Andy Talks

Today we looked at Luke 4:38–44, where Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law, and I was struck by her immediate response—she gets up and starts serving. That’s such a beautiful image of what grace should lead to: not just comfort or rest, but loving service. Then we see Jesus stepping away to a quiet place to pray, reminding us how important it is to unplug from all the noise and just be with God. We’re so constantly connected and distracted that we sometimes miss what God is trying to say. So today’s two simple takeaways are this: when Jesus changes your life, serve others—and when life gets loud, follow Jesus’ example and get quiet with the Father.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.You can read today’s passage here - https

This morning we read Luke 4:31–37, where Jesus, fresh off a brutal rejection in Nazareth, walks right into another synagogue in Capernaum and keeps preaching. That really struck me—he didn’t let one bad experience shake his calling. And that’s a great reminder for us too. Sometimes we try something for God and it flops. We teach, serve, speak up—and it doesn’t go the way we hoped. But failure doesn’t mean we’re not called. I shared a story about my first sermon (it was rough!) and how, over time, I grew because I didn’t give up. If God has placed something on your heart—whether it’s music, teaching, behind-the-scenes service, or anything else that brings you joy and purpose—keep going, even when it’s hard. You won’t get it perfect, but if you’re walking in your calling, God will meet you there.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 1

In our Traditional sermon from July 13, Andy shares with us the story of Priscilla and Aquila.  We see in their lives the power of welcome and hospitality.  Their love changed Apollo's life and, through that, so many others!

This morning we look at Jesus’ first sermon in Luke 4, and wow—it did not go over well. At first, the hometown crowd was impressed, but when Jesus challenged their assumptions and reminded them that God’s grace extends to outsiders too, things turned ugly fast. It’s a powerful reminder that Jesus’ ministry, from the start, was Spirit-filled, bold, and deeply focused on the least and the lost. And it raises some tough questions for us: Are we making space for the Spirit in our lives like Jesus did? Are we open to hearing truth—even from people we think we know too well? And do we really depend on Jesus, or just fit Him in when it’s convenient? The good news is this: when Jesus is all we have, we find He’s all we need. As we head into the weekend, let’s make time to rest, reflect, and remember where every blessing comes from.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 dai

This morning, we look at the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1–13, where Jesus faces three key temptations—comfort, power, and safety—right after His baptism and just before starting His public ministry. Each temptation challenges His mission and identity, but Jesus resists by leaning on Scripture, staying rooted in truth, and trusting the Father. The big takeaway is this: even Jesus was tempted, so we shouldn’t be surprised when we are too. But temptation isn’t sin—how we respond to it matters. Like Jesus, we can resist by staying grounded in God’s Word, prayer, and community. The good news? We’re not alone. Jesus has been there, and He gives us strength to stand firm.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.You can read today’

Today we looked at the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:23–38, and while it might seem like one of those parts of Scripture to skip, it actually tells us something really powerful. I talked about the differences between Luke’s and Matthew’s genealogies—how Matthew traces Jesus’ line back to Abraham to show He’s the fulfillment of Jewish promises, while Luke goes all the way back to Adam to show that Jesus came for everyone, not just the Jewish people. That’s one of the beautiful things about the Gospel—Jesus is both the fulfillment of Israel’s hope and the Savior of the whole world. So, whether you connect more with the deep roots of tradition or the wide reach of grace, the takeaway is the same: Jesus came for you, for me, for all. And if He came for all of us, maybe we ought to live, love, and treat each other like that really matters.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 f

Today we look at the baptism of Jesus from Luke 3:21–22 and why baptism is such a big deal for us as Christians. No matter our denomination—Methodist, Baptist, Catholic—we may see it differently, but we all agree it's important. In my tradition as a United Methodist, baptism is a sign of God’s covenant with us, and I especially love how we include infants as part of that covenant family. I talked about how baptism is like putting on your uniform—it marks us as part of God’s team and reminds us who we are. In a world where we search for identity in so many places, our true identity is found in Christ. So today, I encouraged us all: remember your baptism, remember who you belong to, and remember where your true home is. 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

We see John the Baptist’s public ministry today, and he comes out with a strong stance - Who warned you to repent!  Not the way that I typically start off my sermons.  But John’s purpose was this: calling people to repentance.  We need to take a moment, though, and talk about what conviction and repentance are.  Conviction is when we feel bad about our sins. Repentance is when we do something about it, when we turn from it. We do not need to stop with conviction. We need to move to repentance. But then we need to move from repentance to justification, and then from there we need to move to sanctification. It is all part of Christian growth, undergirded by the power of the Holy Spirit! 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.Y

Today we see Jesus as a 12-year-old boy staying behind in the temple, astonishing the teachers with his wisdom while Mary and Joseph anxiously search for him. This passage highlights the importance of steady, faithful religious practices in shaping spiritual character, as seen in Mary and Joseph’s consistent observance of Jewish customs. It reminds us that formation in faith doesn't come from dramatic moments alone, but from regular rhythms of worship, prayer, and community. Jesus, though fully divine, was formed by these habits and obedient to his parents, growing in wisdom and favor. This story invites us to reflect on the practices that are forming us—and how we’re passing them on.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 Wo

We see two people today, Simeon and Anna, who are overcome when they see Jesus as a baby. These are people who have been waiting, most of their adult lives, to see Him. They knew the Lord was sending a Messiah, and they longed to see Him. They longed to experience Him. They longed to know Him.  How about us? Today, in our regular lives, do we long to see Jesus?  Do we long to know Jesus?  Do we long for Jesus?  They did, and they were overwhelmed when they finally saw Him. Today, are we the same?  Are we longing for 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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A%2022-40&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our Group

We look at a passage today that I know you’ve heard preached a thousand times. We’ll look at the Christmas story as told to us by Luke. This is the one that we are probably all most familiar with.  There is so much that we can unpack today, from what the shepherds were doing to the reason for the census. In Christmas, God came near. Through Christmas, God became flesh and dwelt among us. He incarnated the world. Today, as the church, that’s our job as well. To bring God near. To incarnate our work, our school, wherever we are. Through the Spirit, we bring God near today! 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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A%201-21&version=NRSVU

We see the birth of John the Baptist today. First, we see that when he is born, people expect him to be named after his father. When Elizabeth says no, he is to be called John, but no one believes. It was only after his father agreed that he was able to speak again. But once Zechariah was able to speak, he began to prophecy and tell people what his son, John, would do. He would point others to Jesus. That was his job. And ours too. 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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201%3A57-80&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vt

Today, we read Mary’s great song of praise to God, the Magnificat. After being faithful, after being encouraged, Mary now sings this song of praise. There is much for which she praises God.  She praises Him for His blessings to her.  She will be called blessed by all generations. She praises Him for His remembering of His promises to Abraham and their ancestors. And finally, she praises Him for turning the world upside down. The hungry are fed, and the lowly are lifted up. We pray weekly for God’s will to be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. We see here the heart of what God wants it to look like. 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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201

Another great story from the first chapter of Luke. Today, we see Mary go to Elizabeth. We have this wonderful image of the unborn John the Baptist leaping in the womb in the presence of the unborn Jesus. The Spirit falls on Elizabeth, and she pronounces blessings. Blessings on Jesus and on Mary, as well as on Mary’s faith. Mary had made the right choice, had done what God required and asked. She was faithful. But that encouragement still had to feel nice. Let’s not admire from a distance. Let’s speak the words of encouragement to each other when we have the chance to speak them. 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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201%3A%2039-45&ver

We have one of my favorite examples of faith today, Mary.  I heard Rich Mullins say once in an interview, “It’s not that Catholics think too much of Mary, it’s that we Protestants don’t think enough of Mary.”  Mary is a perfect example of faith. God comes and upends her world. And what does she say?  Let it be unto me, according to thy word. She trusts in God, even when it is not the path she had planned. She trusted in God more than any of her plans. She had faith.  She is an example. 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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201%3A%2026-38&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:

Today in Luke, we see the foretelling of the birth of John the Baptist. He was the last of his kind.  His parents were of the line of priests, but he was going to be the last of the Old Testament prophets. He was the one who would be the last of the old covenant and who would point to the keeper of the new covenant, Jesus Christ.  As his parents were living their lives, God showed up, invaded their lives, and gave them great blessings. Today, if we allow, we may not have the same blessings as they did, but God will show up and give us His blessing of grace. 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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201%3A5-25&version=NRSVUEClick here if yo

Luke’s Gospel begins by telling us why he is doing this.  We see that many gospels (which means “good news”) have already been written by this time.  So, why aren’t they included in the Bible?  Are they trying to hide something out there?  Is the truth really out there, and no one wants to tell us?  No, that’s not it.  There are four marks that every book in the Bible shares, and no book that has these four marks is excluded from the Bible. We take time to talk about these four marks and how we know that we can trust the Bible. 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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201%3A%201-4&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our Gr

In our Road Trip Series, we look at Deborah, this great female judge and leader of the people. Her story, and all the book of Judges, shows how God will use unexpected people, like "them" and like us.

We take a break between finishing Judges this week and moving to Luke next week. I always find the Psalms to be a great passage to use as a break between two different books.  Today, we’ll look at Psalm 17. This is a passage that I’ll be preaching from later this year, so I’ve started spending time with it. This is a Psalm of deliverance, a Psalm in which David cries out to God to save him.  God loves him, and God loves us. We are the apple of His eye. He cares for us.  He loves us. He is for us.  Cry out to Him when we need. He is our deliverer!  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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2017&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like t

As Judges ends, we see perhaps the worst story in all the Bible. I have often been told that in ancient days, Rabbis would not allow youths to read the Song of Solomon until they were “of age” because of the themes. I believe the story of the Levite’s concubine is much the same.  It’s a story of sexual assault, of evil, of abuse, of just the very worst of humanity.  Reinhold Niebuhr once wrote that the doctrine of original sin is “the only empirically verifiable doctrine of the Christian faith.”  All you have to do is look around, and you can see it. Judges proves that point to us. And what starts all of this?  Everyone does what is right in their own eyes. 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.You can read today’s passage