Category: gifts

• 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

• 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

  08/31/2018

  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

  control in our lives, getting eternal life, getting into heaven, giving to the church, Jesus changes everything, kingdom of God is here, Mark 10:17-31; Gospel of mark, rich man and Jesus, Stewardship, stewardship sermon series

• 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

  08/24/2018

  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

  earning God’s favor, gospel of Matthew, Jesus says don’t worry, live free in Christ, Matthew 6:25-34, Stewardship, stewardship sermon series, stress in life, worrying about money

• Loving to Life Pt 5

  

  SHOW GOD’S LOVE DAILY As we continue in loving people and organizations to life, we remember we have been praying and seeking God’s direction, we have been allowing the people to be their real selves without judgement, we have been meeting with people in small groups, and we have begun a visioning process for the […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/27/2018

  awakening, beauty, belief, believe, bible, calling, challenge, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, compassion, conversion, Creation, Creativity, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, fruit of the spirit, gifts, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kindness, leadership, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, mission, people, pray, relationships, renewal, trust, Truth, uncategoried, value, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  finding life in Christ, following Jesus Christ, ideas to love people, know how much you care, loving God, loving people, loving to life, people have value, people have worth, pray for people, praying with others, show God’s love through you, showing God’s love, writing notes to people

• 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

• 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

  05/26/2017

  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

  Acts 5:39, book of Acts, finding joy in other people success, gifts of the Holy Spirit, knowing our own flaws, letting go of jealousy, made in the image of God, praising God, praying for others, presence of God, stop fighting God, Ten Commandments

• SENT OUT: to Make Disciples

  

  I invite you to click on this link to read our scripture for this week: Matthew 4:12-23. In our church we have been going through a 5 week sermon series called “SENT OUT.” Jesus invites his followers to go into the world on mission to help people experience the Kingdom of God here and now […]

  Ryan Stratton

  01/24/2017

  belief, believe, belonging, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, confessing, confession, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faithful, gift, gifts, giving thanks, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Identity, Image of God, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, joy, leadership, learn, Life, Love, maturity, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, new creation, new life, pastor, peace, praise, Prayer, prayer life, preach, reconciliation, Relationships, religion, renewal, sharing our faith, Spirit led, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  change the world, developing relationships, evangelizing in daily life, go into the world, gospel of Matthew, Great Commission, make disciples for Jesus Christ, redeeming the world, sharing our faith, Steve Jobs and Apple

• Irons in the Fire

  

  We are all busy people, and seem to be getting busier. At the time this blog post gets published, we will be one week away from Thanksgiving. Does that scare anyone? Think of all that needs to be done. Then throw on all the preparations for Christmas and parties and other events, and our lives […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/17/2016

  anxiety, beauty, belief, Bible, Blessings, Challenges, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, faith, faithful, gifts, God, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, happiness, holy life, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, pastor, pray, Prayer, preparation, priority, relationships, schedules, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Work, Worry, writing, youth ministry

  always ask why, empowering people, filling our days, I am too busy, is it my ego, is it my pride, leading for change, leading to empower, making to do lists, prioritizing life, prioritizing tasks, too many irons in the fire, trusting God, trusting the Holy Spirit

• I Believe in the Presence of God

  

  Ancient Creed, Living Faith Blog Series Part 4 I invite you to take time to read the scriptures today. John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Luke 24:49 Look, I’m sending to you what my Father promised, but you are […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/08/2016

  apostles creed, awakening, belief, believe, Blessings, calling, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, faith, faithful, gifts, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, pastor, peace, praise, Prayer, preaching, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, relationships, remember, repent, repentance, resurrection, Spirit, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  apostle’s creed for today, apostles creed, finding comfort in life, gift of faith, God’s presence in our lives, Holy Spirit comforts, Holy Spirit convicts, is God with us, Jesus sent the Spirit, knowing when to speak, renewal, what do you believe in

• I Believe in the Victory of God

  

  Ancient Creed, Living Faith Blog Series Part 3 I invite you to take time to read the scriptures today. 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 Brothers and sisters, I want to call your attention to the good news that I preached to you, which you also received and in which you stand. You are being saved through it […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/01/2016

  Apostle Paul, apostles, apostles creed, belief, believe, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, confessing, control, disciples, eternal life, faith, forgiven, Forgiveness, gifts, glory, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, humanity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, judgement, judging, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, ministry, new creation, passion, Philippians, preaching, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, resurrection, righteous, Savior, series, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, witness, Wonder, Work, worldview, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  apostles creed, describe your life, Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus Christ is alive, Jesus is the reigning King, Jesus is the righteous Judge, Jesus is the risen Lord, judge the living and the dead, live a victorious life, live joyfully, Philippians 4:13, power of God, resurrection people, right hand of God Almighty, third day he rose again, victory of God, victory of Jesus Christ