Andy Talks

We see Jesus share with us today two things that made me ponder. First, He has sheep in other flocks. What did this mean to the people who heard Him? What does this mean to us today? And we also see this beautiful reminder.  No one took His life; He laid it down willingly. Why? Because He loves His sheep. He loves us. Life comes from laying down your life as a Christian, as a spouse, as a parent, as a child, and as a friend. When we lay our lives down, we find life. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=594794308You can watch this in video form here - https://re

Today’s reading includes one of my favorite passages, John 10:10, which tells us that we have abundant life in Jesus. I’ll actually be preaching on this passage this coming Sunday at St. Matthew’s. But I wanted to take a little time and talk about the sheep. They learn the voice of the shepherd, and they follow. Not only do they follow the voice of the shepherd, they learn to run from any voice that is not the shepherd. Today, we must learn to hear the voice of our good shepherd. We must learn to follow Him wherever it is that He calls us. Listen for His voice today and follow wherever he calls. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to s

The man born blind really catches it today. He is questioned twice by the religious leaders about how it is that he can see. His parents are questioned. Everyone is out to get him, it seems. He stands by what he knows to be true. He once was blind, but now he can see. Jesus healed him. After he is driven from the synagogue, Jesus finds him. Jesus loves this man. He cares for him. Jesus sees him, and Jesus loves him. Jesus sees us today for who we are, all our inadequacies and weaknesses, and Jesus still loves us. Jesus sees you today. And He loves you. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here -

In our INTERSECTION message from September 29, Andy shares with us from Amos 5: 21-24. There are some things that only the church can do. We are called, as the church, to live our God's love.

We see a man born blind who is healed by Jesus. The disciples ask Jesus an interesting question. Who sinned to cause that man to be born blind? Was it him, or was it his parents? Jesus answers their question this way - neither. Neither sinned, but his blindness will show the greatness of God. God was not out to get this man; God loved him. The same is true today for us. God is not out to get you today. He’s not mad at you. He loves you. He is for you. He wants you to repent and turn, yes. But God loves you. He’s on your side. He’s not mad at you. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https:

There are so many interesting things in our text today, from the insults that the religious leader hurls at Jesus to maybe the most Messianic thing Jesus ever said. But as I was reading, I was taken aback by the truth that Jesus shares with us. The devil is a liar. Every word from his mouth is a lie. That means this great truth - temptation is a lie. Always, always, always. When we understand what temptation is (a lie), we are better and more able to stand against it. Temptation promises us life, but it results in death. Temptation is a lie. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bib

Jesus tells the ones following Him that if He sets them free, then they are no longer slaves to sin, but they are free. They push back, saying that they are the children of Abraham and have never been slaves (ironically missing part of Jewish history). Jesus tells us that we will all be slaves to something, to sin or to righteousness. When He has set us free, we give over our control, and in that giving away of control, we are truly set free! If the Son has set us free, we are free indeed! Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=594215097You can watch this in vide

Another day, more conflict with the religious leaders.  Today, they get exasperated with Jesus because they are not approaching Him with faith. They ask him, “Who are you?” Jesus tells them that when they lift Him up, they will know who he is. This is talking about the cross, yes, but it’s more than that. When we lift up Jesus through testimony and point out what Jesus is doing, people are drawn to Him. Today, do we lift Him up? Do we point others to Him? Do we lift up or tear down?  Let us lift up Jesus! Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=594114046You can wa

We see Jesus continuing to have conflict with the religious leaders. They just could not hear what Jesus was saying. Everything He said seemed to just bounce off of them. They didn’t get it. The reason is because they just did not have faith. As smart as they were, they did not believe. It is the belief that makes it all possible. It is that faith that only comes when we surrender to God; that is where it all starts. Today, no matter where you are, may you and I surrender. When we surrender to God, even when it is hard, that is where life truly begins. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here -

In our Traditional sermon from September 22, 2024, our Children's Sabbath, Andy shares with us from Matthew 25: 31-46.  Jesus tells us to love the least of this. When we live out this compassion, especially in the hardest to love, it changes them, and it changes us. 

Today, we unpack what is happening in this story. There are so many interesting things. What did Jesus write in the dirt? How did they “catch” her? We notice how they walked away, from the youngest to the oldest. But in the end, we focus on Jesus' words: “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”  What can we learn from this passage? Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%207%3A53-8%3A11&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, we look at this well-known and well-loved passage. But before we get into what is happening here, I want to take a moment to talk about the Bible. What are manuscripts? Could there have been errors in translation? How can we know that our English Bibles are accurate? How can we trust them? We’ll take a few minutes today to go a little deeper into this and learn why we know that we can trust the Bible! Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%207%3A53-8%3A11&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Jesus tells all who come to Him that they will receive living waters. This water will flow forth from their hearts through the Holy Spirit. This leads to all manner of discussion about whether He is the Messiah or not. The thing the religious leaders say to prove He isn't is this. He’s from Galilee, not Bethlehem. They knew that! There is only one problem. They were wrong. They did not know the entire story. They rushed to judgment. He was from Bethlehem. They just didn't know. Today, let’s not make the same mistake. Let’s not rush to judgment. Let’s be wise and discerning. Let’s listen, and let’s act wisely.Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage her

We see two groups today thinking through who Jesus is. First, we see the crowd, who may initially be a little skeptical but realize who Jesus is. They see His works and believe. Second, we see the religious leaders. They see the same works as Jesus, but they do not believe. With faith, sometimes we must take that leap and obey, even if we don’t feel it or are unsure. Sometimes, we have to jump to places we may not know. That’s faith. Today, even if we do not “feel,” let us obey. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=593524040You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

We had some real computer issues in worship today. Andy shares with us from Psalm 150 about why worship matters to us as Christians!

Jesus continues his ongoing conflict with the religious leaders. They are mad at Him, as always. Jesus tells them that they are always missing the point of the law and that there is an easy test to see if a teacher is of God. Whose glory do they seek? Their own? Or God’s glory? That’s an excellent test for us and leads to a great way for us to judge our actions. Do the actions we take help us love God and our neighbors more? Or do they not? That’s always a great way to test our thoughts and actions. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=593433213You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Jesus' life was hard. Yesterday, we saw the disciples believe, even though it was. Today, we see that His own brothers do not believe. Can you imagine how hard it would be to have your own family not believing or supporting you? Yet, Jesus kept faithful to His mission. He would not be moved from that mission, even when people who He loved did not believe. He kept focused on that mission. Don’t give up even when it’s hard. God has something for you. It may be hard. It may be a challenge. Keep going. Don’t give up. Jesus stayed on mission. We must as well. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=593089506You can watch this

Jesus's teachings throughout John 6 are very challenging. He talks about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. He is laying out some very hard words for everyone to hear. Because of this, many disciples walk away. We spent some time unpacking who these people were today. Then we look at Peter’s answer to Jesus: where else could we go?  Only Jesus has life, y’all. Only Jesus. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=593088217You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Jesus tells us today that unless we eat His flesh and drink His blood, we have no part of Him. This is a hard word for His original hearers. We hear, and we know He is talking about communion. They did not. Faith sometimes is about hearing something we don’t understand and still believing, even though it is hard. We then talk about the importance of communion. Of all the things Jesus said we should do, He didn’t mention preaching, singing, or anything else, even important things. He talked of communion. Let us never take this great gift of the faith for granted. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=592996801You can watch t

Jesus tells the crowd today that they are not following Him because of the power of God they have seen; they are following Him for what they can get. He fed them, and they got their bellies filled. Why do we follow Jesus? Are we following because of what we can get out of Him, or are we following because we can see the power of God? Jesus tells us that He is the bread of heaven. Only He can satisfy. We spend far too much time, energy, and effort on things that cannot satisfy us.  Let’s follow Jesus today. With all we are, for He is life. Shameless plug, here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. You can read today’s passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=592917032You can watch this in video form here -