There are several scriptures that are challenging to preach from. How do we handle them? We take time. We study them. We attempt to understand the original audience and context. In short, we “wrestle” with them. Matthew 15: 21-28 is one of those scripture passages. How do we handle Jesus’ interactions with the Canaanite womanContinue reading “Difficult Scriptures to Preach From”
Category Archives: Christian Life
What are you doing here?
“What are you doing here?” How would you answer this question? If you’re like me, you would talk about the tasks you need to do, or the journey that got you to this point. Seems like a legit response, right? But, in 1 Kings 19:9-18, when God asks Elijah, when he was hiding in theContinue reading “What are you doing here?”
Sit. Walk. Stand.
I wish I were smart enough to come up with this title and concept, but Watchman Nee did first, and he wrote a great, short book with this same title. Sit. Walk. Stand. This is the picture of the Christian life. It is also the picture and progress the Apostle Paul lays out in theContinue reading “Sit. Walk. Stand.”
Wisdom for Today
Who can you trust? Where do you get the best, most accurate, information out there? How do you know if something/someone is credible? Recently I attended, as a proud parent, of all of my kids promotion/awards ceremonies in school. If I can be biased, I have some amazing and amazingly smart kids. As I wasContinue reading “Wisdom for Today”
The Book of Jonah
FREE BOOK! If you were asked to explain God, how would you do it? What if you only had one book of the Bible, would you be able to explain who God is and what God’s mission in the world is? What if you only had the book of Jonah? This book is a reworkContinue reading “The Book of Jonah”
CROSSROADS DEVOTIONAL IS AVAILABLE!
My name is Ryan Stratton and I wrote a book called “Crossroads.” It’s a forty day devotional and I am really excited about it! You’ve been in a position and situation where you have had to make a big decision. You may have felt an overwhelming sense of dread or anxiety because you keep tryingContinue reading “CROSSROADS DEVOTIONAL IS AVAILABLE!”
Preparing a Sermon
Pastors know this. Sunday’s coming whether we are ready or not. The question is, are you ready to preach and proclaim the Word of God with confidence and humility? In this video, I outline the “steps” I have learned to understand the scripture. I hope this helps. Even if you are not preaching, this videoContinue reading “Preparing a Sermon”
The Presence of God
Read: Exodus 24:12-18 (NIV) “The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain ofContinue reading “The Presence of God”
How to Read the Bible
The Bible is the book that has changed millions of lives over the last few thousand years. It is a life changing book. This “book” has changed my life. Yet, the Bible can be challenging to read. John Wesley, the 18th century founder of the Methodist Movement, called “searching the scriptures” (reading and studying theContinue reading “How to Read the Bible”
Matthew 13
Take some time to read this parable: “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “AContinue reading “Matthew 13”
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