Category: Bible

• Work of the Gospel

  I am sure you may know what the “gospel” (Good News) of Jesus Christ is. If not, the Apostle Paul gives a great “short” telling of the essence of what the gospel is: “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in […]

  Ryan Stratton

  01/31/2023

  belief, believe, belonging, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mercy, methodism, methodist, transformation, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Christian life, complete life change, evangelizing about Jesus, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, new life in Christ, sharing our faith, Trust Jesus, trusting Jesus with your life, what is the gospel

• Be Confident in Your Calling

  To what do you feel called? In other words, what is your purpose in life? What are you passionate about? These questions are all part of a series of questions we should ask ourselves to better understand who we are as humans. Finding the answer to these questions will also help us see how we […]

  Ryan Stratton

  01/17/2023

  belief, Bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, disciples, faith, God, God’s grace, living, methodism, methodist, ministry, spiritual gifts, trust, Truth, uncategoried, witnessing, worship, writing, youth ministry

  1 Corinthians 12, be who you are, called to diversity, Christian living, clarity of purpose, God created a masterpiece, knowing who you are, living out your purpose, spiritual gifts, transformation in the world, trusting God

• What Does It Mean to Receive Christ?

  Christians often talk about “believing in” Jesus or “receiving” Jesus. What does this mean? How does “believing in” or “receiving” Jesus impact ad change our life?

  Ryan Stratton

  12/15/2022

  believe, Bible, bible stories, bible study, children, Christian Life, Christianity, confession, disciples, eternal life, faith, good news, gospel, Gospel of John, holy life, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, leadership, Life, light, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, passion, pastor, preaching, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Christian life, God is with us, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, how Jesus transforms our life, how to receive Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 1, John 1:1-18, John 1:9-13, new life, Trust God, Trust Jesus, what does it mean to believe in Jesus

• Beginning a Disciplined Life

  “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “If you could change anything anything about yourself, what would it be?” These are questions we all get asked, or we ask ourselves. These are good questions, but I think a better question would be “how much are you willing to do/change to achieve the […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/23/2022

  belief, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, disciples, faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, new life, prayer life, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, uncategoried, writing, youth ministry

  best spiritual disciplines, changing our mindset, Christian living, growing in God’s grace, how to live a disciplined life, rather life, trusting God

• Christian Unity

  “I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” ~John 17:23 NIV “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?” ~John Wesley in “Catholic Spirit” sermon  It is […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/11/2022

  Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, control, disciples, good news, gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, methodism, methodist, ministry, preach, preaching, proclaiming Christ, transformation, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  contextualization the gospel, evangelizing, gospel of Jesus Christ, Jesus mission in the world, Jesus prays his disciples are one, reaching people for Jesus, what does unity mean

• DECISION v. DISCERNMENT

  Everyone of us comes to a place of needing to make a decision. Of needing to make a change in life, habits, job, friends, starting something new. This is part of life. We all have to decide what we need, or want, to do. But, one of the challenges this brings is the emotional state […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/22/2022

  belonging, Bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, conflict, confrontation, disciples, glory to God, God’s grace, holy life, holy living, John Wesley, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, motivations, Spirit led, transformation, trust, Truth, worship, writing, youth ministry

  anxiety in making decisions, Christian life, complete life change, devotional on discernment, God has a plan, how to make a decision, live differently, Trust Jesus, what does discernment mean, who does God want me to become

• God Leads

  Click here to read 1 Samuel 17. These are the stories that capture our imagination and restore hope. Rudy, The Karate Kid, Cinderella Man, Million Dollar Baby…these are all stories where the “wrong person” wins. But these stories stick with us. Why? Because of who wins! We love for the underdog to win. Why? I […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/22/2021

  anxiety, attitudes, awakening, believe, belonging, Bible, bible stories, bible study, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, devotionals, disciples, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, legacy, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, motivations, preach, preaching, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Worry, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  1 Samuel 17, Christian life, David and Goliath, faith in Christ, God leads to victory, Good News of Jesus Christ, Jesus changes everything, rooting for the underdog, transform the world, underdogs win

• God Sees

  Click here to read 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 How good a judge are you of someone’s character? How well do you have the ability to choose/pick who the next leader should be? Has it worked out for you in the past? These are questions that we should be thinking about when we read the passage today. […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/15/2021

  belief, believe, Bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, devotionals, evangelism, faith, faithful, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, maturity, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, preparation, prepare, transformation, trials, trust, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  1 Samuel 15:34-16:13, anointing of God, bible study, choosing leaders, God chooses, God chooses leaders, God sees the heart, Good News of Jesus Christ, Jesus king of kings, king David anointed, new life in Christ, prophet Samuel, Trust God

• God Responds

  Click here to read 1 Samuel 8. Samuel is an interesting character. He is a mild-mannered prophet who has no problem removing the head of enemy kings. He is someone you can go to in order to hear from God, and also someone who will make sure the job gets done. (Stay with me this […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/08/2021

  bible, Bible, calling, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conflict, confrontation, devotionals, disciples, Emotions, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, holy, holy life, holy living, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, praise, Prayer, prayer life, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  1 Samuel 8, God hears prayers, god is not caught off guard, God knows, God loves you, God seeks us, God’s response, Israel asks for a king, rejecting God

• Made in the Image of God

  Created in the Image of God “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”[1] The imago Dei has been a […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/04/2021

  believe, belonging, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, family, family of God, forgiven, Forgiveness, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, humanity, Image of God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, pastor, preach, preaching, proclaiming Christ, reflection, relationships, renewal, repent, repentance, revival, Spiritual transformation, transformation, trust, Truth, worship, writing, youth ministry

  born again, building relationships, Christian life, Genesis 1:27, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, likeness of Jesus, made in god’s image, recreated in god’s image, Trust God, what is the i age of god