Andy Talks

In the Gospel of Mark 16:9–20, even with its textual complexity, we see a clear message: Jesus Christ is risen, He appears to His followers, and He sends them out with both a mission and His power. While the passage includes signs that may feel unusual, the heart of it is that there is authority in Jesus’ name over fear, evil, and anything that tries to hold us captive. Because of the resurrection, we don’t have to live bound by fear, guilt, or uncertainty—we are free to live with hope, courage, and joy, trusting that if even death could not defeat Christ, then nothing we face has the final word.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=Mark%2016%3A%209-20&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

On this Monday after Easter, we begin living in the reality of the resurrection by reflecting on the Gospel of Mark 16:1–8, where the women are the first to discover the empty tomb and carry the good news of Jesus Christ’s resurrection—reminding us that God often uses unexpected people who are simply willing. Like them, we live in a world of both “terror and amazement,” where life can feel overwhelming and beautiful at the same time, and we may sometimes feel inadequate or tempted to write others off. But Easter teaches us not to do either, because the story isn’t over—life, not death, has the final word. Our calling is simple: be faithful and tell the story of what Jesus has done, trusting that God will use it in ways we may not even see.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=Mark%2016%3A%201-8&version=NRSV

In our Easter message, Andy shares with us from Matthew 28: 1-10. We see that we sin, death, and the grave are liars. We are not defined by them.  We are free. But that freedom can be scary. What will we do with the hope that we have?

In our Maundy Thursday sermon, Andy looks at 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26. Every time we take communion, we retell our family story. We are forgiven. We are loved. But never forget what it cost. 

On Good Friday, we remember that while the day was not “good” for Jesus Christ, it is good for us because of what was accomplished on the cross. This is where Jesus atoned for our sin—taking on all the brokenness of humanity and making us right with God—while the resurrection to come will defeat the consequence of that sin, which is death. As described in Book of Isaiah 53, He was “pierced for our transgressions” and bore the iniquity of us all, meaning there is nothing left for us to earn or repay. The cross shows us that God’s love is complete and that His wrath has been satisfied, so we can live in the freedom of knowing God is not against us but for us, holding onto hope as we wait for the victory of Easter.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=Isaiah%2053&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to

On Maundy Thursday, we remember both the command and the example given by Jesus Christ in Gospel of John 13: to love one another as He has loved us and to live that love out through humble service. In washing the disciples’ feet—a task reserved for the lowest servant—Jesus shows that true love is not about status or appearance, but about self-giving care for others. This day, marked by communion and the stripping away of the altar, reminds us that we must walk through darkness to reach the light of Easter, and it calls us to examine our own lives: are we willing to serve as Christ served? As followers of Jesus, we are given clear marching orders—to love, to serve, and to trust that this kind of sacrificial love is how God transforms both us and the world.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=John%2013%3A1-20&am

On Holy Wednesday, often called “Spy Wednesday,” we see a quiet but pivotal moment in Holy Week where Judas Iscariot agrees to betray Jesus Christ, set alongside the beautiful act of a woman anointing Jesus with costly ointment in Gospel of Matthew 26. While the disciples focus on practicality and missed opportunity, Jesus highlights the deeper meaning of her act—an expression of love and preparation for His burial—reminding us not to overlook beauty in our faith. Judas, likely frustrated that Jesus was not becoming the kind of Messiah he expected, chooses betrayal when Jesus doesn’t meet his expectations. The passage challenges us to reflect on our own hearts: will we trust and follow Jesus even when we don’t understand His plans, or will we try to shape Him into what we want Him to be?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/pa

On Holy Tuesday, Jesus spends much of the day teaching, most notably delivering the “seven woes” in Gospel of Matthew 23, where He strongly rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees for their hypocrisy. While they had mastered the outward appearance of faith—focusing on rules, status, and religious image—they had neglected the heart of God’s law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus warns against becoming like “whitewashed tombs,” looking righteous on the outside but being spiritually empty within. This challenges us, especially as we approach Easter, to examine our own faith—not just what we do or how we appear, but why we do it—calling us to move beyond religious optics and live with genuine devotion to God.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=Matthew%2023&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join

On Holy Monday, reflecting on Gospel of Matthew 21:12–17, we see Jesus cleansing the temple—not out of random anger, but to remove barriers that were making worship difficult and exploitative. The money changers and sellers had turned a place meant for prayer into a system that took advantage of people and hindered their access to God. This moment challenges us not to focus on what “tables” we want to flip, but to examine our own lives: are we, in any way, making it harder for others—or ourselves—to draw near to God? Holy Week invites us to remove those barriers, repent, and create space for deeper connection with 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.You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021%3A%2012-17&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://group

In our Traditional sermon from Palm Sunday, Andy shares with us from Matthew 21: 1-10. We see the people throw a parade for Jesus. But, the kingship they are looking for is not the kingship Jesus came to give. What will that do when Jesus is what they want?  What do we do?

In our Traditional sermon from March 22, Andy concludes our series on the Lord's Prayer by examining the phrase "Deliver us from evil."  We talk about temptation; how we all face it; what it looks like; and how do we stand against it.  God is always with us, even in temptation. 

In our Traditional sermon from March 15, 2026, Andy continues to share with us from the Lord's prayer as found in Matthew. We talk today about why some churches say "trespasses," others "sins," and others "debts."  This simple phrase tells us a lot about who we are and the depth of God's grace.

As we continue our look at the Lord's Prayer during this season of Lent, Andy shares with us what it means to pray "thy kingdom come, thy will be done."  This is a dangerous prayer, but it is a prayer that can change the way we look at our lives.

As we begin looking at the Lord's Prayer in this season of Lent, we turn to Matthew 6:9-13.  What does it mean to pray to Our Father, who art in Heaven?  What does it mean for us to say that His name is Holy?

In our Traditional message from February 15, Andy shares with us from Hebrews 10: 19-15.  He explains why he considers himself a moderate. A moderate is not someone who does not have real theological or political thoughts and opinions. They will not break relationships over those differences.  This has been the historic reality of the United Methodist Church, and may it remain so 

In our INTERSECTION message from February 8, 2026, Andy shares with us from Philippians 4:4-7. We have a God to whom we can take all things in prayer. As we seek Him in prayer, we find His love, grace, and mercy.

In finishing Luke’s Gospel, we see that the Resurrection is not a ghostly myth but a physical reality that affirms the goodness of our own bodies and our physical presence in the world. We recognize that Jesus opens our minds to Scripture not for mere head knowledge, but for heart transformation, turning us into witnesses who carry His love to all nations—from our neighbors to our enemies. We understand that the Ascension is the ultimate victory, placing Jesus at the right hand of the Father where He lives to intercede and pray for us personally. Ultimately, we are called to live victoriously rather than defeated, knowing that because Christ has conquered sin and death, we are "clothed with power" to tell the story of His grace to the entire world.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 lit

The walk to Emmaus provides a powerful template for how we encounter the resurrected Christ in the midst of our own ordinary, and often discouraged, journeys. As Cleopas and his companion walked away from Jerusalem, trapped in the "we had hoped" stage of grief, Jesus met them in the mundane rhythm of their commute, proving that He is never absent even when our eyes are too heavy with sorrow to recognize Him. Through the dual "shorthands" of Scripture—where He traces the messianic promise from Moses through the Prophets—and the "breaking of the bread," He reveals that the Cross was the centerpiece of God’s plan rather than a tragic detour. This encounter teaches us that our "burning hearts" are a spiritual signal of His presence, urging us to look for Him not just in the sanctuary, but in every conversation, every meal, and every mile of our daily lives.Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church histo

As we sit with the early morning rain today, I’m leaning into that powerful question the angels asked the women at the tomb: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" It’s a challenge for all of us to stop searching for Jesus in the "dead" places of our lives—our past mistakes, our old shames, or the general ugliness of the world—and instead look for Him where life, grace, and beauty are actually breaking through. Even though the very first sermon of the Resurrection was dismissed by the apostles as an "idle tale," those women stayed faithful to what they had seen, reminding us that while we can’t control whether people are ready to hear the Good News, we are still called to proclaim it. We should take heart knowing that even when our witness feels ignored, God is often at work in the "wondering" hearts of those around us, and our only job is to keep pointing toward the One who is fully alive and walking beside us today.Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist

In reflecting on the death and burial of Jesus in Luke 23, we see a profound contrast between those who viewed the crucifixion as a mere "spectacle" and those who responded with genuine faithfulness and sacrifice. We recognize that while the crowds were drawn to the drama of the event, the Centurion recognized Jesus' innocence, and the faithful women remained present even when the world seemed to have won. We understand that Joseph of Arimathea’s gift of a costly tomb serves as a model for how we can offer our best to the Lord, even in moments of perceived defeat. Ultimately, we are challenged to move beyond the search for spiritual "adrenaline rushes" and "cosplay" and instead embrace the quiet, consistent devotion of those who stayed by Jesus’ side until the very end, trusting that the stillness of the Sabbath is not the conclusion of the story.Shameless plug: here’s a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https