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 otherContinue reading “Beyond Jealousy”
Category Archives: ministry
Praying as Community
Click here to read the scripture for today: Acts 4:23-37. Peter and John have just been interrogated for their faith and belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. They could have easily went back and began a tirade of bashing the religious leaders; but they did something different. Instead ofContinue reading “Praying as Community”
Rise and Walk
Click here to read today’s scripture: Acts 3. One of the best lessons I have heard from prayer reminds us to pay attention when we are praying, especially in public. So much of the time, we tend to want to be by ourselves. We’ll have our eyes closed. We’ll try to keep everything quiet. ButContinue reading “Rise and Walk”
Community
Click here to read Acts 2:42-47. Imagine Utopia, a perfect place were there is no conflict and everyone has what they need. Sounds like a great place? John Lennon thought of how the world would be different if we simply “Imagine”[d] doing things out of love rather than doing things out of self-preservation; but doingContinue reading “Community”
The Rush
Click here to read Acts 2:1-41. Chris LeDoux, a rock/country artist from the early 1990’s, sang a song called “Stampede.” It was about cowboy driving cattle from one place to another place. All was calm at night while they we trying to rest, until… They heard something that sounded like thunder. But when they lookedContinue reading “The Rush”
REDEEMED: The Unfamily Becomes Family
Last week, I invited you to think about your faith story and how you are different because of the grace of Jesus Christ. If it wasn’t for his mercy and his grace, we would not be able to experience hope, joy, love, and peace in this world. We would constantly shift from emotion to emotion.Continue reading “REDEEMED: The Unfamily Becomes Family”
REDEEMED: Out of Egypt
This week, I want you to think about what your defining story. This would be a story that defines your life journey from where you were to where you are, and are going. The defining story of the Hebrew people is the Exodus, the escape from Egypt. I invite you to read the passage forContinue reading “REDEEMED: Out of Egypt”
5 Reasons You Should Invite People to Worship Each Week
I am sure most of you have heard a pastor, or other church members say “invite your friends to worship (church) with you.” Why would we do this? I hear all the time people say things like, “all my friends already have a church home,” or “so and so won’t come to church with me,”Continue reading “5 Reasons You Should Invite People to Worship Each Week”
REDEEMED: A Strange Love
We have begun the season of Lent, a time of reflection, repentance, and turning our lives back toward the gospel. Whether you practice the season of Lent or not (the 40 days before Easter not including Sundays), I invite you to begin this practice this year. Ash Wednesday is the day that begins the LentenContinue reading “REDEEMED: A Strange Love”
Giving It Up
Lent is coming upon us. No, this is not the lint we find in our pockets or in our dryers. This is a special time within the Christian Church calendar. This is a time of sacrifice, self-denial, repentance, self-reflection, etc. so we can be fully ready to experience the joy that comes on Easter SundayContinue reading “Giving It Up”
R Y A N S T R A T T O N 