Category: John Wesley

• 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

• 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

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• What Does the New Testament Say?

  

  This is Part 2 of Overview of the Bible Series. Click here for Part 1: What Does the Old Testament Say? If you could sum up the Bible in one word, what would it be? This may be tricky for some. Some may be thinking we can’t sum up the Bible in one word. I […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/01/2022

  belief, bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, eternal life, evangelism, faith, forgiven, Forgiveness, God’s grace, God’s promises, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, leadership, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, preaching, relationships, repentance, spiritual transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• What Does the Old Testament Say?

  The Bible is my favorite book. Every time I read something out of the Bible, I see and learn something new. That is the power of the scripture. God’s Holy Spirit will speak to us, in different ways and at different times, a message we need to hear whether we have read that particular passage […]

  Ryan Stratton

  08/25/2022

  bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Failure, faith, faithful, faithfulness, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, John Wesley, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, praise, reconciliation, renewal, repentance, transformation, uncategoried, worldview, worship, youth ministry

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• God Calls

  Click Here to Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10 I don’t know about you, but I LOVE the Old Testament. Yeah, there are many things I still don’t understand, but I do know this, what we call the Old Testament takes up 66% of our Bible, so taking the time to understand the storyline is vital for […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/01/2021

  belief, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conflict, conversion, devotionals, disciples, freedom, freedom in Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, preach, preaching, speech, Spirit, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  1 Samuel 3:1-10, bible study, Christian life, God calls, hearing God’s voice, knowing God’s voice, knowing Jesus, live differently, love the Old Testament, new life in Christ, responding to God, sermon on 1 Samuel 3, trusting God

• Mighty Acts of God

  Acts 2:1-21 The scene.  120 of Jesus’ followers were gathered in the Upper Room. What were they doing? Exactly what Jesus told them to do. Wait. But this was not a sit still, do nothing, kind of waiting. No. They were actively praising and worshipping God through Jesus Christ. Why? Because they knew the power of […]

  Ryan Stratton

  05/25/2021

  awakening, beauty, belief, believe, belonging, Bible, born again, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, eternal life, faith, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, John Wesley, kindness, leadership, legacy, methodism, methodist, mission, power, praise, preach, resurrection, revival, Spirit, Spirit led, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  acts 2:1-21, day of Pentecost, evangelism strategy, Good News of Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, love jesus, power of God, power of the Holy Spirit, Trust God, wait for the spirit

• Vitality of the Christian Faith

  On July 2, 1789, John Wesley wrote a sermon called, “Causes Of The Inefficacy Of Christianity”. Click here for the full sermon. This is a powerful, convicting, sermon on how Christianity can be more transformative in our world. Here is a summary and application for this important sermon: Causes of the Inefficacy of Christianity Jeremiah […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/20/2020

  belief, bible, born again, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conversion, disciples, Failure, faith, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, leadership, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, power, Prayer, priority, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, redeemed, Relationships, renewal, repent, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Uncategorized, witness, witnessing, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Revival Can Come

  “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” ~2 Chronicles 7:14 NRSV I see this Bible verse posted on yard signs, in windows, I hear it from […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/13/2020

  belief, belonging, Bible, bible study, born again, challenge, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, faithful, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, journaling, judgement, leadership, learning, legacy, Life, live stream, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, passion, pastor, Prayer, preaching, preparation, renewal, repentance, resurrection, revival, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, witness, witnessing, Wonder, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  2 Chronicles 7:14, Christian life, God, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, it begins with me, Jesus Christ, life transformation, new life in Christ, praying for revival, revival, Trust God, trusting Jesus, what is revival

• Reaching Our Cities for Christ

  Christopher Wright said it well, “We argue about what can legitimately be included in the mission God expects from the church, when we should ask what kind of church God expects for his mission in all its comprehensive fullness.” (Wright, 534) Alongside this line of thinking, another way to look at this is “I may […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/11/2020

  Apostle Paul, belief, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, forgiven, Forgiveness, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, holy living, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, leadership, legacy, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, passion, pastor, poor, priorities, Relationships, religion, revival, transformation, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, witnessing, works, worldview, writing, youth ministry

  1 Corinthians 9:22, Apostle Paul’s mission, cultural contexts, evangalizing the cities, following Jesus example, how to reach people, knowing the culture, living the great commission, love God love people, Reaching our cities for Christ, who is my neighbor