Andy Talks

As we continue our series "Three Simple Rules," we look at what it means to do good. How do our simple acts of goodness make a real difference in the world? How do they help us build our lives around Jesus? 

In Luke 8:1–3, Luke alone records how women like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna traveled with Jesus and the twelve, supporting the ministry from their own resources. These women weren’t just passive followers; they were essential leaders and the backbone of the mission, remembered by name for generations. Luke’s Gospel consistently shows Jesus valuing those on the margins and recognizing the...

In Luke 7:36–50, Jesus is at a Pharisee’s house when a woman known for her sinful reputation shows up, weeping and anointing His feet. The Pharisee is shocked that Jesus would let her touch Him, but Jesus tells a story to show that those forgiven much, love much. The Pharisee doesn’t see his need for forgiveness, so his love is small, but this woman knows how much she’s been forgiven, and her love...

In Luke 7:18–35, John the Baptist, sitting in prison and feeling forgotten, sends messengers to ask Jesus if He is truly the Messiah. Jesus responds not with rebuke but with evidence—pointing to the blind seeing, the lame walking, the deaf hearing, the dead being raised, and good news preached to the poor. Even the greatest prophet had moments of doubt, yet Jesus met him with compassion and assura...

In Luke 7:11–17, we see Jesus meet a grieving widow whose only son has died, and He is moved with compassion to raise him back to life. This miracle shows us the heart of Jesus—He sees our pain, meets us where we are, and brings hope when everything feels lost. It’s a reminder that His power and mercy aren’t just for Bible times; He still steps into our broken moments today. Like the crowd who wit...

This morning, we looked at one of my favorite stories in Luke 7, where a Roman centurion shows incredible faith by asking Jesus to heal his servant—not by coming in person, but just by speaking the word. What really stands out to me is when the centurion says, “I also am a man set under authority.” He understands how authority works, and he recognizes that Jesus is under God’s authority too. That’...

As we continue in our series "Three Simple Rules," we examine Wesley's call to the early Methodists to "Do No Harm." We may not always know the right thing to say, but we generally know what not to do. Sometimes the first step of healing is to avoid doing harm. 

This morning we wrapped up Luke 6, where Jesus gives us a clear and challenging word: if we call Him Lord, we have to actually do what He says. He uses the image of a house with a strong foundation—those who hear His words and act on them are building on rock, while those who don’t are building on sand, setting themselves up for collapse. It’s a reminder that Jesus doesn’t just want our agreement;...

This morning, we looked at Luke 6:43–45, where Jesus reminds us that our lives produce fruit based on what’s in our hearts—just like a tree produces fruit according to its kind. If we’re full of grace, love, and mercy, that’s what will flow out of us. But if bitterness or selfishness is filling our hearts, that’ll show too. I shared a bit about flying with my son today (and yes, I’m excited about...

It’s good to be back in Luke’s Gospel, and today we’re looking at Jesus’ teaching on judgment in Luke 6:37–42. We started with a little fun—Jesus never called it the “Sermon on the Plain” or “Sermon on the Mount,” and He certainly didn’t ask for red pencils! But the message is serious: we’re not called to judge, because we’re all carrying logs in our own eyes. We also talked about why karma doesn’...

This morning we looked at one of Jesus’ most challenging teachings in Luke 6:27–36—his call to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, and be merciful just as God is merciful. It’s not easy, and I’ll be honest—I don’t like it. But Jesus wasn’t just tossing out metaphors; he meant what he said. This kind of love isn’t natural—it’s only possible through God’s grace working in us. If we’re go...

This morning we dove back into Luke 6:20–26, where Jesus lays out blessings and woes that flip the world’s values upside down. On Friday, we looked at the big picture—how Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” compares to Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount.” Today we focused on the heart of Jesus’ message: our Christian ethics aren’t grounded in this world—they’re grounded in eternity. Jesus says the poor, the...

As we start our new series in August, talking about the "Three Simple Rules," we take time to talk about what it means to have a rule.  We look at Deuteronomy 6:1-8 and talk about how it is, in the busyness of our lives, we build our lives around God.

This morning’s reading from Luke 6:17–26 gives us a version of Jesus’ famous teaching that’s often called the Sermon on the Plain. Like the Beatitudes in Matthew, Jesus speaks blessings over the poor, the hungry, the grieving, and the hated—but Luke also includes a set of “woes” that warn the rich, the satisfied, and the admired. The setting is different too: Luke places Jesus on level ground, whi...

This morning’s passage from Luke 6:12–16 shows us how Jesus called His apostles—but not before spending the whole night in prayer. That alone reminds us to lead with prayer when facing big decisions. From a larger group of disciples, He chose twelve very different people—like Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector, who would’ve naturally been enemies. And yes, even Judas was called. Jesus...

This morning’s reading from Luke 6:1–11 shows us that faithfulness to God can sometimes challenge our routines and religious structures. The Pharisees had good intentions—they wanted to honor God by protecting the Sabbath—but over time, their focus on rules caused them to miss the heart of the Sabbath itself. Jesus reminds us that the Sabbath is a gift meant for rest, worship, and doing good. When...

This morning’s reading from Luke 5:33–39 reminds us that following Jesus means being open to new things. When questioned about why His disciples aren’t fasting like others, Jesus responds with a parable about weddings, wine, and garments. His message is clear: something new is happening, and it can’t be squeezed into old patterns. Just like you can’t patch an old coat with new fabric or pour new w...

This morning’s reading from Luke 5:27–32 reminds us that Jesus sees people not for who they’ve been, but for who they can become through grace. When He calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him, Levi leaves everything behind and throws a banquet—inviting Jesus and a house full of “sinners.” The religious leaders are shocked, but Jesus makes it plain: He came for the sick, not the well. That’s the...

In our last series from our summer "Road Trip" series, we look at John the Revelator. While this book can be, and is, confusing, this book reminds us of this central truth. God wins!  We are a people of hope! 

This morning’s reading from Luke 5:17–26 reminds us of the power of faithful friendship and the deeper healing Jesus offers. A paralyzed man is brought to Jesus by friends so determined they tear through a roof to reach him. Jesus, seeing their faith, forgives the man’s sins—causing a stir among religious leaders—and then heals his body to show His divine authority. This story is about more than j...

This morning’s reading from Luke 5:12–16 reminds us of both Jesus’ compassion and His commitment to prayer. A man with leprosy, desperate and untouchable by society, comes to Jesus and says, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Jesus responds, “I do choose,” and—remarkably—touches him. That touch not only heals but restores the man’s dignity. In a world that cast him out, Jesus draws him in. An...

This morning’s passage from Luke 5:1–11 reminds us that Jesus calls imperfect people to follow Him. Peter, overwhelmed by the miracle of the great catch of fish, falls at Jesus’ feet and confesses his sinfulness. But Jesus doesn’t turn him away—instead, He calls Peter to a new purpose: to fish for people. It’s a beautiful reminder that our flaws don’t disqualify us. Following Jesus may cost us som...

Today we looked at Luke 4:38–44, where Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law, and I was struck by her immediate response—she gets up and starts serving. That’s such a beautiful image of what grace should lead to: not just comfort or rest, but loving service. Then we see Jesus stepping away to a quiet place to pray, reminding us how important it is to unplug from all the noise and just be with God. We’...

This morning we read Luke 4:31–37, where Jesus, fresh off a brutal rejection in Nazareth, walks right into another synagogue in Capernaum and keeps preaching. That really struck me—he didn’t let one bad experience shake his calling. And that’s a great reminder for us too. Sometimes we try something for God and it flops. We teach, serve, speak up—and it doesn’t go the way we hoped. But failure does...

In our Traditional sermon from July 13, Andy shares with us the story of Priscilla and Aquila.  We see in their lives the power of welcome and hospitality.  Their love changed Apollo's life and, through that, so many others!