Andy Talks

In 1 Timothy 3, Paul gives Timothy a picture of the qualities that should characterize Christian leaders: integrity, hospitality, wisdom, gentleness, self-control, and a good reputation both inside and outside the church. Today we consider what those qualities might mean for Christian leadership in our own time, especially in an age of social media influencers and outrage-driven conversations. Is being combative really a sign of faithfulness? What if the church valued gentleness and empathy as much as it values having the “right” answers? Paul reminds us that our witness matters—and that the way we treat people outside the church is part of how we show them the love of a God they cannot see.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. You can watch this reflection in video form and subscr

In 1 Timothy 2, Paul calls Christians to pray for their leaders and reminds us that God desires everyone to come to know the truth. But the chapter also contains one of the most debated passages in Scripture concerning women teaching and leading in the church. Today we talk honestly about that difficult text, the importance of reading Scripture in context, and the need to interpret individual passages in light of the broader witness of Scripture. As a United Methodist and Wesleyan, I share why I believe this passage addresses a particular situation in Ephesus rather than establishing a universal prohibition against women preaching, teaching, and leading in the church.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In 1 Timothy 1:12–20, Paul describes himself as the “chief of sinners,” remembering his past as a blasphemer and persecutor of the church—and yet also remembering the incredible grace and mercy he received from Jesus Christ. Today we reflect on what it means to know that we have sometimes done wrong even when we knew better, and to recognize our own need for grace. But grace also challenges us: if we want God’s grace and mercy for ourselves, are we willing to extend that same grace to others? Paul reminds Timothy—and reminds us—that God’s patience, mercy, and grace are greater than our failures.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In 1 Timothy 1, Paul urges Timothy to teach sound doctrine and avoid getting caught up in myths, speculation, and meaningless arguments. But Paul also gives us a powerful test for what our teaching and theology should produce: “The aim of such instruction is love.” Our faith is not simply about gaining more information or winning theological arguments. What we believe should shape how we live, leading us toward love of God, love of neighbor, holiness, and a sincere faith. Today we consider whether our beliefs are actually producing the kind of love and transformation that Paul describes—and why sound doctrine should ultimately lead to holiness of heart and life.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

As we begin our journey through 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and eventually Philemon, we start with the relationship between Paul and Timothy. Timothy was someone Paul mentored, taught, encouraged, and trusted—and that relationship gives us a picture of something we all need in our lives. We need people who walk beside us, people who walk ahead of us and teach us, and people who come behind us whom we can encourage and mentor. We are called to remain teachable, always learning and growing, while also passing along the wisdom and faith that others have shared with us. As we begin Timothy, consider these three questions: Who walks beside you? Who is pouring into you? And who are you pouring into?Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe

In our Sunday sermon from September 20, 2026, we look at Matthew 6: 5-15.  We talk about what a method of prayer looks like, but we know this truth. It's not about what we say; it's about being aware of God's presence all around us. 

We finish our journey through Daniel with chapter 12, a passage that points beyond the difficult events of history toward the hope of resurrection. Daniel contains plenty of numbers, visions, kingdoms, and prophecies that can tempt us to spend our energy trying to calculate exactly when and how the end will come. But Daniel’s message points us somewhere more important: this life is not the end. The resurrection is at the center of Christian faith, and Christ’s resurrection is the first fruits and promise of our own. We may not know the when, where, or how of the end, but we do know how Jesus calls us to live today—to love, serve, forgive, worship, and remain faithful. So go your way. Have hope. Don’t let anxiety about the future consume you. The story is bigger than this moment, and ultimately, God wins.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join

In Daniel 11, we encounter war, persecution, suffering, and rulers who seem to have enormous power. But the chapter ultimately reminds us that difficult seasons are not new, and we are not the first generation to face uncertainty, injustice, or opposition. As Christians, we can learn from Scripture and from history so that we don’t become convinced that our particular cultural moment is the first or final crisis the world has ever seen. Daniel 11 ends with a powerful reminder that earthly power is temporary and that God remains sovereign. There are real problems in our world, and we are called to work for good—but we can do that with hope rather than fear. Turn off the television, step away from the Internet, take a walk, read your Bible, remember the faithfulness of God throughout history, and trust that ultimately, it’s going to be okay.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.C

In Daniel 10, Daniel is overwhelmed by a vision of things that are still to come. He doesn’t know how God’s plan will unfold, and neither do we always understand what God is doing in the middle of our own difficult seasons. But God gives Daniel a powerful word: “Do not fear, greatly beloved. You are safe. Be strong and courageous.” Today we reflect on the truth that whatever we are experiencing right now is not the end of God’s story. We may not always feel safe, understand the circumstances, or see what God is doing, but we can trust that God is at work. We are beloved, we are held, and our strength comes from God.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In today’s Reflections, we enter Daniel chapter 9, one of the Bible’s most challenging prophetic passages, including Daniel’s famous vision of the “seventy weeks.” Before receiving that vision, however, Daniel begins with confession, reminding us that honest prayer includes naming our failures and receiving God’s grace. As we consider the difficult prophecy that follows, we are reminded that Daniel is not primarily giving us a countdown clock for the end of the world. Rather, it assures God’s people that suffering and evil have limits, God sees the pain of his people, and God remains sovereign over history. We may not know exactly when God will make all things right, but we can trust that God will. Our calling is not to predict the future but to live faithfully today—to love God, love our neighbors, serve others, and follow Jesus wherever he leads.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passa

Today we begin Daniel chapter 8 and enter another challenging apocalyptic vision involving kingdoms, a ram, a goat, Alexander the Great, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and the desecration and restoration of the temple. While there is plenty in Daniel 8 that can be difficult to understand, Daniel reminds us of something important: history is not random. Kingdoms rise and fall, rulers come and go, and sometimes we cannot see what God is doing—but God remains sovereign and faithful. We may not understand every detail of God’s plan, but we can trust the God who does. When the future seems uncertain and the arc of history is difficult to see, we can remain faithful because God is guiding the story toward his purposes.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.  Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.You can watch this reflection in video

In our September 13, 2026 message, Andy shares from 2 Timothy 3:14-16 and 2 Peter 3:14-17.  What do we believe about the Bible?  What role does it play in our lives and in our church? What do we do with the hard passages?  What difference does it even make? 

In today’s Reflections, we begin Daniel chapter 7 and enter the challenging world of biblical apocalyptic literature—visions, beasts, kingdoms, judgment, and the mysterious “Son of Man.” While there are many different interpretations of the details, Daniel gives us a central truth we can hold onto: earthly kingdoms and powers are temporary, but God’s kingdom is everlasting. Daniel’s vision points us toward the Son of Man, a title Jesus repeatedly uses for himself, and reminds us not to place our ultimate hope, identity, or peace in the powers of this world. Whatever is happening around us, God is still God, God is still King, and God’s kingdom will never end. So be faithful, trust God, and remember: it’s going to be okay.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. You can watch this refl

In today’s Rooted Reflections, we finish Daniel 6 and celebrate God’s deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ den. But the story points us toward something bigger than Daniel’s rescue: his faithfulness to God also led him to seek the welfare of the foreign kingdom where he lived. Like Jeremiah’s call to Israel in exile, Daniel reminds us that following God does not mean withdrawing from the world around us. We can worship God first, trust God completely, and still work faithfully for the good of our communities—even when we find ourselves in difficult or uncomfortable places. Wherever God has placed you today, work for good.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST.You can watch this reflection in video form and subscribe to my Substack here.

In today’s reflection from Daniel 6:10–18, we see Daniel respond to the king’s new law with quiet, consistent faithfulness. Daniel knows the decree has been signed and understands the consequences, but he simply continues doing what he has always done: praying to God three times a day. His circumstances change, but his faithfulness doesn’t. Daniel’s example challenges us to consider whose approval we are seeking and what ultimately determines our choices. Cultures, opinions, and circumstances change, but Jesus remains the same. Rather than allowing every cultural pressure or controversy to determine our focus, we are called to keep our eyes on Jesus, seeking his approval and following the demands of the gospel. Like Daniel, may we have the courage to remain faithful, to love and serve others, and to trust God with the consequences.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click her

In today’s reflection from Daniel 6:1–9, we look at the danger of flattery and the importance of having people in our lives who will lovingly tell us the truth. Darius allows himself to be convinced that he is so important that everyone should worship him, a decision that will quickly get him into trouble. In contrast, Daniel’s enemies search for any weakness or corruption they can use against him but find nothing. The only thing they can use against Daniel is his faithfulness to God. That gives us a powerful question to consider: what would people find if they examined our lives? None of us will be perfect, but we can strive to be faithful—to love God, love our neighbors, and live in such a way that our devotion to God is evident. May we surround ourselves with people who encourage us while also being willing to correct us, and may our faithfulness be the thing people notice most about us.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better under

On this Labor Day reflection, we step away from Daniel for a moment to consider what Scripture teaches us about work and rest. Work was part of God’s good creation from the beginning—Adam was given a purpose and vocation in the Garden of Eden—but the fall brought toil, frustration, and difficulty into our work. Our work can give us purpose, dignity, and an opportunity to use the gifts God has given us, but work is not God. That’s why Sabbath is so important. God modeled rest for us, not because God needed to recover, but because we need to remember that the world doesn’t depend entirely on us. Sabbath reminds us that God is God and we are not. On this Labor Day, we’re encouraged to embrace the goodness of work while also learning to stop, rest, worship, and trust that God is still at work even when we aren’t.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this

What do United Methodists believe? It really comes down to one word: Grace.  Yes, but what do we really believe about Grace?  Join us as we reflect upon Ephesians 2: 1-10 and talk about how God is always the first actor in our faith and our salvation. It's always about grace. Always. 

In today’s reflection, we finish Daniel chapter 5 and hear Daniel interpret the writing on the wall for King Belshazzar. Belshazzar offers Daniel power, prestige, and a gold chain, but Daniel makes it clear that he isn’t serving God for earthly rewards. Daniel reminds Belshazzar of what happened to Nebuchadnezzar and points out that Belshazzar knew the story but failed to humble himself before God. The contrast between Daniel and Belshazzar challenges us to ask why we do what we do. Are we seeking recognition, approval, and earthly rewards, or are we serving simply because God has given us a calling? Pride leads us away from God, while humility and obedience lead us toward him. As we finish Daniel 5, we’re reminded that the path of Jesus is always the path of humility, faithfulness, and obedience.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s passage here.Click here if you'd like to join our Gr

In today’s reflection from Daniel 5, we look at the famous story of the writing on the wall and, more specifically, at the sacred vessels Belshazzar took from the temple and used at his feast. That leads us to think about what makes something sacred. A church building, an altar, communion vessels, or even Scripture are not holy simply because of the materials they are made from; they are sacred because they have been set apart for the worship of God. And while we are grateful for sacred spaces, our relationship with God isn’t limited to a sanctuary. Through God’s grace, we can find sacred moments in our homes, our cars, our workplaces, coffee shops, and throughout our ordinary lives. Our souls are longing for the divine, so today we’re invited to slow down, look for those moments, and enter into the sacred presence of God wherever we find ourselves.Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.You can read today’s pass