What Happened at First

About What Happened at First

This is a story of the way that ministry is changing in a new and harsher world painfully different than the one known by our parents and grandparents. It's a story for pastors who face the daunting task of leading their church through necessary but excruciating seasons of transition so that they can move from surviving to thriving. This story is for people who are part of those churches and experiencing the profound loss, painful heartbreak, and intense frustration that always comes with change. This is the story of the revitalization of First Baptist Church—the rise, ruin, and restoration of one of America's great churches.

Publisher

Heath Lambert

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Jul 2023

Latest episode

13 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

4 of 30 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   13 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT

   What Makes a Sermon "Good"? - On Leading Teams - EPISODE 5

   In this episode of What Happened at First Baptist, Pastor Heath Lambert and Pastor Spencer Harmon unpack what makes an excellent sermon. Drawing on his article and experience, Pastor Heath outlines five key marks of effective preaching. He pushes back against the notion that “faithful” preaching alone is enough, arguing that communication and connection are also acts of faithfulness. This episode dives deep into sermon prep, structure, and delivery. Thanks for joining us for Season 2 of What Happened at First!

2. 

   6 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Navigating Classic Landmines of Ministry Teams - On Leading Teams - EPISODE 4

   In this episode, Spencer Harmon and Heath Lambert discuss the “landmines” ministry leaders face: personal weaknesses, confusing preferences with principles, and the proper use of authority. They explore how pastors can recognize vocational and spiritual weaknesses, discern between incompetence and lack of gifting, and embrace humility. They also emphasize the danger of elevating personal preferences above biblical principles in church life and the importance of stewarding authority with faith in God’s sovereignty. The conversation encourages self-awareness, reliance on Christ, and humility as the foundation for fruitful ministry.

3. 

   29 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT

   The Silent Killer of Ministry Teams - On Leading Teams - EPISODE 3

   In this episode of the What Happened at First Baptist podcast, our pastors dive into one of the hardest realities of ministry—broken relationships, bitterness, and gossip. They discuss the surprising presence of enemies in ministry, how leaders can guard their hearts against bitterness, and the role of prayer, forgiveness, and the hope of reconciliation in Christ. They also give practical wisdom on cultivating a culture of reconciliation in the church, addressing gossip in healthy ways, and setting a standard of love and accountability for ministry teams.

Inside a recent episode

What Makes a Sermon "Good"? - On Leading Teams - EPISODE 5

Published 13 Oct 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] There's Isaiah. He was faithful You get to Isaiah 55 and this is the word never goes out and returns void. So even even though Nobody's listening this word is doing its work sometimes it does its work of hardening But it's doing the work because the word is is cannot be anything other than effective So you've got that then you got The Apostle Peter Pentecost he preaches the sermon of three thousand people Respond to the gospel. I mean that is like That's the that's the kind of response that we cannot even imagine if if on Sunday at first Baptist Church If three thousand people fell on their knees and rent their garments and repented and sack cloth and Ashley We'd be overwhelmed. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.4 / 5

108 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

30 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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