Andy Talks

In Luke 17:1–10, Jesus turns from the crowds to His disciples with a few short but powerful lessons about how to live faithfully. He warns us not to cause others to stumble — reminding us that our words and actions shape the faith of those watching us. He calls us to hold one another accountable, to lovingly correct those who wander, and to freely forgive those who repent — even when it’s hard. Wh...

This parable of the rich man and Lazarus reminds us how easy it is to overlook people right in front of us. The rich man had everything but missed what mattered most — compassion. He saw Lazarus every day but never really saw him, and even in eternity, his heart hadn’t changed. Jesus uses this story to challenge how we view others and what we value. Every person — whether a CEO, a custodian, a cas...

This passage shows us how easy it is to miss the heart of God’s Word. The Pharisees loved money and used the law to justify themselves, twisting it whenever it suited them. Jesus calls them out and reminds us that while the gospel has come, the intent of God’s law still stands — it’s about love, mercy, and faithfulness, not control or appearances. The danger for us is the same: we can know Scriptu...

This parable can be confusing at first, but when you step back, it’s really about stewardship and the heart. The “dishonest” manager isn’t praised for being shady — he’s praised for being shrewd, for using what he had while he could. Jesus isn’t telling us to be manipulative; He’s reminding us to be wise with what’s been entrusted to us. Everything we have — our money, gifts, time, opportunities —...

In Luke 15, Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son shows us what grace really looks like. The younger son demands his inheritance early, squanders it in wild living, and ends up broke, starving, and feeding pigs—until “he comes to himself” and remembers his father’s goodness. When he heads home, the father runs to meet him, embracing him before he can even finish his apology. That’s the picture of God...

In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of the lost son—or really, the lost sons—to show us the depth of the Father’s love. The younger son rebels, squanders everything, and hits rock bottom before “coming to himself” and returning home, only to be met by a father who runs to embrace him—a shocking act of love and grace in that culture. The older brother, though outwardly obedient, reveals a hardened he...

In Luke 15, Jesus tells another “parable of lost things”—this time about a woman who loses one of her ten silver coins and searches tirelessly until she finds it, rejoicing when she does. The coin likely represented something deeply personal and valuable, perhaps part of her marriage dowry or future security, making its loss more than just financial. Through this story, Jesus shows us God’s heart...

Luke 15 opens heaven’s heart, showing us God’s relentless love through stories of lost things — a sheep, a coin, and two sons. When the Pharisees grumbled that Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them,” they missed the point: sharing a meal meant sharing life, and Jesus was declaring that the lost mattered to God. In the parable, the shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that’s...

In Luke 14:34–35, Jesus says, “Salt is good, but if salt loses its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?” It’s a short passage, but it packs a punch. Salt in Jesus’ day had two main purposes—to season and to preserve—and that’s exactly what our faith should do. We should make life better, like seasoning that brings out flavor, and we should help preserve what’s good and holy in the world. Our...

In Luke 14:25–33, Jesus reminds us that following Him isn’t something we do halfway — it’s a full commitment. He says we must “hate” our family and even our own lives, not because He wants us to literally hate anyone, but because He’s calling us to love Him more than anything else. Being His disciple means putting Him first — above comfort, plans, and even relationships. When Jesus says to “carry...

In our Traditional sermon from October 26, 2025, Andy shares his favorite Biblical character, Barnabas.  Barnabas is called the Son of Encouragement because he believes in what others can be through Jesus. We need people who believe in what we can be, and what we are doing, through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need sons and daughters of encouragement!

In Luke 14:15–24, Jesus tells a story about a great banquet where everyone’s invited, but most of the original guests make excuses and don’t show up. So the host opens the doors wide, welcoming the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame — anyone willing to come. It’s a powerful picture of God’s grace: His invitation is open to all, but we have to accept it. The danger isn’t that God stops cal...

This morning in Luke 14:7–14, Jesus uses a dinner party to teach us a powerful lesson about humility and the dangers of power. He notices how guests scramble for the best seats and reminds them that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted. Then He turns to the host and says not to invite people who can repay the favor, but to invite those who can...

In Luke 14; 1-6, Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath while dining at a Pharisee’s house, knowing full well they’re watching to see if He’ll “break” the law. But Jesus exposes their hypocrisy by asking if they wouldn’t rescue their own child or ox that fell into a well on the Sabbath. Of course they would. He reminds them—and us—that the heart of the law is mercy, not rigid rule-keeping. The Pharisees...

In Luke 13:31–35, we see one of the most tender and heartbreaking moments in Jesus’ ministry. When He laments over Jerusalem, saying, “How often I have longed to gather your children as a hen gathers her brood, but you were not willing,” we glimpse the deep humanity and compassion of Christ. He isn’t angry at those who reject Him—He’s heartbroken. His love is so great that He grieves even for the...

In today’s passage from Luke 13:22–30, Jesus teaches about the narrow door, reminding us that faith isn’t about proximity to Him or checking the right religious boxes—it’s about truly knowing and following Him. Just like the mustard seed and yeast we looked at Friday, the Kingdom of God is His work, not ours. We don’t earn our way in; we enter through Jesus alone. The door may be narrow, but it’s...

In our sermon from October 19, Andy shares with us from Luke 8 1-3. We see how Mary and the other women gave to Jesus because they were thankful. Jesus has done so much for us; He deserves all that we can give Him.

God’s Kingdom rarely shows up in big, flashy ways—it starts small, like a mustard seed or a pinch of yeast. But those little moments of faithfulness, kindness, and love are how the Kingdom grows. You don’t have to do something grand to make a difference today. Just be faithful in the small things—smile, pray, serve, love—and trust that God will take care of the growth. The Kingdom may start small,...

In Luke 13:10–17, Jesus heals a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years, doing so intentionally on the Sabbath to challenge the rigid interpretations of religious law. While the synagogue leader protests, citing Sabbath restrictions, Jesus highlights the hypocrisy of caring for animals on the Sabbath but denying healing to a fellow child of Abraham. This moment underscores that true holines...

In Luke 13:1–9, Jesus responds to news of two tragedies—the Galileans killed by Pilate and the people crushed when the tower of Siloam fell—by rejecting the idea that their suffering was God’s punishment. He reminds us that tragedy isn’t always tied to sin; sometimes bad things just happen in a broken world. Then Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that hasn’t borne fruit, but instead of cuttin...

In Luke 12:54–59, Jesus challenges the crowd for being able to read the weather but missing the spiritual signs right in front of them. It’s a reminder for us to pay attention—to what the Holy Spirit is doing, to those small nudges from God in Scripture, worship, or everyday life. Jesus also calls us to be peacemakers, to settle things before they spiral, to bring calm instead of conflict. The ear...

In Luke 12:49–53, Jesus says he came not to bring peace but division, reminding us that following him always requires a choice—and real choices have consequences. While in some parts of the world faith can cost family or even life, here it often costs very little, which can make it easy to take for granted. But true discipleship should change how we live, shaping our priorities, relationships, and...

In our message from October 12, 2025, Andy shares with us from Genesis 14:17-24.  Where does tithing come from? Why is it important? We see Abram gives 10% of what he has to Melkizedek, who is a spiritual forerunner to Jesus (Psalm 110, Hebrews 7).  He had a vision for what God was doing. It is the same for us. That is why we give.

In our Traditional message from October 5, 2025, Andy shares with us from 1 Timothy 6:3-10.  Wesley told the early Methodists to "earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can."  Our budget is our greatest theological statement.  

Jesus’ parable reminds us that we’re accountable for what we know, and that “to whom much has been given, much will be required.” We don’t have to figure out every mystery of God, but we are called to live out the simple, clear commands: love God, love neighbor, forgive, and care for those in need. Leadership adds even more responsibility, which is why the local church matters—it keeps us grounded...