Category: disciples

• Work of the Gospel

  I am sure you may know what the “gospel” (Good News) of Jesus Christ is. If not, the Apostle Paul gives a great “short” telling of the essence of what the gospel is: “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in […]

  Ryan Stratton

  01/31/2023

  belief, believe, belonging, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mercy, methodism, methodist, transformation, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Christian life, complete life change, evangelizing about Jesus, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, new life in Christ, sharing our faith, Trust Jesus, trusting Jesus with your life, what is the gospel

• Leadership that Encourages

  What makes a person a leader? This is the point where I would hear things like, “good role model, smart, think outside the box, knows how to get things done, etc. etc. etc.” But here’s the answer. A person is a leader when there are people following him/her. That’s it. You cannot lead if there […]

  Ryan Stratton

  01/24/2023

  Christian Life, Christianity, disciples, faith, humility, leadership, learn, learning, legacy, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, priorities, spiritual growth, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  building the kingdom of God, diversity in teams, leaders follow Jesus, leaders have followers, trusting in God, what makes a good leader

• Be Confident in Your Calling

  To what do you feel called? In other words, what is your purpose in life? What are you passionate about? These questions are all part of a series of questions we should ask ourselves to better understand who we are as humans. Finding the answer to these questions will also help us see how we […]

  Ryan Stratton

  01/17/2023

  belief, Bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, disciples, faith, God, God’s grace, living, methodism, methodist, ministry, spiritual gifts, trust, Truth, uncategoried, witnessing, worship, writing, youth ministry

  1 Corinthians 12, be who you are, called to diversity, Christian living, clarity of purpose, God created a masterpiece, knowing who you are, living out your purpose, spiritual gifts, transformation in the world, trusting God

• 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

• Beginning a Disciplined Life

  “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “If you could change anything anything about yourself, what would it be?” These are questions we all get asked, or we ask ourselves. These are good questions, but I think a better question would be “how much are you willing to do/change to achieve the […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/23/2022

  belief, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, disciples, faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, new life, prayer life, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, uncategoried, writing, youth ministry

  best spiritual disciplines, changing our mindset, Christian living, growing in God’s grace, how to live a disciplined life, rather life, trusting God

• Guarding Our Thoughts

  What do you like to read? What do you like to watch? To listen to? These are things I have been working hard at paying attention to. Why? Because I know how my my mind can be, and is, influenced by what my eyes see and my ears hear. I know how dark my thoughts […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/18/2022

  belief, believe, Christian Life, Christianity, Communication, disciples, heart, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, influence, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, leadership, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, revival, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, transformation, Truth, uncategoried, words, worship, writing, youth ministry

  guarding your thoughts, live differently, living a holy life, Philippians 4, think better thoughts, what do you think about, you are what you think

• Christian Unity

  “I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” ~John 17:23 NIV “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?” ~John Wesley in “Catholic Spirit” sermon  It is […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/11/2022

  Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, control, disciples, good news, gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, methodism, methodist, ministry, preach, preaching, proclaiming Christ, transformation, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  contextualization the gospel, evangelizing, gospel of Jesus Christ, Jesus mission in the world, Jesus prays his disciples are one, reaching people for Jesus, what does unity mean

• Picture of Transformation

  One of my favorite things to do is spend time in the mountains. I love this because I can disconnect and admire the incredible majesty of the mountains. Right now, I am writing this after spending a few hours over 8,00 feet elevation at a place called Bible Point. The views were incredible! As I […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/07/2022

  Christian Life, Christianity, Creation, disciples, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, methodism, methodist, pastor, Sabbath, Spiritual transformation, struggles, success, suffering, transformation, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  Christian life, Colorado Rocky Mountains, Isaiah 6:1-6, Jesus transforms us, live differently, new creation in Christ, picture transformation, sabbath retreat, transformation in Christ

• Worship then Spiritual Warfare

  Look around. What do you see? Do you notice the beauty around you? Do you notice things that you deem wrong? Think about that for a minute. What is it you focus on? I ask this question because there is so much more than what we can physically see. Our physical eyes have limitations that […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/04/2022

  bible, Christian Life, Christianity, disciples, gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, methodism, methodist, ministry, thinking, thoughts, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Christian life, focus on Jesus, mindset on worship, power of worship, Psalm 27, spiritual warfare, victory of God, worshipping Jesus

• 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