Andy Talks

In Luke 8:22–25, Jesus calms a storm while the disciples panic, leaving them in awe and asking, “Who is this, that even the winds and waves obey him?” That’s the heart of the story—not just the calm after the chaos, but the question of who Jesus really is. Some of us grew up seeing God mainly as mighty and holy, while others saw him mostly as close and tender—but the truth is, he’s both. He’s the Lord of creation who commands the seas, and he’s also the God who walks beside us in love. Our response, like Kierkegaard said, is “fear and trembling”—awe that such a powerful God would draw so near. Today, remember both sides: pray bold prayers because he’s able, and rest in his calm because he’s with you.

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.

You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208%3A%2022-25&version=NRSVUE

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6C

You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In Luke 8:19–21, Jesus’ mother and brothers show up while He’s teaching, but instead of stopping, He says, “My family are those who hear God’s word and do it.” He isn’t rejecting His mom—He proved His love for her at the cross—but He’s redefining family to include everyone who belongs to Him. Luke keeps showing us this theme: Jesus expanding the circle, pulling in women, outsiders, and those on the margins. That means in Christ, we’re family—not because of DNA, race, denomination, or nationality, but because we share the same Savior. And like any family, we may fuss, but we’re still kin in Christ. If you share my Jesus, then you’re my family.

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.

You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208%3A%2019-21&version=NRSVUE

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6C

You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

In Luke 8:16–18, Jesus says no one lights a lamp just to hide it, but to shine for everyone to see, and He warns us to pay attention to how we listen. In the context of the parable of the sower, this means when God’s Word takes root in us, it grows and bears fruit—but if we ignore it or hide it, even what we think we have will slip away. The fruit Jesus promises isn’t stuff or success, but the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more—that shines out of us and points others to Him. God already knows everything about us, even our flaws, and still loves us as His children, so why would we hide His light? Today, let’s not keep it to ourselves—let’s shine, because His love never runs out and the more we share it, the more it grows.

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.

You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208%3A%2016-18&version=NRSVUE

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6C

You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

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? 

This morning in Luke 8:4–15, we looked at Jesus’ parable of the sower and the four kinds of soil — hard path, rocky ground, thorny weeds, and good dirt. Each one represents a different way people receive God’s word, and if we’re honest, most of us have been in more than one category over the years. The goal is to be “good dirt” — to let God’s word take root and grow by tending it daily through prayer, Scripture, worship, and service, just like you’d care for a garden. It takes work and persistence, but the harvest God can bring in our lives is worth it. So today, let’s be good dirt and see what God grows.

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.

You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208%3A%204-15&version=NRSVUE

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6C

You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

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 quiet, faithful servants who often go unnoticed. This passage challenges us to see and honor those working behind the scenes and to remember that in God’s Kingdom, no act of service is too small.

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.

You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208%3A%201-3&version=NRSVUE

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6C

You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

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 overflows. When we remember the depth of God’s mercy toward us, it should make us the most loving people in the world—because we’ve been loved much, we should love much.

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.

You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%207%3A%2036-50&version=NRSVUE

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6C

You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

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 assurance. This reminds us that our doubts and struggles don’t disqualify us from God’s love; instead, they are moments where Jesus holds on to us, even when our grip feels weak.

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.

You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%207%3A%2018-35&version=NRSVUE

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6C

You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

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 witnessed it and praised God, we’re called to see His hand at work and share the good news that in Him, even death doesn’t have the final word.

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.

You can read today’s passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%207%3A%2011-17&version=NRSVUE

Click here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6C

You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

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.