Sea Scrolls by 400 years. God gave this blessing directly to Moses, instructing the priestly line to speak it over the Israelites before they set out into the wilderness. It outlines
Moving with God Together: Plan to Succeed
The Book of Numbers follows the Israelites on their journey from Egyptian captivity toward Canaan, the land God had promised them. They knew where they started and where they were headed, but everything in between was uncertain. That tension is deeply familiar. God rarely hands us a detailed roadmap. Instead, He gives us Himself and asks us to trust Him through the middle. The central les
Holy: Jesus is Our Path - Leviticus
There is a profound difference between believing in God and truly belonging to Him. One is a starting point. The other is a way of life. Leviticus 26 lays out an extraordinary promise: if God's people walk with Him and honor His commands, the blessings will be overwhelming. Food, security, peace, and fruitfulness are all on the table. But after thirteen verses of blessing after blessing,
Holy: Jesus is Our Holiness- Leviticus
God calls His people to be set apart, not because they have earned it, but because He has already loved them. Leviticus 20 lays out this call with clarity, commanding God's people to follow His statutes and avoid the ways of the surrounding nations. The reason is not about performance or self-righteousness. It is about responding to a God who has already acted on our behalf. We do not obe
Holy: Jesus is Our Atonement - Leviticus
The Day of Atonement, known in Hebrew as Yom Kippur, is one of the most profound pictures in all of Scripture of what Jesus Christ would accomplish on the cross. Positioned at the center of Leviticus, which itself sits at the center of the Torah, this ancient ceremony was never merely a Jewish ritual. It was a carefully designed preview of the gospel. Once a year, the high priest of Israe
Holy: Jesus is our High Priest - Leviticus
Leviticus is one of the most overlooked books in the Bible, yet it carries a profound answer to one of the most important questions anyone can ask: how does an unholy person connect with a holy God? Built around the concept of holiness, the book moves through sacrifices, priestly ordination, and purity laws, all building toward one goal: bringing God's people from outside the tent of meet
Holy: Rhythms of Connection - Leviticus
Leviticus is one of the most overlooked books in the Bible, yet it is filled with some of the most powerful pictures of Jesus Christ found anywhere in Scripture. At its core, the book answers one essential question: how do sinful people draw near to a holy God? Every offering, every feast, and every ritual points forward to Jesus as the unblemished sacrifice who fulfilled the law complete
Biblical Moments in American History | Robert Morgan
Robert Morgan, Associate Pastor of World Outreach Church, shares that America's founding was deeply shaped by Scripture, reminding us that God still calls us to build our lives on the unchanging foundation of His Word. Long before the Declaration of Independence, pastors were preaching from Scripture and shaping the ideas that would become the foundation of a new nation. Seven key Bible v
Joy Amid Hard Times | Daniel Ritchie
Born without arms, Daniel Ritchie, Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention, shares that life can be really hard, and circumstances will often disappoint. But Romans 15:13 points us to a God who is not just a giver of hope but the very source of it. Christian hope is not fragile or dependent on outcomes. It is grounded in the unshakeable reality that Jesus reigns and His story en
Spiritual Growth - Father's Day | Chad Chambers
Chad Chambers, Executive Director of C.H.A.R.M. Prison Ministry, shows us that growing in godliness is not passive. It requires the same intentional effort and discipline we give to every other area of life. Based on 1 Timothy 4:6-16, the foundation of spiritual growth begins with where we place our hope. When our hope is set on the living God, our worship follows naturally, and our worsh
The Prodigal Son - Father's Day | O.S. Hawkins
O.S. Hawkins, Chancellor of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, explains that the parable of the prodigal son is not primarily about a rebellious child. It is about the Father, and through Him, a portrait of who God is and how He relates to us. The Father's love is tough enough to release, tender enough to receive, and wide enough to pursue even those standing outside in bitterness
Suffering is a Seed | John Wethington
John Wethington, Senior Pastor of New Day Church in Houston, shares from Genesis 50 and the story of Joseph, exploring how God works through life's most painful seasons. Reflecting on his own experience of losing his wife after a three-year battle with brain cancer in her early thirties, John offers a deeply personal message about faith, grief, and hope. Through Joseph's words, "You meant
Rescue from Above | Dr. Bill Blocker
Dr. Bill Blocker, President of the College of Biblical Studies in Houston, Texas, shares the story of 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days and how it illustrates our need for rescue from above. Just as those miners couldn't save themselves and needed help from the surface, we need divine intervention in our lives. In John 20, Jesus gave His disciples three powerful keys to fr
Flip the Script (Job 42)
What do you do when life suddenly falls apart?In the final message of our study through the Book of Job, we explore one of Scripture’s most powerful stories of suffering, perseverance, and restoration. Job’s journey takes him from unimaginable loss to a deeper intimacy with God, revealing timeless truths about faith in the midst of hardship.Using the imagery of a 9:01, 9:02, and 9:03 mome
People of Prayer - Memorial Day 2026
Prayer is essential for spiritual strength, yet many struggle with consistency. Through the examples of Paul and Silas praying with joy in prison, Anna's sacrificial devotion to prayer and fasting, and Epaphras wrestling in prayer for others, we learn three powerful approaches to prayer. Paul shows us how to maintain hope through prayer even in impossible circumstances. Anna demonstrates
God's Perspective is BIGGER! (Job 38-40)
The Book of Job reveals the secret to moving from asking why to trusting who. Sometimes the question isn't whether God can answer our questions, but whether we can handle His answers. Through Job’s perseverance, we’re reminded to trust God’s character and wisdom even when life doesn’t make sense.
More Than Fixing: How Great Friends Connect (Job 2:10–3:1)
The book of Job reveals powerful principles for offering godly counsel to those in pain. Job's friends initially demonstrated wisdom by traveling to be with him and sitting in silence for seven days, practicing the Ministry of Presence. However, they failed when they began offering simplistic explanations for his suffering. Effective counseling requires four key principles: being a person
Faith When Life Crashes (Job 1-2)
Life often blindsides us with unexpected suffering, but the story of Job offers profound wisdom for navigating devastating seasons. Job was a righteous man who lost everything in a single day - his wealth, servants, and all ten children - yet chose to worship God rather than curse Him. His response teaches us that righteousness doesn't exempt us from pain, but it provides strength to endu
A Special Message from Dr. John Piper
The story of Lazarus in John 11:1-6 reveals a shocking truth about God's love. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, He deliberately stayed away for two days, allowing His beloved friend to die. This wasn't cruelty but love—a love that prioritizes what we need most over what we want most. True love gives us what will ultimately satisfy: seeing and treasuring God's glory above health, sa
Matthew Overview: Upside Down but Right Side Up
The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and King to a Jewish audience after 400 years of silence between the testaments. Beginning with a revolutionary genealogy that includes five women with scandalous backgrounds, Matthew shows that Jesus came to create a new family for the broken. The book is structured around five major teaching sections that echo the Pentateu
Plan of Plans: The Great Commission
The Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 reveals God's specific mission for every believer's life, yet only 17% of Christians know what it is. Jesus gave His disciples four key elements: His complete authority over all things, the call to reach all nations and people groups, the responsibility to teach all truth including baptism and Scripture, and the promise that He is always with us th
Easter 2026: Empty + Empty = FULL
Easter reveals a profound truth about God's mathematics: Empty Cross + Empty Tomb = Full Life. While we often try to fill our hearts with temporary things like money, approval, or success, these are like broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Jesus emptied Himself on the cross, taking our punishment for sin, and rose from the dead to offer us abundant life. The women who discovered the e
Broken For You 2026
George Wright, Senior Pastor of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, shares that Habakkuk models authentic faith in times of crisis, bringing honest doubts to God, trusting His sovereignty, and embracing the truth that the just shall live by faith.
Palm Sunday: Saddle Up and Celebrate
Palm Sunday reveals Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy and the beginning of the most important week in human history. Just as the disciples prepared a donkey to carry Jesus, we must prepare ourselves to carry Christ forward in our daily lives. This requires four key elements: trusting God before we have complete clarity, maintaining proper perspec
The Garden of Gethsemane: The Soil, the Weeds, and the Blessing
The Garden of Gethsemane holds deep significance as the place where Jesus prayed before His crucifixion, offering timeless lessons about surrender, prayer, and finding strength in difficult moments. The name Gethsemane means olive press, symbolizing how crushing pressure can produce something valuable. Just as nearly 2,000 olives must be crushed to create one liter of healing oil, Jesus e
The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper serves three essential purposes that make it far more than a simple ritual. First, it calls believers to remember Christ's death, keeping the cross central in their minds and hearts. Second, it prompts self-examination, inviting believers to confess sin and recommit to faithful living. Third, it points toward Christ's promised return, bridging the gap between His first c
The Transfiguration
Minister to Singles and Metro Venue Pastor, Brandon Ayers, shares how the transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17 provides a profound moment of clarity about His true identity. When Jesus revealed His divine glory on the mountain, His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light, showing the disciples who He truly was - not becoming something different, but unveiling what
Kingdom Come: Take Up Your Cross
Following Jesus requires three essential components: denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Him. Denying yourself means yielding to God's control and saying no to your own desires. Taking up your cross involves willingly enduring shame and suffering for Christ's sake, publicly displaying your allegiance to Him. Following Jesus means living as He lived with humility, compass
Kingdom Come: Who Do You Say I Am?
Jesus asked His disciples the most crucial question anyone will ever face: Who do you say that I am? At Caesarea Philippi, surrounded by temples to false gods, Peter gave the perfect answer: You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. This wasn't just human wisdom but divine revelation. Your answer to this question determines your eternal destiny and transforms how you live. Many peop
Kingdom Come: New Lens on Life
The rich young ruler had everything our culture values - wealth, youth, and power - yet he walked away from Jesus sad and empty. When Jesus asked him to sell his possessions and follow Him, the man couldn't do it because his possessions had captured his heart. This story reveals that salvation isn't about keeping commandments or being good enough; it's about recognizing we cannot save our
Kingdom Come: Walking Faith
Peter's water-walking experience in Matthew 14 reveals three essential steps of discipleship. First, new steps and first steps are always the hardest, whether it's following Jesus initially or taking steps of obedience like generous giving. Second, we must stay focused on Christ rather than life's storms and distractions. When Peter looked at the wind and waves instead of Jesus, he began
Kingdom Come: God's Math
The feeding of the 5,000 reveals how God's mathematics work differently than ours. When Jesus received news of John the Baptist's death, He moved from grief to compassion, seeing the crowd's needs despite His own pain. The disciples only had five barley loaves and two fish from a boy's lunch, but Jesus multiplied this humble offering to feed thousands with twelve baskets left over. This m
The Last Days: Part 3 - Living a Life That Counts
Executive Pastor, Dr. Stephen Trammell, shares that the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 reveals how believers can live meaningfully while anticipating Christ's return. God entrusts each person with resources according to their abilities, expecting faithful stewardship rather than fearful inaction. Two servants doubled their investments through wise action, while one buried his
The Last Days: Part 2 – Waiting Faithfully
Jesus gave us 15 signs in Matthew 24 to indicate His return is approaching, but no one knows the exact timing except the Father. These signs, like birth pains, will increase in frequency and intensity. The key isn't knowing when He's coming, but being ready when He does. Jesus contrasts two types of servants: the faithful one who puts God first and serves others while waiting, and the car
The Last Days: Part 1 - Knowing the Signs
Biblical prophecy reveals specific signs that indicate Christ's return is approaching, including widespread deception, wars, natural disasters, persecution of Christians, and the cooling of love among believers. Jesus described these signs as labor pains that intensify over time, culminating in a seven-year period called the Great Tribulation. The Antichrist will rise as a false peacemake
Doxology
Downtown Campus Pastor, Leon Brooks III, explores Jude 24-25, which reveals that Jesus has the power to keep believers from stumbling in their faith and present them blameless before God. While some people fall away from Christianity, those who remain faithful can attribute their perseverance to Christ's keeping power. The key to avoiding spiritual stumbling lies in understanding that we
The Story: Part 2 - Wise Men
The story of the wise men in Matthew 2 presents us with a crucial question: Who is truly ruling your life? These historical figures weren't Jewish, yet they traveled hundreds of miles following a star to find the newborn King. Their journey reveals that wise people are seekers who actively pursue God. When they found Jesus, they responded with worship and overwhelming joy, unlike King Her
The Story: Part 1 - The First Family Tree of Christmas
The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 reveals God's incredible plan to use imperfect people for His perfect purposes. Five women are mentioned in Christ's lineage, each with a shocking story: Tamar the deceiver, Rahab the prostitute, Ruth the foreigner, Bathsheba the victim, and Mary the humble servant. Their inclusion demonstrates that God justifies sinners, welcomes outsiders, and redeems
The Kingdom Is Like: Part 3 - God Is on the Move!
In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus tells two parables about a hidden treasure and a precious pearl to reveal a profound truth: while we often see ourselves as seekers of God's treasure, we are actually the treasure that God seeks. God takes the first step in pursuing us, demonstrated ultimately when Jesus gave His life on the cross because we were worth everything to Him. Understanding that God t
The Kingdom Is Like: Part 2 - The Fruitful Heart
Minister to Married Young Adults and The4 Venue Pastor, Brad Talbert, explores the four types of hearts that receive God's word differently revealed in Jesus' parable of the sower. The hard heart has no room for spiritual truth to penetrate. The shallow heart receives God's word with initial joy but falls away when difficulties arise. The crowded heart allows worries and material concerns
The Kingdom Is Like: Part 1 - Small Things Make a Big Difference
The parable of the mustard seed reveals that God's kingdom grows through small, faithful actions rather than grand gestures. Just as the tiny mustard seed becomes a large tree over time, our spiritual lives are built through daily moments of obedience and trust. This principle applies to marriage, parenting, career, and faith - all are strengthened through consistent small steps. The key
Feedback: Part 3 - Who We Should Be
Our words serve as spiritual health monitors, revealing the true condition of our hearts. Jesus teaches that just as a tree is known by its fruit, our inner spiritual condition is revealed through our outward words and actions. The Pharisees focused on external appearances while neglecting internal transformation, living an outside-in faith rather than inside-out. Genuine character isn't
Feedback: Part 2 - Who He Is
In a world full of opinions and feedback, the most important question remains: Who is Jesus Christ? Moving beyond human approval to divine truth, Jesus demonstrates that success isn't measured by crowd size but by obedience to God's will. The mathematical impossibility of fulfilled prophecies confirms His identity as the chosen Messiah. Jesus came not as a conquering ruler but as a suffer
Feedback: Part 1 - When Jesus Says No, Maybe, and Yes
Cypress Campus Pastor, Jason Swiggart, explores what happens when life brings difficult questions about God's presence and timing, especially during loss and uncertainty. Through Jesus' interactions with John the Baptist, indecisive crowds, and weary souls in Matthew 11, we discover that God's responses serve different purposes. His 'no' often provides protection and redirection rather th
Day of Baptism 2025: The Baptism of Jesus
Baptism represents a powerful symbol of an inward change through outward expression, demonstrating a complete U-turn from self-dependence to God-dependence. It involves both confession of our inability to earn salvation and profession of our faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus was baptized not because He needed salvation, but to set an example, illustrate the gospel message, and begin His public
New Kingdom New Lives: Part 2 - The Sent Ones
Jesus sends believers into a hostile world like sheep among wolves, but He provides a strategy for navigating opposition. Christians must learn to hear God's voice through Scripture, prayer, and godly counsel to understand their divine calling. The key is balancing shrewdness and innocence—being wise and strategic while maintaining purity and integrity. Shrewdness without innocence become
New Kingdom New Lives: Part 1 - Miracles
Jesus performed nine miracles in Matthew 8 and 9, demonstrating His divine authority over people, spiritual powers, and nature. These miracles weren't random acts but purposeful displays of His identity as the Messiah. When Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, she immediately began serving Him, showing that God's healing should lead to faithful service. While physical healing is wonderful,
Reading the Owner's Manual: Part 4 - True Foundations
Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with a powerful illustration about two foundations - rock and sand - representing how we build our lives. A firm foundation requires both salvation through relationship with Christ and wisdom through applying God's Word. When storms inevitably come, those built on rock stand firm while those on sand collapse. True faith isn't about religious activit
Reading the Owner's Manual: Part 3 - Giving: Seen or Secret
Jesus teaches that our giving should be motivated by love for God, not recognition from others. When we give in secret, we develop intimacy with God and store up treasures in heaven. Our relationship with money directly impacts our spiritual condition - where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Christians should give regularly, happily, and for God's glory, recognizing that bef
Reading the Owner's Manual: Part 2 - How to Grow Faith and Shrink Fear
Pastor Gregg taught that in a world marked by evil, Christians are called to respond with wisdom, prayer, and unwavering trust in God's victory.
Reading the Owner's Manual: Part 1 - Praying and Fasting God’s Way
Dr. Stephen Trammell shared that Jesus calls us to pray and fast with sincerity, seeking intimacy with God rather than attention from others.
Living Upside Down: Part 3 - Heart First, Actions Second
Pastor Gregg shared that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that true righteousness flows from a transformed heart, not just outward actions.
Living Upside Down: Part 2 - Living With Purpose
Pastor Gregg shared that Jesus calls believers to be salt and light, influencing the world by preserving truth, doing good, and living with purpose.
Living Upside Down: Part 1
Pastor Gregg taught that the Beatitudes reveal a radical, upside-down path to true joy and flourishing in God’s kingdom through dependence on Him and Christlike character.
Worthy of Following
Pastor Gregg shared that Jesus is worth following because he was sinless, fulfilled ancient prophecies, gave purpose to ordinary people, and transformed lives wherever He went.
What He Has Done: Mark Lanier
Mark Lanier, Founder of the Lanier Theological Library, explained that Jesus can turn our desire for justice into mercy, as seen in Zechariah’s cry for vengeance and Stephen’s prayer for forgiveness.
What He Has Done: Kevin Ezell
Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board, urged us to maximize our mission by living with urgency, while trusting God to use our willingness.
What He Has Done: Mikado Hinson
Mikado Hinson, Chaplain for the Houston Texans, taught that true discipleship means abiding in Christ, carrying our cross daily, and living so faithfully that others say, “Surely you’re one of them.”
Embrace the Help: Heiden Ratner
Heiden Ratner, Senior Pastor of WALK Church in Las Vegas, reminded us that the Christian life is about relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance, conviction, and strength.
What He Has Done: He Gives Us the Victory
What He Has Done: Fred Luter Jr.
Dr. Fred Luter, Jr., Senior Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, shared how we can trust Jesus’ promises, presence, and power when facing life’s storms.
What He Has Done: Brian McCormack
Brian McCormack, Executive Director of Breakaway Ministries at Texas A&M University, reminded us that God forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies—a call to remember His faithfulness in every season.
Loving like Jesus
That's a Wrap! The Minor Prophets, James, and Ruth
Pastor Gregg shared that the journey through the minor prophets, James, and Ruth reveals a progression of repentance, action, and trust, calling us to turn to God, live out our faith, and trust His greater plan.
Ruth: The Redemption Story w/ Malcolm Marshall
Ruth: The Redemption Story
Pastor Gregg shared that the Book of Ruth ends with a powerful picture of redemption—showing how God brings purpose from pain through sacrifice, faithfulness, truth, and obedience.
Father's Day 2025
Pastor Gregg shared that Boaz models godly character in the Book of Ruth through purity, honesty, generous provision, and perseverance.
Ruth: 6 Principles From the Life of Ruth
Pastor Gregg shared that the story of Ruth teaches us how to position ourselves for God’s blessings—through initiative, humility, faithfulness, and trust in His timing. This prepares us to steward the gifts He provides.
Ruth: Faithful
Pastor Gregg shared that even when pain clouds our perspective, God is still at work—often through unexpected people and perfect timing. God's faithfulness meets us in our darkest moments with hope and restoration.
Memorial Day 2025
Dr. Phil Kramer, retired Army Chaplain, shared that freedom-national and spiritual-comes at a great cost. As soldiers gave their lives for our liberty, Jesus gave His life to free us from sin, so we are to live not for ourselves, but in honor of their sacrifice and His
Too Confident?
Pastor Gregg shared that prayer should be our first response, not our last resort - inviting God into our joy, pain, and need.
Mother's Day w/ Malcolm Marshall
Mother's Day
Pastor Gregg reminded us that God calls us to live with patient faith, gentle understanding, steady endurance, and honest love - allowing us to be even more of a blessing to those in our lives
Recommended
Deadline: White House
Crickets Corner
History of the Earthquake and Fire in San Francisco
Fox news
K-Drama Obsessed Mamas | Beyond “Just One More Episode!”
True Crime Classics
The Healer Revolution
Becoming: HER with Nikki Spoelstra
Booked, Blonde & Busy w/ Olivia Ponton
McKinsey on Consumer and Retail
megahired.com
Hard Knocks Podcast
