Ryan Stratton

Rearrangement vs Total Rennovation

This week, I was watching construction workers rebuilding a bridge on a county road. I love observing things get built. As they were working, I noticed a couple of the workers seemed to just be moving the same materials back and forth. Since this seemed to catch my attention, the next thought I had was,Continue reading “Rearrangement vs Total Rennovation”

Hardened Heart

As I was traveling to a meeting this afternoon, I passed several people on the side of the road asking for money or in need of some kind of help. To confess, I have to admit that I was thinking negative thoughts about them and tried not to look at them directly. As a personContinue reading “Hardened Heart”

Life’s Faithfulness

*sermon preached Sunday, October 12, 2014 Some things we can talk about, teach about, preach about and come together to study each and every week. We hear the same messages or the same theme in the messages in worship; but we don’t change. We don’t always attend worship and think, “God is always with us;Continue reading “Life’s Faithfulness”

Destroying Bridges to Build New Ones

Watching this bridge being destroyed so a stronger one would be build in place of it made me think about the bridges we have built in our lives that need to be destroyed. Think about that for a minute. What bridges have you or I built that we need gone, or to be redirected? IsContinue reading “Destroying Bridges to Build New Ones”

Sabbath Rest

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus calls for those who are weary and burdened to come to him and he will give rest. Rest. Our culture says that on our days off we should fill them with play and non-work activities. At the end of the weekend, it is no wonder we do not feel rested. WeContinue reading “Sabbath Rest”

Journaling In Our Prayer Life

This prayer exercise is a great tool to use to remember to see how God is working in our lives, answering prayer, or guiding us through situations. This is not like a diary; but how God has been communicating to us. INTENTION: To keep a record of communication with God. THE EXERCISE: Decide how you wantContinue reading “Journaling In Our Prayer Life”

Simple Steps (Sharing Our Faith) Part 4 of 4

This blog series (parts 1-4) is the sermon teaching how to share our faith in Jesus Christ easily and naturally. Sermon given by Ryan Stratton on Sunday, September 21, 2014. The Scripture reference for this sermon is Luke 15:1-7. I have heard it said it takes a people an average of 10 times to hearContinue reading “Simple Steps (Sharing Our Faith) Part 4 of 4”

Simple Steps (Sharing Our Faith) Part 3

This blog series (parts 1-4) is the sermon teaching how to share our faith in Jesus Christ easily and naturally. Sermon given by Ryan Stratton on Sunday, September 21, 2014. The Scripture reference for this sermon is Luke 15:1-7. For some reason, many of us, including me, are timid or afraid to witness our faithContinue reading “Simple Steps (Sharing Our Faith) Part 3”

Simple Steps (Sharing Our Faith) Part 2

This blog series (parts 1-4) is the sermon teaching how to share our faith in Jesus Christ easily and naturally. Sermon given by Ryan Stratton on Sunday, September 21, 2014. The Scripture reference for this sermon is Luke 15:1-7. We all know the saying, “there is one in every crowd.” Well Jesus says this shepherdContinue reading “Simple Steps (Sharing Our Faith) Part 2”

Simple Steps (Sharing Our Faith) Part 1 of 4

This blog series is the sermon teaching how to share our faith in Jesus Christ easily and naturally. Sermon given by Ryan Stratton on Sunday, September 21, 2014. The Scripture reference for this sermon is Luke 15:1-7 “When he was the pastor of the Methodist church in Scarborough, William Sangster had an eccentric member whoContinue reading “Simple Steps (Sharing Our Faith) Part 1 of 4”