Category: confession

• 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

• Discovering God through the Book of Jonah (Part 1)

  

  What can we learn about God through the short Old Testament book of Jonah?

  Ryan Stratton

  10/09/2019

  attitudes, belief, believe, bible, bible stories, bible study, calling, Challenges, character, Christian Life, Christianity, confession, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, Identity, Image of God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, plan, power, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, revival, trust, Truth, worship, writing, youth ministry

  bible study on Jonah, book of Jonah, discovering God, Jonah chapter 1, Jonah the prophet, knowing God, mowing the lawn, running from God, Who is God

• 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

• Confessions of a Pastor

  Sometimes I Find Myself Being A People Pleaser One of the things I hear, from many people, is, “I will do what I want, I don’t care what other people think.” This is something I have said at times also. The older I get, the more I realize I do care what people think. I […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/16/2018

  belief, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, community, compassion, confessing, confession, disciples, faithful, Galatians, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, position, praise, pray, Prayer, prayer life, relationships, trust, Truth, uncategoried, youth ministry

  being a people pleaser, Colossians 3:23, focusing on Christ, Galatians 1:10, glorifying God, it’s all about Jesus, Kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, mission in life, Pastor confessions, who do we work for?

• Betrayed, Denied, Tried, Crucified

  

  In the 1924 book by Richard Connell, The Most Dangerous Game is a story of big game hunter Sanger Rainsford and his friend Whitney ending up on an island owned by General Zaroff. The General talks about how he is bored with “traditional” hunting and has moved into hunting the most dangerous, the most cunning […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/19/2018

  Apostle Peter, belief, belonging, bible, bible stories, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, comfort, compassion, confession, controversy, disciples, eternal life, example, facing challenges, faithful, Forgiveness, freedom, freedom in Christ, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, healing, heart, holy living, Holy Spirit, humanity, hypocricy, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, leadership, Life, Lord, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, priority, purpose, reconciled, reconciliation, sin, Spirit, transformation, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  betraying Jesus, change your hearts and lives, denying Jesus, depths of humanity, God always has the last word, God offers forgiveness and mercy, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Luke, Jesus is crucified, Jesus’ mission on earth, Judas betryas Jesus, Luke 23, Luke 23:1-3, Peter betrays Jesus, trials of Jesus

• Healing and Restoring

  

  Luke 8:26-39 26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/05/2018

  awakening, belief, believe, belonging, bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, confessing, confession, confrontation, disciples, evangelism, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, proclaiming Christ, sin, Spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, witnessing, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  Confronting evil, demon possession, God loves you, healing ministry, healing words, Jesus brings healing, Jesus forgives you, Luke 8, Luke 8:26-39, new life in Christ, physical healing, sermon series on Jesus, spiritual warfare

• Convincing Arguments

  

  Click here to read Acts 26. When was the last time you tried to convince another person (not family or friend) about coming around to your way of thinking? How did it go? I love talking with sales people. They really know their stuff, and you can tell the ones who are passionate about their […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/12/2017

  ambition, Apostle Paul, belief, bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, confession, conflict, controversy, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, example, faith, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, humanity, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Lord, Love, memory, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, preach, preaching, proclaiming Christ, revival, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  Acts 26, Apostle Paul, book of Acts, closing arguments, convincing arguments, giving your testimony, God’s grace is incredible, new chances through grace, passion for Christ, perception of reality, sharing our faith

• God Working Through Our Lives

  

  Click here to read Acts 22. Have you ever been in a place where you have to defend what you’re doing? Of course you have. We all have. My kids love to give me the reasons why they’re playing the way they are or why the other person is upset. We all love to find […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/28/2017

  Apostle Paul, bible, character, children, Christian Life, Christianity, confession, conflict, confrontation, controversy, devotionals, disciples, example, facing challenges, faith, faithful, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mercy, methodism, methodist, pastor, praise, Prayer, proclaiming Christ, redeemed, reputation, respect, revival, Spirit, Spirit led, spiritual transformation, testimony, thankful, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, writing, youth ministry

  Acts 22, Apostle Paul captured, apostle Paul’s ministry, book of Acts, faithfulness of God, God works all things together, God works in our lives, praise God for your life, redeeming the past, Romans 8:28

• Checking Emotions

  

  You see and hear it all the time. Police shows and court shows are very popular for us because we like to see what will happen. Whenever we watch these shows, or read about the news stories, we cannot take turn our eyes and ears away because we have to know how it ends. I […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/16/2017

  anger, belief, believe, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, confession, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, faith, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, mercy, methodism, methodist, peace, reconciliation, relationships, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  book of Acts, checking our emotions, chosen by grace, encountering grace, know the truth, know your insecurities, loving your neighbor, truth will set you free

• Expect the Unexpected

  THE RUSH This is the Pentecost sermon preached on Sunday, June 4, 2017. Click here to read ACTS 2:1-2. WRITE “ORDINARY DAY” ON YOUR NOTES It was just another normal day. Everyone was gathered together. Everyone had been praying for the last 10 days. This was just another average day. Over the last 10 days, […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/06/2017

  Apostle Peter, attitudes, believe, belonging, bible, born again, calling, challenge, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, comfort, confession, conversion, devotionals, disciples, Easter, evangelism, example, faith, faithful, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, pastor, power, praise, pray, Prayer, prayer life, preach, preaching, proclaiming Christ, purpose, Relationships, sharing our faith, Sin, Spirit, Spirit led, spiritual transformation, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Church is born, day of Pentecost, expect the unexpected, filled with the Holy Spirit, heaven comes to earth, Holy Spirit came down, love of God, no ordinary day, nothing is the same, proclaim the Kingdom of God, Spirit changes everything