Category: Communication

• 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

• Reaching Our Cities for Christ

  Christopher Wright said it well, “We argue about what can legitimately be included in the mission God expects from the church, when we should ask what kind of church God expects for his mission in all its comprehensive fullness.” (Wright, 534) Alongside this line of thinking, another way to look at this is “I may […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/11/2020

  Apostle Paul, belief, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, forgiven, Forgiveness, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, holy living, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, leadership, legacy, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, passion, pastor, poor, priorities, Relationships, religion, revival, transformation, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, witnessing, works, worldview, writing, youth ministry

  1 Corinthians 9:22, Apostle Paul’s mission, cultural contexts, evangalizing the cities, following Jesus example, how to reach people, knowing the culture, living the great commission, love God love people, Reaching our cities for Christ, who is my neighbor

• FREE BOOK!

  FREE book to help you study the Old Testament book of Jonah.

  Ryan Stratton

  05/26/2020

  belief, believe, belonging, bible, challenge, Challenges, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, compassion, conflict, confrontation, conversion, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, faithful, glory of God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, holy living, Holy Spirit, Identity, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, judgement, judging, kindness, leadership, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, mindset, ministry, miracles, mission, motivations, peace, people, Relationships, repentance, respect, revival, Savior, serve, service, sharing our faith, Sin, Spirit, Spirituality, struggles, transformation, travel, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worldview, Worry, worship, writing, youth ministry

  bible study, book of Jonah, Christian life, faith in Christ, glory of God, God, God is with us, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, mission, new life in Christ, praying for revival, revival, talking with God, transform the world, Trust God, Trust Jesus, Who is God

• Loving to Life Pt 4

  

  VISIONING This is one of my favorite things to do – visioning for the possibilities of the future. I have said before that I do much better in bigger picture planning and thinking than I do when it comes to the minor details. The details are important. Visioning is not just about long term planning […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/20/2018

  belief, believe, belonging, calling, challenge, Christian Life, church, Communication, disciples, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, learn, learning, legacy, Life, live, memory, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, plan, possibilities, prepare, questions, revival, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  blog series, building relationships, daydreaming for the future, getting a new church, getting a new job, God’s plan, listening to God, looking at the big picture, looking to the future, moving to a new area, setting future goals, visioning for the future

• Stand Firm in Grace

  

  Click here to read today’s scripture Acts 4:1-22. Peter and John have been on the move proclaiming the gospel truth of Jesus Christ. There have been many lives who have accepted the message and many more that were infuriated with the message they proclaimed. Is this something you can relate to? How would you do […]

  Ryan Stratton

  05/16/2017

  Apostle Peter, apostles, beauty, belief, believe, bible stories, bible study, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, conflict, controversy, devotionals, evangelism, faith, fear, Forgiveness, freedom in Christ, gift, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, influence, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, judgement, judging, leadership, Love, maturity, mercy, methodism, methodist, mission, new life, preaching, prepare, renewal, repent, repentance, sharing our faith, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, witness, world, writing, youth ministry

  being confident in the gospel, being questioned, book of Acts, Holy Spirit is leading, knowing Christ, leaning on God, praying to God, relationship with Christ, sharing our faith, standing firm in our witness, trusting God

• Confidence in Prayer

  

  Someone just asked their friend to pray in public. The friend felt fear creeping in. “What if I say the wrong words, that other person has much better prayers than I do!” These are thoughts that are not uncommon. It is scary, at times, to speak in front of a group of people. But prayer […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/08/2016

  Advent, anxiety, apostles creed, belief, Blessings, character, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, church, Communication, disciples, faith, giving thanks, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, healing, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, learning, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, praise, pray, Prayer, prayer life, renewal, Spirit, spiritual transformation, thankful, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, writing, youth ministry

  book of common prayer, confidence in prayers, daily prayer life, peace of God beyond understanding, pray without ceasing, praying the Lord’s Prayer, praying with the early church fathers

• Investing Hours

  

  OFFICE HOURS Ministry in the Marketplace Part 3 This week, we are focusing on how we spend our time at work. Since this is where we end up spending most of our time during the week, how do we relate to those around us? Yes, our families are the most important relationships; but the amount […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/13/2016

  Apostle Paul, belief, bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, community, compassion, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, God, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Life, Lord, methodism, methodist, ministry, reconciliation, Relationships, Work

  40 hours per week, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, investing in people, love of God, sharing the good news, using time wisely, work life, workplace relationships

• More Than Words

  Have you ever been told, “just pray about it?” I have told people this for years, especially when there is something of importance going on whether it be with vocation, relationships, new projects, etc. Prayer is one of the things that we know is important; but a great deal of us don’t really put too […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/25/2016

  answers, belief, believe, Bible, Christian Life, church, Communication, disciples, faith, gifts, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, pastor, Prayer, prayer life, Relationships, renewal, Spirit, Spirit led, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, thankful, transformation, Uncategorized

  Christian life, daily prayers, God, Good News of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Luke, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray, live differently, Lord’s Prayer, more than words, prayer life, preparing to preach

• “Prayer and Praise Week 1”

  “Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love endures forever.” ~1 Chronicles 16:34 CEB November is the time that giving thanks, or at least these words, are at the forefront of our conscience. We tend to be thankful for all we have, all we have been blessed with, and the people […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/01/2015

  belief, bible, Blessings, challenge, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, community, disciples, faith, family, gifts, giving thanks, glory of God, God, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, ministry, new creation, new life, patience, praise, Prayer, prayer life, realtionships, renewal, revival, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, thankful, transformation, witnessing, youth ministry

  28 day challenge, beauty of creation, Christian life, discipleship, give God glory, giving thanks, God, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, inviting someone to church, Jesus Christ, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, opportunities to serve, prayer and praise, prayer challenge, random acts of kindness, season of thanks, take this challenge, thanking God, transform the world, transformation in Christ, witnessing our faith

• “Gaining Sight: Praying the Scripture”

  We have been on this journey through Mark chapter 10 this month. Now, we are in the final verses of this chapter. To recap, we have encountered Jesus Christ in several different ways. Hopefully we have all grown closer in our faith in Christ. This week, we’re going to do something different in our devotional […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/26/2015

  belief, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, community, Emotions, faith, God, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, new creation, new life, pray, Prayer, prayer life, relationships, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation

  bible study, blind Bartimaeus, Christian life, God, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lectio divina, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, praying the scriptures, regaining sight, time with God, transform the world, transformation in Christ, worship