Category: legacy

• God Leads

  Click here to read 1 Samuel 17. These are the stories that capture our imagination and restore hope. Rudy, The Karate Kid, Cinderella Man, Million Dollar Baby…these are all stories where the “wrong person” wins. But these stories stick with us. Why? Because of who wins! We love for the underdog to win. Why? I […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/22/2021

  anxiety, attitudes, awakening, believe, belonging, Bible, bible stories, bible study, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, devotionals, disciples, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, legacy, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, motivations, preach, preaching, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Worry, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  1 Samuel 17, Christian life, David and Goliath, faith in Christ, God leads to victory, Good News of Jesus Christ, Jesus changes everything, rooting for the underdog, transform the world, underdogs win

• 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

• 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

• Rahab: The Past Does Note Define You

  How would you describe yourself before coming to faith in Jesus Christ? How is that different from your life now? What do other people think about you? Do your family and friends see something different and new in you since you began to follow Christ? Even if you have be “in church” your whole life, […]

  Ryan Stratton

  08/04/2020

  anxiety, attitudes, awakening, belief, Bible, bible stories, bible study, born again, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, home, Jesus, Jesus Christ, legacy, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, new life, preach, preaching, redeemed, Relationships, revival, Spiritual transformation, transformation, Uncategorized, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  fall of Jericho, following Jesus, Jesus changes everything, Jesus defines you, Joshua 2, keeping your word, know who you are, know your worth, new life in Jesus, overcoming the past, people can change, People like us, Rahab the prostitue, story of redemption, trusting Jesus

• Leaders Are Learners

  We are well into the new year. How’s it going for you? Are you feeling productive, or do you feel as if you are in the same routine, the same way of thinking, feeling like nothing as changed except the numbers on the calendar? I would like to offer this question, “If, for you, everything […]

  Ryan Stratton

  02/15/2019

  ambition, believe, challenge, Christian Life, church, example, facing challenges, faith, God, God’s grace, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, learn, learning, legacy, Life, methodism, methodist, mindset, priorities, renewal, transformation, Truth, writing, youth ministry

  change comes from God, improving ourselves, Leaders are learners, leaders are readers, making lasting change, new year resolutions, spiritual transformation, what to learn first

• Ascended & Reigns Forever

  

  Jesus is… God in flesh, free from temptation, healer and restorer, seeking and saving the lost, betrayed/denied/tried/crucified, and he is Risen and lives forever! This is what we have been thinking about for the last seven weeks. Jesus has done, is doing, and will continue to do incredible things in our midst and in our […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/02/2018

  belief, believe, Bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Clouds, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, faithful, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, learn, legacy, Life, methodism, methodist, mindset, ministry, miracles, mission, pastor, power, praise, pray, prepare, priorities, proclaiming Christ, renewal, resurrection, spiritual transformation, time, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  glory of God, Gospel of Luke, heavenly minded, humans higher than the angels, Jesus ascends into the clouds, Jesus is here, Jesus is King, Jesus reigns, Jesus’ ascencion, life with God, promised Holy Spirit, Psalm 110:1, where is heaven

• Loving to Life Pt 4

  

  VISIONING This is one of my favorite things to do – visioning for the possibilities of the future. I have said before that I do much better in bigger picture planning and thinking than I do when it comes to the minor details. The details are important. Visioning is not just about long term planning […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/20/2018

  belief, believe, belonging, calling, challenge, Christian Life, church, Communication, disciples, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, learn, learning, legacy, Life, live, memory, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, plan, possibilities, prepare, questions, revival, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  blog series, building relationships, daydreaming for the future, getting a new church, getting a new job, God’s plan, listening to God, looking at the big picture, looking to the future, moving to a new area, setting future goals, visioning for the future

• Loving to Life Pt 1

  

  You’re in a new organization, work, church, community. You have studied the demographics and have learned about the history of the area. You are excited about the possibilities. Maybe you move to an area that you are not as keen on living in. You see a bleak future, or maybe one that seeks to keep […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/29/2018

  answers, Apostle Paul, beauty, belief, believe, Bible, Blessings, career, challenge, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conversion, dying, eternal life, example, faith, faithful, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, humanity, influence, invitation, Jesus, leadership, legacy, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, new life, pastor, praise, pray, Prayer, prayer life, prepare, resurrection, revival, series, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Work, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  blessing work, changing jobs, choosing life, Hebrews 3:15, John 10:10, joining God in his work, life to the fullest, listen to God, love to life, moving to a new area, new life in Christ, prayer is first, voice of God

• Knowing the Road Ahead

  

  Click here to read Acts 21. Would you want to know everything that will happen to you before it occurs? If you knew, good or bad, would you still want to go down that path? I’m not sure I would. Paul has just left the Ephesians and is on his way to Jerusalem to meet […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/17/2017

  Apostle Paul, believe, bible, challenge, Christian Life, Christianity, church, devotionals, disciples, faith, faithful, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, learn, legacy, Life, methodism, methodist, mindset, ministry, mission, passion, pastor, Prayer, prepare, proclaiming Christ, relationships, revival, Spirit led, travel, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  Acts 21, Apostle Paul going to Jerusalem, being grateful in everything, book of Acts, capture thoughts make obedient to Christ, focus forward, God goes before us, Holy Spirit leads, trust in Jesus Christ, trusting God, what lies ahead