Category: Christmas story

• What if Joseph said “No”?

  

  Every year we hear the story of Christ’s birth. The angel speaking to Mary. The shepherds. The magi (wise men). To Joseph, through a dream. We can read in scripture, and maybe know by heart, the storyline. But what if Joseph said “no”? Would we blame him? Would we understand his decision? Mary was just […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/22/2019

  Advent, advent devotional, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, uncategoried

  Christian life, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, gospel of Matthew, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Jesus’ dad, Joseph’s dream, Trust God, Trust Jesus

• NEW BOOK: “Jesus Is…”

  Kindle & Paperback Editions “Who do you say Jesus is? Some say he was just a good person. Some say he was a prophet. Others say he didn’t exist. CS Lewis says, “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said wouldn’t be a great moral teacher. He’d be […]

  Ryan Stratton

  04/09/2019

  belief, believe, belonging, bible, Bible, bible stories, bible study, body of Christ, born again, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, confession, confrontation, controversy, conversion, Creation, Creativity, disciples, Easter, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, freedom, freedom in Christ, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, leadership, learn, Life, Lord, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, mindset, ministry, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, power, Prayer, preaching, proclaiming Christ, relationships, renewal, repent, repentance, resurrection, sin, Spiritual transformation, trials, Truth, uncategoried, worldview, worship, writing, youth ministry

  following Christ, following Jesus, Gospel of Luke, Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus is with us, Jesus is with you, Jesus makes all things new, kindle book, life of Jesus, life of Jesus Christ, power of God, power of the Holy Spirit, resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is Jesus Christ

• Advent Daily Devotional

  

  Prepare – Devotions for Advent The season of Advent is coming. How are you preparing to celebrate God coming into the world in the form of Jesus Christ? How are you preparing for Christ’s return? This is a season of waiting and of preparation. There are many ways we can get ready and joyfully celebrate: […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/27/2018

  Advent, advent devotional, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, mindset, ministry, miracles, mission, Prayer, prayer life, renewal, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  advent devotionals, advent season, daily devotionals, devotional for advent, God in flesh, gospel of Matthew, Jesus birth, Jesus Christ, O come Emmanuel

• More Than A Christmas Story

  

  Last week, we began a series on the life of Jesus Christ. We talked about how important it is how we answer the question, “who do you say Jesus is?”. This week, we talk about Jesus is God in flesh. I’m sure most of us know the story of Jesus’ birth. This is the story we […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/21/2018

  Apostle Paul, awakening, belief, believe, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, Creativity, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, Forgiveness, gifts, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, humanity, humble, humility, Image of God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, John Wesley, leadership, Life, live, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, proclaiming Christ, relationships, revival, spiritual growth, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  be not afraid, Christmas story, God came down, God in flesh, heaven came to earth, incarnation of Christ, incarnation of Jesus, Jesus birth, Jesus is, John 1:1-5, John 1:14, life of Jesus, life of Jesus Christ, love of God, Luke 1:26-33, transforming the world

• Prepare: Daily Devotional for Advent

  

  Click here for: Prepare – Devotions for Advent Advent is soon approaching. How are you preparing to celebrate the Christ who came into the world and changed everything? Christmas is much more than parties, giving gifts, and making everything perfect. Christmas is about celebrating and worshiping God, who came down to earth in the form […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/29/2017

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, bible, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, faith, gift, gifts, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pray, Prayer, prayer life, preparation, prepare, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, renewal, repent, Spirit led, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  advent devotionals, advent season, Christmas season, coming of Christ, daily devotionals, God in flesh, Gospel of Luke, gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ is born, O come Emmanuel, preparing for Christmas, real meaning of Christmas

• Love Changes the World

  

    Every person has a story of how the world is not how everyone else sees it. Every generation tells of how the world is completely different from how “it used to be.” What do we mean by this? I think we are all trying to tell how the world is changing, in our own […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/20/2016

  Advent, advent devotional, angels, belief, bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, control, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, faithful, forgiven, gift, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, leadership, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, pastor, power, proclaiming Christ, relationships, renewal, revival, Spirit, trust, Truth, uncategoried, vision, worldview, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  advent devotionals, angel message, birth of Jesus, changed by God, Christmas celebrations, communities of faith, glory to God, Good News of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Luke, human power, Jesus is the answer, love changes the world, making a difference, receiving God’s grace, What is Advent

• Finding Joy

  

  ADVENT WEEK 3: Joy How have you been taking the time to prepare to truly and fully celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this year and prepare yourself for his return? What does this look like in your day to day life? Everything in our lives will not go as planned, and people will frustrate […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/13/2016

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, believe, Bible, Blessings, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, conflict, controversy, devotionals, disciples, facing challenges, faith, fruit of the spirit, gift, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, leadership, Life, Lord, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, new creation, pastor, praise, Prayer, renewal, Spirit, spiritual gifts, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, writing, youth ministry

  advent devotional, experiencing joy, Gospel of Luke, Jesus gives joy, living a life for God, loving God, loving life, Mary’s song, new creations in Jesus Christ, seek him first, what God has done

• Peace: Have No Fear

  

  ADVENT WEEK 2: Peace The four weeks leading up to Christmas is a time we should take each year to prepare ourselves Jesus Christ coming into the world: a time of celebrating his birth, and also preparing ourselves for his return. When we take this time seriously, we have the opportunity to again place our […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/06/2016

  Advent, anger, anxiety, belief, believe, bible, Blessings, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, disciples, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, holy life, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Lord, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, pastor, peace, plan, praise, Prayer, prayer life, preach, relationships, revival, Spirit, Spirit led, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worry, worship, writing, youth ministry

  advent reflections, embrace God’s grace, finding peace in life, God is big enough, God’s grace, God’s promises, have no fear, It’s Christmas time, Jesus Christ’s birth, Jesus gives peace, live in hope, no fear in love, nothing is impossible with God, peace is the presence of Christ, perfect love casts out fear

• Filled With Expectation

  As I read the verses for today, I think of the Johnny Carson show where Ed McMahon announced, “Heeeeere’s Johnny!!!” The expectation of the audience was raised when those words were spoken with excitement. I remember watching the Johnny Carson Show and loving hearing him announced. I think a similar response happened with the crowd around […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/18/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, awakening, belief, believe, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, forgiven, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, pastor, peace, praise, Prayer, preach, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, repent, revival, Savior, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

  attitudes of excitement, change your hearts and lives, Christian discipleship, Christian life, Christianity, Christmas story, Christmas time, God, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Luke, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the Messiah, John the Baptist, new creation in Christ, new life in Christ, O come Emmanuel, proclaiming Christ, Savior is born, Savior of the world, Son of God is born, transform the world, transformation in Christ, transformed life

• Life Lived for Christ

  Max Lucado says, “think what you think about.” One of the things I appreciate about this is that is forces us to think about why we do the things that we do. Our life is supposed to show our love of God and love of people. Jesus said in John 13, “everyone will know you […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/17/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, glory, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, joy, Life, Lord, mercy, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, pastor, praise, Prayer, preach, preaching, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, repent, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

  brood of vipers, change your hearts and lives, Christian life, Christmas story, Christmas time, escape the wrath to come, God, God’s grace, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Luke, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, new creation in Christ, new life in Christ, O come Emmanuel, produce fruit, real presence of Jesus Christ, transform the world, transformation in Christ, transformed life, Trust God, Trust Jesus