How Was 2024 for You? Did you accomplish what you set out to achieve? Did you grow into the person you hoped to become? How much stress did you endure along the way? Every year, I hear people reflect on how difficult the previous year was. We long for smooth sailing, but life rarely goesContinue reading “Priorities for 2025”
Category Archives: priorities
Difficult Scriptures to Preach From
There are several scriptures that are challenging to preach from. How do we handle them? We take time. We study them. We attempt to understand the original audience and context. In short, we “wrestle” with them. Matthew 15: 21-28 is one of those scripture passages. How do we handle Jesus’ interactions with the Canaanite womanContinue reading “Difficult Scriptures to Preach From”
Leadership that Encourages
What makes a person a leader? This is the point where I would hear things like, “good role model, smart, think outside the box, knows how to get things done, etc. etc. etc.” But here’s the answer. A person is a leader when there are people following him/her. That’s it. You cannot lead if thereContinue reading “Leadership that Encourages”
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 mayContinue reading “Reaching Our Cities for Christ”
Discovering God through the book of Jonah (Part 2)
The Book of Jonah teaches us A LOT about who God is. Chapter 2 forces us to focus and evaluate what we pray and believing God answers prayers.
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, everythingContinue reading “Leaders Are Learners”
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 ourContinue reading “Ascended & Reigns Forever”
The Most Important Question
Today, we begin a new six-week series on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Yes, we preach, teach, talk about Jesus all year long, but we have to be careful that we are not just filling our heads with knowledge. Our goal will be to answer this question with confidence, “WHO DO YOU SAYContinue reading “The Most Important Question”
Making An Eternal Impact
READ SCRIPTURE: Luke 12:13-21 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance ofContinue reading “Making An Eternal Impact”
Loving to Life Pt 2
MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE Last week we began a series to help us love people to life. When we go to a new place, it it easy to assume we know what people need to do. In many cases, we may be right. The best thing to do is to pray, and listen, toContinue reading “Loving to Life Pt 2”
R Y A N S T R A T T O N 