Andy Talks

Stealing a title from John Wesley today!  We see Paul preach for so long that a young man falls asleep and falls to his death. But, the text tells us several times about the “breaking of bread,” or Holy Communion. And we see this young man is brought back to life. Communion is a gift from God.  It brings us back to life. It restores us.  It gives us the grace necessary for the living of life.  Wesley encouraged us to take it constantly.  So, let us look to the next taking of communion for the joyous gift that it is, this gift that gives us life! 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. Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+20%3A+7-12&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

When we think of encouragers in Scripture, we don’t always think of Paul first. But when we read today, that is exactly what we find. Paul encourages his disciples. Then, he goes to Macedonia and encourages the Christians there. Even when forced to flee from a plot against him, Paul takes folks with him on the journey and pours into them. We don’t always think of Paul as one who encourages. But that is exactly what he did today. And that is our call today. Look around.  Who can use some encouragement in your life? Who could use just that?  Today, be like Paul. Be an encourager. And see just what God will do with that.  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. Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020%3A1-6&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form he

A riot breaks out in Ephesus.  It’s going bad, bad, bad. But Alexander speaks up, and he speaks peace to a bad situation. This is such a wonderful example for us.  Our lives and our world are filled with things that create such negativity. That creates such worry.  Paul tells us to think on things that are noble and pure.  This passage, I think, asks two questions for us. First, what are we filling our minds with? Are we filling them with things that bring peace, things that are good, noble, and pure? Or are we filling them with things that create negativity and worry?  And second, do we speak peace in the worry and anxiety of the world?  Do we de-escalate situations?  Are we means of peace in a tense world?  This is a great example of just what we can do when we learn to speak peace. 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, te

Today, we see God doing great things through Paul. So great that folks begin to try to try to imitate Paul, casting out demons not “in Jesus” name but “in the name of Jesus who Paul proclaims.”  In other words, these people didn’t know Jesus.  They knew about Jesus.  It isn’t enough for us to just know about Jesus. We have to know Jesus. Our faith is personal; it is about that relationship that we have with Jesus.  My faith is mine, and I have to walk daily with Jesus, just as you do.  Today, it isn’t about knowing who Jesus is. It is about knowing Jesus. 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. Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019%3A11-20&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, we see Paul talk about conversion and baptism. Like Apollos before, Paul meets some people who do not have the full story of salvation and the Gospel. Paul explains the truth to them, and they are baptized in Jesus’ name.  You may have met some churches that baptize in “Jesus’ name.”  We take a few minutes to unpack what is happening here.  But always remember that baptism, and salvation, are a Trinitarian experience. We are made right with the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. Our very salvation is an act of the Trinity.  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. Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019%3A1-10&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today, we meet a person who is very important to Paul's ministry in Corinth.  Apollos.  We learn from the Word that he is a gifted speaker and very powerful.  He is doing amazing things for the Kingdom. But he also doesn't know the full story. This passage forces us to ask two questions of ourselves. Who in our lives are we pouring into or mentoring?  And who in our lives is pouring into or mentoring us?  We need both. To pour into others and to have others pour into us. When we are living, when we are doing both of those things, then we will truly see our faith blossom.  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. Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A+24-28&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In our Traditional message from October 1, 2023, Andy shares with us from John 15: 9-17. Our colleges do a great job of "making disciples," even better than the church. They provide identity and community. So should we, so must we, as the church. How can we do just that?

Paul is a tent maker, and he connects with Pricilla and Aquila. They work together. They labor together. Work is sacred. Work is not something that is a punishment of the Fall, but if we go back and read the Creation, we see that God gave Adam and Eve a job to do.  Now, the Fall complicated things, but work is a good thing.  A sacred thing. God gave us purpose and work. Today, attend to the work relationships we have in life. And do your job well, for God’s glory. Work is sacred. It is how God made us. May we always remember that. 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. Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018%3A1-17&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Paul in Athens today shows us what evangelism looks like to a world that doesn’t know Jesus.  He is taken to the center of their town, tells them that he sees they are religious, and then proceeds to share the Gospel. He meets them where they are, uses their poets, and shares the news of Jesus in a way that makes sense to them.  We live in a world that is becoming “post-Christan.”  The fastest-growing religious group is the “nones,” those with no religious faith.  Paul gives us a practical example of how it is today that we can share the Good News with a world that may not even know that it needs Jesus.  Today, Paul shows us how to share Jesus.  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. Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017%3A16-34&version=NRSVUEYou ca

Today, we see a lived example of what we talked about in Romans 8:28.  All things work for good.  Paul seems to get run out of every town, and trouble seems to follow him, wherever he goes.  Can you imagine that?  Can you imagine what it would have been like to have the town leaders kick you out?  It couldn’t have been fun.  Yet because Paul was run out of one town after another, he was able to preach the Gospel in more towns.  The name of Jesus was lifted up, over and over.  Today, no matter what you are facing, somehow, some way, God is going to use it for good. That is what He does; that is who He is. He will use all things for good.  Believe that.  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.Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017%3A10-15&version=NRSVUE

Paul and Silas have the greatest accusation made against them by the Thessalonians. This is said - they are turning the world upside down.  What a goal for us today! To turn the world upside down. To change things, for the better. To live out what we pray, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven! That’s our goal today through Jesus and for Jesus.  To turn the world upside down!  May it be so, and may we live with such up and encouragement 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.Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017%3A1-9&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Paul and Silas today are arrested in Phillipi.  Today’s passage is a WONDERFUL example of evangelism or sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, because of Paul and Silas, the jailer in the story, and his whole house become Christian. But this is what we see when we look at the passage. It wasn’t just Paul’s words that pointed him to Jesus, but it was his action.  Paul didn’t just tell him that he loved him. But through his sacrificial actions, Paul proved to him that he loved him, and so did Jesus.  Our walk must match our talk. When you do that, the Good News explodes outwards! 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.Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A16-40&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In our Traditional message from September 24, 2023, Andy shares with us from Jonah 3:10 - 4:11.  God calls Jonah to where he does not want to go. Ninevah.  God calls us to places, and to people that we do not want to go.  Join us as we learn why it is that God does just that.

Paul completes his journey, and he returns to Antioch. While not being his hometown, this is his place. This is the place and people who sent him out to ministry. This is the place of rest for him, of Sabbath for him. Today, where is your Antioch?  Where is your place of rest? Where is your place of Sabbath?  Where is the place you can go to, or the people you can go to, to rest and to restore who you are? We all need an Antioch.  We all need a place of Sabbath. Today, find your place. And spend time there, resting your soul. 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. Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018%3A18-23&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Paul and his team met Lydia today. She became the first convert in Europe.  But Paul doesn’t follow his normal practice. There is no synagogue for him to go to. Instead, he goes to the river, looking for a place of prayer. There, he finds Lydia and leads her to the Lord.  Paul is willing to meet the people where they are, physically and spiritually. And point them to Jesus. That’s our job, to meet people where they are and get them to where they need 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.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up.Read our passage here  - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16%3A+11-15&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Paul today answers the question he asked yesterday. What can separate us from God’s love?  Nothing.  Nothing in all of creation can separate us.  Even live, even death. Angels. Rulers.  Nothing. We also take a moment and look at Psalm 139, where we see that we cannot flee from God’s presence. No matter where we are, God is there.  You are loved, today, friends.  You truly are. May you know that love, may you follow that love, and may you live out that love. And that love has a name.  Jesus. 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.Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A37-39&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Today we hear something that we need to drill down, deep into our souls. God is for us.  Never forget that.  Internalize that, right now. God is for you.  I spent a lot of years in my life believing that God was against me, that God didn’t like me, that God was going to get me.  Today, we are told that if He did not withhold His son, what will He withhold from us?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  No one.  And not only that, but nothing can separate us from God’s love.  Nothing that can ever happen can separate us from God’s love.  Today, know just how much you are loved.  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.Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A31-36&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

We look today at Romans 8:28-30.  When we finish today, we will have solved the long standing debate about free will versus God’s sovereignty.  Spoiler alert: there is a mystery there that we will never understand.  We also spend time with one of my favorite verses, Romans 8:28 - all things work for good.  This doesn’t mean all things are good, but all things work for God. God can bring good out of everything, and there is not a single part of our story that God can’t redeem and use for good!  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.Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A28-30&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

We see today in Romans that sometimes the words of prayer do not come. Sometimes, we don’t know what to pray, how to pray. Sometimes our words fail us. We see today that when our words do not come, we can have confidence, for the Spirit of God, which saves us and points us to Jesus, the Spirit of God intercedes on our behalf. The Spirit of God, sometimes without words, sometimes with groans, intercedes for us with the Father. We see the Life of Prayer today. It is not so much about what we say, but it is simply about opening ourselves up to the power and presence of our Loving and Living 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.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up.Read our passage here -https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A26-27&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/b

We don't like death.  Or sickness.  Or pain. We hide from these things. We do them in private. But this has been a hard season for our church. And today, we stop, and we lament. For us to heal, we have to sit with our pain and name our pain.  We lament what we have been through and what we have lost.  We lament the pain and the hurt. But we also have hope.  Morning by morning, new mercies we see!  We are going to build something beautiful here at St. Matthew's.   For the glory and beauty of God. We've had pain and loss, yes. But we have hope. Because God is good!  And His mercies are always, there!