Andy Talks

We see Peter and John, after a footrace, get to the tomb. When they get there, they see wondrous signs, and they know something has happened or something significant has taken place. They just don’t know what. John believes, even though he doesn’t understand. Sometimes, we have to sit and be comfortable in the mystery. We may not understand God, but we know Him, and we know that He is good. We can sit in the mystery. And that mystery is beautiful. 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.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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A%201-10&version=NIVYou can watch this in video

Today in Rooted, we see Nicodemus move from darkness to light. Jesus was not finished with his story. Just like He is not finished with our story either.

Sorry for being absent last week. But we are back! We’ll pick up where we left off with John 19. Today, we see the death of Jesus. He says it is finished. He has finished His task. It is complete. This task completes the process of salvation as well. All that is required for salvation has now been done. There is nothing more that needs to be done or added. It is finished. We also talk about the beautiful symbology of the blood and the water that flows from Jesus’ side. There’s something very powerful here as well. 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.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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s

In our Traditional message from December 8, 2024, Andy shares with us from Luke 3: 1-6. We can have hope because God is at work. We can have peace because God is in control.

In our Traditional message from the First Sudnay of Advent, Andy shares with us from Luke 21: 25-36. We see Jesus telling us to be prepared. Look up. In this world of gray, look for green. Keep your heads up. Hope is always coming! 

Waiting is hard. I don’t like it. You don’t like it. None of us like it. But we are entering into the season of Advent, which is a season of waiting. They waited long ago for Jesus’ birth. We wait now for His return. This may feel like wasted time. It may feel pointless. But that is not so. The waiting is not wasted. Waiting, as hard as it is, teaches us to trust. Remember what we wait for. Remember who we wait on. He is faithful and true. And we can trust him, even when we have to wait. 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.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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%209%3A%202-7&a

We see Jesus crucified today, and there’s a lot that we can unpack. We see Jesus honoring His mother by providing for her care. We see how scripture is being fulfilled. But for me, I am fascinated by “the place of the skull.” What does that mean? What is important or significant about that? Today, we’ll look at why the place where Jesus was crucified means so very much to us. 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.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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019%3A%2016-27&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In our Traditional message from November 24, 2024, Andy shares with us from John 18: 33-37. We see here that Pilate didn't know what to do with Jesus because Jesus knew His kingdom was not of this world. We live with hope because we have a great home. Jesus is king.  Rejoice!

The religious leaders of the day understood that the Romans believed Caesar was a god. That is why when the people came to the Temple, they had to “change” over their money. No pagan god could be in the Temple. Yet, what do they say today? We have no king but Caesar. They did not believe this. But they chanted it to make sure Jesus went to the cross. They lost themselves. Let us be careful that we stay rooted in Jesus and His grace. Let us be careful in life that we do not lose ourselves. 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.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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019%3A%201-16&

Jesus stands before Pilate today and is asked, are you a king? Jesus takes that conversation in another direction. He talks to Pilate about truth, to which Pilate asks, what is truth? Now, we know the answer; Jesus tells us earlier He is truth. He is the way, the truth, and life. But here’s the problem. Pilate didn’t want truth. The religious leaders didn’t want truth. Jesus is truth and He would change things. He would burn down the false securities that they had built their lives on. What is truth? Jesus. Do we want truth? 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.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://www.biblegateway.com

Today’s reading is a bit longer because we look at what is called a “sandwich.” We see these in the Gospels, in particular. What is happening is a story is broken up into two stories, with another story in between, a sandwich. This is done to show a contrast. Today, we see Peter’s denial of Jesus broken up into 2 seconds, with Jesus before the High Priest in the middle. We see Peter, not standing firm, and Jesus, standing firm. We see in this why we need Jesus. We need Him with us for us to stand. 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.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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2018%3

We see one of my favorite examples of who Jesus is today. When they come to arrest Jesus, Peter draws the sword and cuts off the ear. And, if we are going to be honest, we feel like Peter sometimes, don’t we? We want to lop off some ears sometimes. Sometimes, it even feels right to do that, doesn’t it? But look at what Jesus does. He puts away the sword. I want to follow Jesus in that way. In a world that lops off ears, I want to be like Jesus. I want to bring healing. I want to bring healing in a world of pain. Let’s follow Jesus wherever He leads us. 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.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 -

In our INTERSECTION message from November 17, 2024, Andy shares with us from Hebrews 10: 19-25. We can come with confidence before Jesus because of what He has done. Let us gather today and be thankful for all He has done!

Jesus prays for us today. We have seen prayers for the disciples who were there with Him, but today, He is praying for me and for you. He is praying for the church of this moment. Of all the things that He can pray for, what does He choose? Unity. He prays that we may be one. That we may be one as He and the Father are one. Unity matters to Jesus. As Christians, and particularly those of us who are Protestants, we often don’t think that way. But we see here today that unity matters to Jesus. So, unity should matter to us as well. 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.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://www.biblegatewa

Today, we see Jesus continue His prayer for the church. He asks the Father not to take us out of the world but to keep us safe in it. Often in our lives, our growth doesn’t come from easy times but from hard times. God’s desire for us is not that we are happy, but God’s desire for us is that we are holy. We see Him pray for our sanctification or our holiness. But let’s remember that holiness is not morality. Morality leads to legalism: I’m good, you’re bad. Holiness is God’s love, being shed abroad in our hearts so that we perfectly love God and neighbor. 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.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

John 17:3 is one of my favorite passages. It tells us what heaven is. Eternal life is this: knowing God and His Son, Jesus Christ, who He sent. That’s what it is. This is a future thing, yes, but it’s also a now thing.  A professor called this a not but not yet thing. We experience foretastes of heaven but not the fullness. One day, we’ll know the fullness, but not yet. So, today, in this moment, you can know eternal life. 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.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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017%3A%201-5&version=NIVYou can watch this in video form here - https://revan

Jesus today makes us a promise. We will have trouble. He tells us that. But He also tells us to take heart because He has overcome this world. He has overcome all things: sin, death, tragedy, pain, hurt, loss, all of it. That’s not to say that these things aren’t real or that they won’t bring us to tears. But He promises this: those tears will turn into joy. He is overcome. Today, take that absurd, outrageous, abundant, overwhelming, amazing hope with you into every room you are in! 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.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://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2016%3A%2016-33&v

Jesus says the Spirit will come from the Father and reveal what He has said. Any knowledge you have, from prayer, Scripture, reading, fasting, or any of the means of grace, comes from the Father, through the Son, or by the Spirit.  Everything, everything we know, is an act of the Holy Trinity. Jesus said that this will come in a time of grief, and that is often the way that it is; it is in those times of pain that is when we can most know truth. Today, listen to the Spirit. Sek the Spirit. Walk with the Spirit. For the Spirit will point us to all truth. 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.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 -

Jesus tells His followers today that He was hated. We take some time this morning to look at what He is talking about in the original context. He is talking about how the religious leaders hated Him, and they will hate the disciples. But He is also talking about us. Following Jesus is always hard. Following the leading of the Spirit is always a challenge. Folks may not like it. They may judge us. They may even hate us. But we know that Jesus is always with us, no matter what. Following Him is hard, yes. But it is also the way to life. 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.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://www.bibleg

In our Traditional message from November 10, 2024, Andy looks at Mark 12: 38-44. We see that the widow gives sacrificially. While this is hard, giving, sacrificing, and following Jesus, is always a challenge. But it is always where life is found.