Andy Talks

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 transf...

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 himse...

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 bigg...

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” an...

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...

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, t...

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 th...

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 in...

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 J...

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,...

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...

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...

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, declarin...

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 o...

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 ne...

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...

In Luke 18:15–17, people bring their children to Jesus, and when the disciples try to turn them away, Jesus stops them and says, “Let the little children come to me.” In a culture where children were seen as unimportant, Jesus flips the script—He not only welcomes them but says the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Then He adds that unless we receive the Kingdom like a child, we’ll never en...

In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector—a story that flips expectations upside down. The Pharisee, respected for his devotion and moral life, prays proudly, thanking God that he’s not like “that sinner.” Meanwhile, the tax collector, despised by society, humbly stands at a distance and prays, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” And it’s the tax collector—not...

In Luke 18:1–8, Jesus tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow to remind us to pray always and not lose heart. I love this story because it’s both honest and funny—the unjust judge finally gives in, not because he cares, but because the widow simply won’t quit! Jesus uses that image to show us something powerful about faith: if persistence can move someone who doesn’t care, how much more will it...

In Luke 17:20–37, Jesus reminds us that the kingdom of God isn’t something we wait to see appear “out there” — it’s already here among us. The Pharisees wanted to know when it would come, but Jesus shifts the focus from when to where— and the answer is right in the midst of God’s people. The kingdom is breaking in now through grace, mercy, and love lived out in everyday acts of faithfulness. But J...

In Luke 17:11–19, Jesus heals ten lepers who cry out for mercy, but only one — a Samaritan — returns to give thanks. This story beautifully reminds us that gratitude reveals true faith. The lepers’ healing restored more than their health; it gave them back their lives, their communities, and their dignity. Yet nine kept going, while one stopped to worship. That’s the challenge for us — not to take...

In our Traditional message from November 9, 2025, Andy shares with us form Psalm 17.  We see that we are the apple of God's eye. He will defend and He will protect us, because He truly loves us.