Andy Talks Andy Stoddard

We see a vision of judgment today. Those who steal and those who lie are removed from the community. That’s a harsh judgment to be removed from the community. But that is what sin does. The ultimate purpose of our faith is to love God and love our neighbor. Sin destroys that; it destroys our walk with God and with each other. This is why these sins have one being cut off from the community. That’s what sin does. Let’s remember that and think through it. Our sin harms not just us, ...

Today, we see one of the most well-known verses in this book of the Bible. When faced with the task of rebuilding everything, the Lord shows this lampstand that will never run out of oil, for the Lord will provide. We are told that the victory is won not by might nor power but by the Spirit of the Lord; that is how the battle is won. One of the greatest blessings we can ever have is a challenge that is so hard that we cannot overcome by our own strength. That is when we have...

Today’s reading is full of some good stuff. Some really good stuff. First, we take a little journey down Methodist history and unpack the famous Wesleyan story of John being a “brand plucked from the burning.” Then, we see a powerful image of the high priest Joshua wearing filthy clothes. This English translation doesn’t fully capture what the Hebrew is saying. These are vile, disgusting, human excrement-covered clothes, as filthy as you can imagine. And Satan, the accuser, is showing e...

We see a word for the people of God today. They are told that the Lord will rebuild and restore Judah. He will restore what the enemies have taken because His people are the open of His eye. But then we are told who His people are, all who call on upon His name. All the nations will turn to Him, and He will dwell in their midst. This, to me, turns my mind to Revelation and to where I will be preaching this Sunday in our sermon “The Marks of Church.” The church is one, holy, ...

Today, we look at Zechariah 2, but when I read it, I was drawn to Revelation 21. Both passages show a vision of this “new” Jerusalem. Many things are said about it, but the primary thing is this. God is in the midst of it. God is there. God dwells there. He is the glory within. This future hope, it is a now, but not yet thing. It is now because now, you, me, and all of us who are Christians have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Christ in us, the hope of glory! But we also know that somethin...

In our INTERSECTION service from June 9, Andy shares with us from Ephesians 5:25-27 and Revelation 19:7-8. As we continue our series "The Marks of the Church," what does it mean to say that the church is Holy?