Andy Talks

In our Holy Week reflections, we'll look each day at what happened in the life of Jesus. Today is Holy Monday and we look at Matthew 21: 12-17.  We see Jesus cleansing the Temple, driving out those selling animals and the money changers.  Jesus is making it easier for folks to enter into the Temple to worship.  What would He find if He came into our churches? Are we doing all that we can to make sure as many as possible know about Jesus? 

In the last sermon in our series on the Apostles' Creed, we look at the forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Forgiveness is as much an essential part of the Christian faith as is the Trinity and the Resurrection.  In the end, we will be made whole and restored.  

Today we read from Jeremiah 29: 1-7.  We see that God commands the exiles to work for the good of the city.  Even though Babylon is not their home, they are to work for its good. For it's good is their good. As the children of God, they are to work for good wherever they find themselves.  Same for us.  Let us work for the good of our city. Let us never be so heavenly-minded we are no earthly good.

Today in our reflection, we look at Hebrews 2: 5-10.  We see in this passage that Christ suffered as we do. Today, we learn how this suffering can bind us to the deep heart of God's love for us.  As hard as our suffering can be, it can have a divine purpose.

Tonight in Bible Study we are going to look at the some the reasons to fast and see what the practical ways that we can fast. What are some useful tools for this discipline.  

Today we look at a passage that really lays out life, John 10: 9-11.  The devil longs to rob our joy, kill our lives, and destroy us for all eternity.  Jesus came that we can have life and have it abundantly. Today is a gift.  Today is a joy.  Live abundantly.  Learn the difference between what the devil wants to do and what Jesus came to do.  He came that we may live, fully and abundantly.

Today we look at one of my favorite Psalms, 121.  In this passage, we are reminded to lift up our eyes to where our help comes from - the Lord.  He is your help, He is your protector, He is your hope.  Never forget that. He is with you. He loves you. And He will keep you.

Today we look at John 9: 1-6.  In this passage the disciples see a man born blind and they ask Jesus this question. Whose fault is this?  Who sinned for this to happen, him or his parents?  Jesus gives an answer they did not expect and shows a different purpose for this and all of life.  

In our message from March 21, Andy shares with us from 1 Corinthians 12: 21-27.  Today we continue looking at the Apostles' Creed and we focus on the Holy Spirit.  We see the role the Spirit plays in the Trinity, our salvation, and the Church, which is open to persons of all races and nations.  Racism has no place in Christ's Church.  

Today in our morning reflections, we look at John 6: 25-27.  In this passage, we see Jesus ask the people, what are they working for?  Are they spending all their time and effort working for the stuff of earth, are they working to know Him?  When we work only for this moment and to satisfy the body, we miss life. When we work to know Jesus, we find all that we could ever desire.

Today we look at John 6: 11-15.  This is the very end of the story where Jesus feeds the 5,000.  We see at the end of this, they want to take Jesus and make Him a king. But what they wanted from Jesus wasn't what Jesus came to do. His plan wasn't their plan.  What do we do when Jesus' plan isn't our plan?  What do we do then?  

In our Traditional Message, Andy looks at Hebrews 1:1-4.  In our focus on the Creed we will look at His ascension, His sitting at the right hand of the Father, and His return, and what this means for our life, and the power we have at our disposal.  

Today in our morning reflections, we learn one of the most important things we need to know in our spiritual growth.  The devil is a liar. Tempation is a lie.  Temptation promises us life, joy, fun, all these things. But it is a lie.  It will destroy us. Once we understand this truth, we are more easily able to defeat it, through the power of the Spirit.  The devil is a liar.  Tempation is a lie.  Remember that truth.

Today in our morning reading, we look at Romans 5: 15-19.  In this passage we see Paul teach us a very important distinction.  We see that we are all sinful.  Me, you everyone.  Today, we learn the difference between our nature (sinful ) and our actions (sins).  This is a huge thing for us to understand!  

In our Wednesday Night Bible Study, Andy looks at different passages and shows us the wrong motivations for fasting.  It is not about making us look good for other people or even to impress God.  It is an avenue God has given us to grow closer to Him and know Him better!  

Today we read Jeremiah 7: 23-26.  In this passage, God recounts the history of the people, and he reminds us how the people at one point, instead of looking forward, kept looking back.  The people desired the comfort of the past and of slavery to the discomfort of faith and the future.  Today, look forward; don't look back.

Today in our Traditional Message, Andy continues preaching about the Apostles' Creed, looking the importance of Pilate, the cross, and the grave. What do these essentials of the faith have to teach us? 

Today we look at Romans 4: 1-12.  In this passage, we see Paul talk about Abraham, how it was his faith that made him righteous, and this faith came before circumcision or any such thing.  This faith was the core of his relationship with God. That is what made him righteous, nothing else. But, that righteousness then showed itself through his actions.  

Today in our morning reflection, we look at Romans 2: 25-29.  We see Paul tell us what matters is not any outward appearance, but what matters is the inward change of the heart that is then shown in the keeping of the intent of the law.  It's not the outward, it's the inward. 

Tonight in our Bible Study we are going to look at Biblical example of fasting, from Jesus, to the early church, David, and Nehemiah.  What can these Biblical figures teach us about why fasting is an essential discipline for us?