Category: Jesus’birth

• 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

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• When Love Came Down

  

  Since Christmas Day has come and gone, do you feel any different? Or do you feel the weight of cleaning everything, paying bills, or having to pack the gifts to come back home? The time after Christmas can be really stressful for many people. The logistics of how everything will get done can be very […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/28/2018

  believe, Bible, Christian Life, conversion, devotionals, example, faithful, gift, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of John, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, leadership, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, praise, Prayer, priority, time, uncategoried, worship, Worship, youth ministry

  Gift of time, God is love, God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ heals, love changes things, loving people, spending time with people

• Advent Daily Devotional

  

  Prepare – Devotions for Advent The season of Advent is coming. How are you preparing to celebrate God coming into the world in the form of Jesus Christ? How are you preparing for Christ’s return? This is a season of waiting and of preparation. There are many ways we can get ready and joyfully celebrate: […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/27/2018

  Advent, advent devotional, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, mindset, ministry, miracles, mission, Prayer, prayer life, renewal, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

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• 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

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• Love Changes the World

  

    Every person has a story of how the world is not how everyone else sees it. Every generation tells of how the world is completely different from how “it used to be.” What do we mean by this? I think we are all trying to tell how the world is changing, in our own […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/20/2016

  Advent, advent devotional, angels, belief, bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, control, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, faithful, forgiven, gift, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, leadership, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, pastor, power, proclaiming Christ, relationships, renewal, revival, Spirit, trust, Truth, uncategoried, vision, worldview, Worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Peace: Have No Fear

  

  ADVENT WEEK 2: Peace The four weeks leading up to Christmas is a time we should take each year to prepare ourselves Jesus Christ coming into the world: a time of celebrating his birth, and also preparing ourselves for his return. When we take this time seriously, we have the opportunity to again place our […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/06/2016

  Advent, anger, anxiety, belief, believe, bible, Blessings, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, disciples, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, holy life, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Lord, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, pastor, peace, plan, praise, Prayer, prayer life, preach, relationships, revival, Spirit, Spirit led, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worry, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Filled With Expectation

  As I read the verses for today, I think of the Johnny Carson show where Ed McMahon announced, “Heeeeere’s Johnny!!!” The expectation of the audience was raised when those words were spoken with excitement. I remember watching the Johnny Carson Show and loving hearing him announced. I think a similar response happened with the crowd around […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/18/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, awakening, belief, believe, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, forgiven, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, pastor, peace, praise, Prayer, preach, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, repent, revival, Savior, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Life Lived for Christ

  Max Lucado says, “think what you think about.” One of the things I appreciate about this is that is forces us to think about why we do the things that we do. Our life is supposed to show our love of God and love of people. Jesus said in John 13, “everyone will know you […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/17/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, glory, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, joy, Life, Lord, mercy, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, pastor, praise, Prayer, preach, preaching, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, repent, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Peace of God

  The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season will bring even the best of us to out wits end. We hear the story of Christ being born; yet we go about our busy lives as if nothing has changed. There are so many things to worry about. The media doesn’t help. God is with us […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/16/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, passion, peace, praise, Prayer, preach, preaching, preparation, prepare, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, revival, Spirit, Spirit led, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Sing to the Lord

  What are some of your favorite songs to sing this time of year? Mine are “Joy to the World” and “O Holy Night.” In fact, these are two songs I would like to be sung at my memorial service after I pass away. The reason is because, even in death, there still can be joy. […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/15/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, believe, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, faithf, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, giving thanks, glory, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, pastor, peace, praise, Prayer, preparation, prepare, reconciled, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, revival, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

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