Andy Talks

As we hear Isaiah 35, we’re reminded that God speaks hope into places that look completely broken. This promise of streams in the desert and a clear, holy way was given to people facing loss, exile, and devastation—and it tells us that dryness, sorrow, and despair do not last forever. Even when we feel worn down, lost, or unsure of the path ahead, God is still at work, making a way where there seems to be none. Advent invites us to trust that joy will return, restoration is coming, and God keeps His promises. So we keep walking, even when it’s hard, believing that sorrow and sighing will not have the final word.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/?se

As we listen to John the Baptist’s sermon in Matthew 3:5–12, we’re reminded that repentance isn’t just feeling guilty but actually turning our lives in a new direction. John doesn’t soften his message—he warns that our background or religious habits don’t matter if our lives aren’t producing real fruit. The same is true for us: faith isn’t measured by a résumé but by a heart being genuinely transformed. Repentance shows up not in perfection, but in the daily struggle to move toward Jesus, to get back up when we fall, and to let the Holy Spirit reshape us. So today, we’re invited to bear real fruit—lived-out repentance—and trust the God who keeps forgiving, restoring, and leading us forward.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 W

In today’s Advent reflection, we meet John the Baptist as Matthew introduces him—the last of the Old Testament prophets and the one called to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John’s whole life reminds us what real purpose looks like: he wasn’t the star, and he never tried to be. Like a fullback clearing the path for someone else to shine, John knew his calling was to point people to Jesus, not himself. In a culture obsessed with spotlight and recognition, he shows us that true joy comes from serving, from humility, and from helping others see Christ. We’re not the hero of the story—Jesus is—and our job, like John’s, is simply to make His path straight by loving, serving, and guiding others toward Him.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

In today’s Advent reflection, Paul reminds us that God’s heart has always been for all people and that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless every nation. Because Christ has welcomed us with open arms, we’re called to welcome others with that same generosity — choosing unity over division, mercy over suspicion, and peace over agitation. Romans 15 shows us that God’s family is far bigger and wider than we often imagine, and we’re invited to live like that’s true. As Paul closes with his beautiful blessing — that the God of hope would fill us with joy, peace, and an abundance of hope through the Holy Spirit — we’re reminded that these Advent gifts don’t come from perfect circumstances but from God’s presence with us. Today, we’re invited to embody that welcome, that unity, and that hope as we move through our day.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 da

In today’s Advent reflection, we’re reminded that this season isn’t just about preparing for Christmas but also about returning to the rhythms of repentance, renewal, and peace. Romans 15:4–6 points us to the encouragement and hope found in Scripture and calls us to live in harmony with one another — something our culture rarely values. Paul’s challenge to “put up with the failings of the weak” and “build up our neighbor” stands in stark contrast to an age marked by criticism and division. Yet this is the pattern Jesus gives us: a life not lived to please ourselves but to glorify God. True unity doesn’t mean uniformity; it means choosing harmony over hostility, walking in the rhythm of Christlike patience, and letting our shared purpose in Jesus give us “one voice” that glorifies God. Today, we’re invited to live as peacemakers in our homes, workplaces, and communities — people who embody the unity Christ prayed for and who reflect His grace in a divided world.Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to t

In today’s Advent reflection, we read Isaiah 11:6–9 and are reminded that while the world around us is still deeply broken, God’s ultimate plan is nothing less than the full restoration of creation itself. Isaiah paints a picture of a redeemed world where wolves lie down with lambs, danger is gone, and peace is the natural order again — the exact opposite of what we see now. From Genesis to Romans to Revelation, Scripture tells the same story: sin shattered not just humanity but all creation, and God is working toward a day when everything is made new. So as we move closer to Christmas, we live as people of hope — trusting that the future God promises is more real than the brokenness we see today. We don’t stick our hands in snake holes, but we do live unafraid, looking for goodness, standing on God’s promises, and remembering that one day, everything Isaiah describes will be fully, beautifully true.Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about chur

In our Traditional message from December 7, 2025, Andy shares with us from Matthew 3: 1-12. Repentance is a gift, because repentance reminds us just how much God loves us and longs to forgive us.

In today’s Advent reflection, we look at Psalm 122 — a psalm of ascent that reminds us of God’s faithfulness and the power of His promises. As we hear the call to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” we’re led to remember the deeper covenant story running through Scripture: God made promises to Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets, and every one of those promises finds its fulfillment in Jesus, the true Son of David and the Savior of the world. If God has kept His promises across thousands of years, then we can trust He’ll keep the ones He’s made to us right now — His presence, His forgiveness, His strength, His peace. So as we head into the weekend and sit with our Advent readings, we hold fast to the God who never breaks His word, standing on His promises and trusting that the same faithful God of Scripture is walking with us 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

In this passage, we’re reminded that while we wait for Christ’s return and for God to fulfill His promises, we’re called to live with peace, holiness, and trust. Peter’s comment that some of Paul’s writings are “hard to understand” comforts us — even one of the apostles wrestled with Scripture — and it shows how seriously the early church already regarded Paul’s letters. Peter’s core message is that what feels like God’s delay is actually His mercy: every day Christ hasn’t returned is another day for salvation, growth, and grace to take root in our lives. As we wait, we’re invited to ask ourselves whether we’re truly at peace with God’s timing, His answers, or even His silence. And if we find that peace difficult, our prayer can simply be, “Lord, we believe — help our unbelief.” We’re encouraged to trust His patience, trust His plan, and allow His deep, sustaining peace to guide us as we continue growing together in grace.Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertai

We see today how Matthew 24 can sound scary at first — one of those “Left Behind” passages many of us grew up hearing with fear — but you remind us that Advent invites us to hear it with hope, not dread. Jesus’ return isn’t about God coming to get us; it’s about God coming to heal us, restore what’s broken, end suffering, and make all things new. You point us to Isaiah’s vision of swords turned into plowshares and help us imagine a world with no more cancer, hunger, or heartbreak — the world Christ is coming to bring. And while we wait, you encourage us to live with expectation, not discouragement, because at any moment hope can break through, and by God’s grace we can even be agents of that hope for others through kindness, service, and love.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

This morning, walk through Romans 13:11-14 and are reminded that Advent is a season of waking up — shaking off spiritual sleepiness and remembering what really matters. Paul tells us the night is fading and the day is near, so we’re called to lay aside the things that weigh down our souls — the habits, attitudes, and distractions that make us sluggish and unfocused — and instead “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” In a season when it’s easy to get wrapped up in busyness, perfection, and consumerism, you encourage us to wake up to God’s grace, live intentionally, and let Christ’s light push back whatever darkness has crept into our hearts. Today is a good day, you say, to let go of what doesn’t matter and live fully awake to the goodness of God.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 Sc

We open Advent by reflecting on Isaiah 2:4–5, that beautiful vision of God’s future where swords become plowshares and nations learn war no more, reminding us that when God’s reign is fully realized, even the tools of violence will be transformed into tools of life. But instead of treating it as a distant hope, you bring it right into our everyday lives—into family tensions, holiday conversations, and the little conflicts we navigate with our words, tone, and reactions. You challenge us to examine the “weapons” we carry, not swords but sarcasm, sharp comments, and the things we say to win rather than love, and you invite us to turn those weapons into instruments of peace. Even though we can’t solve global conflict in a day, we can choose to cultivate peace in our homes, workplaces, and relationships, walking in the light of the Lord and living out the vision Isaiah paints.Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://method

In our Traditional message from the first Sunday of Advent, we look at Matthew 24, 36 44 we look at the hope that comes from Jesus' second coming. We heard this passage with fear, but that is not the intent.  He is not coming to get us, He is coming to save us!

In this parable from Luke 19, Jesus tells a story that at first feels like a simple “use your gifts” lesson, but it runs deeper when you sit with it. The nobleman goes away, leaves money with his servants, and comes back to see what they’ve done with it — and while two step out in courage and invest faithfully, one is driven entirely by fear and hides what he’s been given. The real tension in the story isn’t that the nobleman is harsh, but that the people reject his kingship — a reminder that rejecting Jesus’ lordship leads us into broken places, not because He’s cruel, but because we’re choosing our own way. The heart of it comes down to this: fear will always talk us out of obedience, out of faithfulness, out of stepping into what God has called us to do. But when we trust God and move forward with courage — even in uncertainty — God grows what He’s placed in our hands. So as we head into the weekend, this parable invites us to let go of fear, lean into faith, and be bold with what God has entrusted to us.S

In our Traditional sermon for November 23, 2025, Christ the King Sunday, we look at what it means to say that Christ is King?  His kingship is not like the earthly, human kings, but His kingship is found in His wounds. He inhabits our praise, but He also inhabits our suffering and hurts.  Jesus, alone, is King! 

In this parable from Luke 19, Jesus tells a story that at first feels like a simple “use your gifts” lesson, but it runs deeper when you sit with it. The nobleman goes away, leaves money with his servants, and comes back to see what they’ve done with it — and while two step out in courage and invest faithfully, one is driven entirely by fear and hides what he’s been given. The real tension in the story isn’t that the nobleman is harsh, but that the people reject his kingship — a reminder that rejecting Jesus’ lordship leads us into broken places, not because He’s cruel, but because we’re choosing our own way. The heart of it comes down to this: fear will always talk us out of obedience, out of faithfulness, out of stepping into what God has called us to do. But when we trust God and move forward with courage — even in uncertainty — God grows what He’s placed in our hands. So as we head into the weekend, this parable invites us to let go of fear, lean into faith, and be bold with what God has entrusted to us.S

In Luke 19:1–10, the familiar story of Zacchaeus reminds us just how wide and surprising the grace of Jesus really is. Zacchaeus was not only short in stature but a chief tax collector—someone people literally and figuratively looked down on. Yet while the crowd grumbled that Jesus would dare share a meal with a sinner, Zacchaeus responded to Jesus’ welcome with repentance and generosity, declaring that grace was already transforming his life. When Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house… for the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost,” He makes it clear that no one is beyond belonging, mercy, or restoration—not Zacchaeus, not us, and not the people we’re tempted to write off. This story invites us to receive grace with humility and to extend it with open arms, seeing others the way Jesus sees them and remembering that all of us are beloved children of Abraham.Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://met

In Luke 18:35–43, Jesus heals a blind man who refuses to be silenced and cries out all the louder for mercy, reminding us that Jesus not only restores physical sight but also gives us spiritual sight — the kind that helps us recognize God’s grace and work in our lives. Like the blind man, we’re called to persist in prayer even when we feel unheard or discouraged, trusting that Jesus always hears our cries and may be working in ways we can’t see. As we grow older, we often realize how limited our vision once was, and even now we continue to ask, “Lord, let me see again,” knowing that He is still shaping our eyes, hearts, and understanding. The story encourages us to keep praying, keep calling out, and keep seeking the clarity only Jesus can give, believing that He will help us see what truly 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 for our daily reflections with Andy.

In Luke 18:31–34, Jesus plainly tells the disciples that He will be betrayed, mocked, killed, and raised on the third day, yet Scripture says they couldn’t understand because it was “hidden from them.” This reminds us that while we long for clarity and want to see God’s full plan for our lives, sometimes He intentionally withholds understanding until the right time. Just as the disciples didn’t need to grasp every detail because the saving work belonged to Jesus alone, we too are called not to control the plan but to trust the One who does. In seasons where God’s answer feels like “not yet” or “no,” we’re invited to rely on His timing, His goodness, and His quiet work behind the scenes, believing that He will reveal what we need to know when the time is right.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 l

In Luke 18:18–30, Jesus meets the rich young ruler who wants to know what he must do to inherit eternal life, and while the man has kept all the commandments, Jesus exposes the real issue in his heart—his wealth has become his idol. Jesus tells him to sell everything and follow Him, showing that true discipleship means surrendering whatever we love more than God. Wealth itself isn’t condemned, but when anything—money, status, comfort, approval—sits on the throne of our hearts, it keeps us from fully following Jesus. The passage reminds us that salvation is impossible on our own but possible with God, and it challenges us to honestly ask what idols we need to lay down so that Christ can be first in our lives.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 under