Category: control
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The Danger of Riches
In 1780, John Wesley wrote a sermon called “The Danger of Riches.” This is a message to help us keep our priorities straight when it comes to material goods. Based on the scripture 1 Timothy 6:9, “They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful desires which […]
Ryan Stratton
anxiety, beauty, belief, believe, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, control, disciples, eternal life, faith, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, preach, preaching, reconciliation, relationships, repent, repentance, sin, Truth, uncategoried, witness, writing -
Victory Over Goliath
We all have “giants” in our life that attempt to hold us back from the life God has designed for us. Some of our giants include fear, anger, rejection, comfort, addiction. Join us for this 7-week sermon series as we understand some of the “giants” in our lives and how they can be overcome because […]
Ryan Stratton
anxiety, arrogance, attitudes, belief, believe, belonging, bible, bible stories, bible study, Challenges, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conflict, confrontation, control, disciples, faith, faithful, faithfulness, family of God, Forgiveness, freedom, freedom in Christ, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, humanity, judgement, leadership, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, power, praise, pray, preach, preaching, proclaiming Christ, redeemed, relationships, sin, Sinners, struggles, success, suffering, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministryall powerful God, apple podcast sermons, Christus Victor, David & Goliath, David & Goliath sermons, David and Goliath, facing giants, facing opposition, Jesus has won, living in freedom, preaching freedom, preaching grace, preaching the gospel, United Methodist Church, victory over Goliath, victory over sin -
What’s Holding You Back?
“Why do people get uncomfortable talking about stewardship?” This was a question we talked about last week. Last week we started a 3-week series on stewardship. We talked about not worrying about what we don’t have, or controlling our resources because everything we have is because of God and really is God’s anyway. Here is […]
Ryan Stratton
anxiety, belief, believe, bible, Blessings, body of Christ, challenge, character, charity, Christian Life, Christianity, church, compassion, control, conversion, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, Failure, faith, faithful, fear, gift, gifts, glory to God, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, influence, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, leadership, Life, lifestyle, live, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new life, pastor, poor, possibilities, power, praise, Prayer, prayer life, preach, preaching, relationships, religion, renewal, repent, revival, serving, sharing our faith, Spirit, Spirit led, transformation, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, works, Worry, Worship, writing, youth ministry -
Why Are You Worrying?
READ SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:25-34 NIV 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away […]
Ryan Stratton
anxiety, belief, believe, belonging, bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, community, compassion, control, controversy, eternal life, faith, faithful, gifts, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, poor, possibilities, power, praise, Prayer, prayer life, priority, proclaiming Christ, purpose, reconciliation, redeemed, relationships, religion, repent, revival, Spirit, Spirit led, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worry, Worship, writing, youth ministry -
Between Two Friends
Click here to read Acts 15:36-41. Just when everything seemed to be going well, or at least moving in the right direction, another conflict arises. This time it does not come the outside world; but inside the Christian faith. The argument is between Paul and Barnabas about whether or not John Mark should continue to […]
Ryan Stratton
anger, Apostle Paul, attitudes, Bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conflict, confrontation, control, controversy, devotionals, disciples, Failure, faith, faithful, fear, friendship, God, Golden rule, good news, grace, humanity, humility, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, mercy, methodism, methodist, pastor, patience, peace, relationships, repent, struggles, suffering, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry -
Set Apart
Click here to read Acts 13:1-12. Everything is going great! You have just been called and set apart for a special task, an important mission. You are excited! People have been praying over you and are sending you out to do the work they know you can do. God is with you. As you go […]
Ryan Stratton
Apostle Paul, belief, bible, challenge, Challenges, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conflict, confrontation, control, controversy, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, faithful, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, methodism, methodist, ministry, power, Prayer, relationships, Spirit led, trust, Truth, uncategoried, writing, youth ministry -
When The Spirit Moves
Read Acts 11 here. Peter had a vision about what God considers clean. Before he had this vision about the animals on the sheet, he was still only focused on “his people.” But he began to understand that God’s Word is truly for all people. There is a little verse at the end of Romans […]
Ryan Stratton
Apostle Peter, Christian Life, Christianity, church, compassion, control, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faithful, glory to God, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judging, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, passion, pastor, praise, preach, Relationships, renewal, repent, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry -
Not For Sale
Click here to read Acts 8:5-25. When you go to a garage sale, one of the first questions asked is “how much is _______?” We want to know how much it is going to cost us to get what we want. There is a sweet couple who grow produce in their garden. The husband refuses […]
Ryan Stratton
ambition, Apostle Peter, belief, bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, control, devotionals, disciples, Ephesians, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, gift, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, humanity, humble, hypocricy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, motivations, power, praise, repent, spiritual growth, trust, uncategoried, Worry, worship, writing, youth ministry -
Beyond Jealousy
Click here to read the passage for today: Acts 5:17-42 CEB. Jealousy. We all get jealous at times. Sometimes we don’t even want to admit we feel this emotion. Jealousy, when left unchecked, causes us to act in irrational and hurtful ways. Oh, we want to feel excitement for the accomplishments and gifts of other […]
Ryan Stratton
ambition, apostles, bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, community, control, devotionals, disciples, faith, faults, freedom, gifts, giving thanks, glory to God, God, God’s grace, Golden rule, good news, gospel, grace, happiness, Holy Spirit, humility, Image of God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, Love, maturity, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, motivations, praise, priorities, Relationships, repent, success, thankful, trust, Truth, uncategoried, writing, youth ministry -
Giving It Up
Lent is coming upon us. No, this is not the lint we find in our pockets or in our dryers. This is a special time within the Christian Church calendar. This is a time of sacrifice, self-denial, repentance, self-reflection, etc. so we can be fully ready to experience the joy that comes on Easter Sunday […]
Ryan Stratton
attitudes, belief, believe, belonging, calling, challenge, character, charity, children, Christian Life, Christianity, church, confessing, control, devotionals, disciples, dying, eternal life, evangelism, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, gift, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, heaven, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, humility, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lent, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, pastor, peace, Prayer, reconciliation, Relationships, renewal, repent, Sacrifice, spiritual disciplines, Temptation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry