Andy Talks

Paul mentions the word “ashamed” three times in these few verses today.  I always try to pay attention when something is mentioned repeatedly, so what is the Word trying to tell us today?  Don't be ashamed of following Jesus today, either afraid of what folks outside the church may think or what folks inside the church may think. Follow Jesus.  And don’t be ashamed of each other. As Christians, let's stick together and show loyalty and support to one another.  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=575706148You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In our Traditional message from February 25, 2024, we look at Mark 8: 31-38.  Peter has to learn this lesson; we all must learn. To get out of his own way. Sometimes, the hardest battle we must fight is with ourselves and our desire for control.

Paul loves Timothy as a son.  We see this as we begin 2 Timothy together.  Paul tells him to rekindle the gift of God, to remember his family, and to know that he was not given a spirit of cowardice but of power, of love, and of self-discipline. I think it’s so interesting that love is there in the middle of those gifts. When we are full of God’s spirit, we will have that power and that discipline. But when we are full of God’s spirit, our hearts will overflow with His love! 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=575535699You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Paul gives Timothy some final words today: fight the good fight.  He contrasts the way that Timothy (and all of us) are called to live with the way that others live. We are to fight that good fight and hold fast to our confessions.  Cling to life that is really life.  There are so many things that claim to be life, but they are not. Do not give in to those. Fight for what is truly life. It’s hard to follow after Jesus. It is.  But it is a fight worth fighting.  Fight that good fight today.  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=575535405You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Paul talks to us today in 1 Timothy 6: 1-10 about the dangers of desiring and chasing after wealth. But before that, in verses 1-2, he talks about slavery. We take a few minutes to unpack what that means in Roman culture compared to American history. Then, we look closer at why the love of money is the root of all evil and how, if we are not careful, it can cause us to lose our souls.   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=575463685You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In the February 18, 2024 message, we looked at Mark 1: 9-15. We are looking specifically at the temptation account. We expect spirited careful to be grand and glorious. But normally, it is the ordinary, common battle of putting our pride to death and following Jesus. 

Paul is often seen as gruff and sometimes very harsh. And that reputation is well deserved, at times. But today, we see him offer fatherly advice to Timothy. We see him encourage Timothy in some way to help his ailing stomach. We also see Paul remind us that sins, as well as our good works, are known to God. Because of this truth, we should always be people of repentance and of humility.  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=574933263You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, in 1 Timothy 5, we see Paul give Timothy some words about how we speak to each other.  We live in an age of much harsh language; Paul tells Timothy to speak with kindness towards each other, to those who are older, as well as those who are the same age as you.  Our language should reflect our charity. Then, Paul gives words of advice for how the widows in the church should live and be treated. Who are these widows?  What is Paul talking about? What can this mean for us today in our age?  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=574933149You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Lent is the forty-day period that starts on Ash Wednesday and leads to Easter.  It is a season where Christians will take time to fast, pray, and remember our Lord's sacrifice upon the cross.  It is a season that focuses on repentance (turning from sin and turning to God) and on our spiritual disciplines.  We take some time in our Rooted in Christ to talk about this, what this means, and what we can do. 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=574857605You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, we see Paul’s words on training. We are to train for Godliness. Paul does a great job of telling us exactly what that looks like. He tells us to understand that we have been called and gifted by the spirit. But also, we are to examine ourselves and examine our teaching. We have a calling and a gift.  But we also need to be held accountable.  If we can hold these two things together, we can be trained well in Godliness. 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=574762569You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Paul today continues a conversation that he has over and over again in the New Testament.  What are we to do about marriage?  What about food that has been sacrificed to idols?  Are we to eat?  Are we to avoid? What are we to do? Paul reminds us, as he always does that the food is not the point and not a big deal. What matters is this.  Are we loving God and loving our neighbor?  Legalism seems so very prudent at times. But legalism so very much misses the point. It’s about the Lordship of Jesus. That’s the point. Let’s make sure we are seeking after true holiness.  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=574498088You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In the last of our series, "Balance," we look at Genesis 32: 22-32 and examine what role it is that reason plays in our faith and our theological method.  If you would like to see my notes for this message, you can click here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1opBox7wHj73rcOj_oVs9aWwFutuMoxtLpRqX9-nAZ4A/edit?usp=share_link

Paul gives us some truth about what we believe. He defines some of our key and core doctrines about who Jesus Christ is.  He gives us some powerful words for us to stand on. But do you know what he said right before?  Great is the mystery of our religion. We want everything to make sense. We are the children of the Enlightenment.  We want it all to make sense and be able to be understood so very easily. But Paul tells us today that there is a mystery.  And that’s ok. We don’t know it all; we don’t understand it all. There is a mystery. That is why we must trust and must have faith.  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=574336860You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, we look at what Paul tells us about the role of deacons.  We take a few minutes to talk about who deacons were, Biblically, and who deacons are today.  We walk through what deacons do in some of our different traditions, and while it may look different in each one, there is one thing that is common across all. Deacons call us as Christians, over and over again, to serve. That’s our job as Christians. To serve. Jesus came to serve, and that is our mission as well. To serve.  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=574336823You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Paul today lays out for us the qualification for “bishops.”  We talk today about how that word is translated and how that word is where we get a lot of the concepts we use for church leaders, preachers, bishops, and other forms.   What do these words mean for us as we look for spiritual leadership? And for those of us who are preachers, what words can we take from them? We should have high spiritual expectations for leaders (and for ourselves as preachers). But we should also pray for and encourage our leaders.  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=574176060You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, in 1 Timothy 2: 8-15, we see some of Paul’s words that may be the hardest to understand and make sense of, and that’s saying something talking about Paul. Even Peter agrees that Paul can be hard to understand at times (2 Peter 3: 15-16).  Paul talks to women about the importance of modesty and then goes into concepts of submission and learning. What could he mean by this? And what does this mean for us?  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=574153909You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today’s passage gives us some great instruction on prayer.  Pray for all our leaders.  Paul tells us to pray, and to seek to be good citizens. These aren’t just idle words; Paul will soon be put to death by these very leaders. But Paul believes that Jesus died for all the world and that God wants all to be saved. So, Paul tells Timothy and us that we should be praying for all. Those we love and those we may struggle to love. For God desires all to know Him. And we should have that same desire. 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=573886020You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In our Traditional sermon from February 3, we look at John 4: 39-42.  As we continue looking at our theology method as United Methodists, we look today at the role that Experience places, both in our understanding of Scripture and how we understand God.

Paul calls himself the chief of all sinners. Why? Why does he say that?  For Paul, that has a very specific meaning.  Paul had great knowledge of the Law, of the teachings and traditions of his people. There was much that Paul knew. But he tells us that he did not have belief.  He acted out of unbelief.  He blasphemed and was violent. Yet God showed him, the chief of all sinners, mercy. Because he didn’t believe.  Today, our faith is not about knowledge. But it is about the surrender of the will to Jesus Christ. 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=573816530You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

We begin 1 Timothy today, looking at 1:1-11. Paul warns against false teaching today, those who are using the Law wrong, not even aware of what the law is or what its purpose is. The Law was given in many ways to show us that we cannot keep it but that we need a savior. The Law shows us our inadequacies. Paul tells us today the purpose of divine instruction - love, coming from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. That’s what we are aiming for. 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=573625377You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/