Category: spiritual growth

• POWER OF PRAYER

  

  You know what a gift it is to have someone pray for you. I’m sure you also know how powerful it is to pray for another person. Have you ever considered giving someone a journal of the prayers you prayed for them? This is a unique prayer journal to help you give the gift of […]

  Ryan Stratton

  08/22/2022

  bible, family, family of God, gift, grace, graduation, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, journaling, memory, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, power, pray, Prayer, prayer life, spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, teenager, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  changing the world, Christian life, faith in Christ, power of God, prayer journal, prayer life, praying for others, praying for revival

• No Perfect People Allowed

  Note: This was the sermon preached on Sunday, July 5, 2020. Today, we move into a series to see how God uses people no one else would expect to carry on his mission in the world. We‘ll take a few examples of people from the Bible so we can know God better through his people. […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/07/2020

  beauty, belief, believe, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, Ephesians, eternal life, evangelism, Failure, faith, faithful, Forgiveness, freedom, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, harevsting, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, pastor, power, preaching, renewal, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Uncategorized, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  Church growth, church mission, created for a purpose, decline of Christianity, knowing God, knowing your purpose, missio dei, mission of God, mission of the church, reaching people for Jesus, state of the church message, who is my neighbor

• What Can “Baby Shark” Teach Us?

  It has taken the toddler country by storm. My toddler is obsessed with “Baby Shark.” Actually, obsessed may be too nice of a word. She has the toy shark that swims and sings in the bathtub. The phone that plays the song. A book. A Baby Shark puppet. She wears herself out dancing to the […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/31/2019

  belief, believe, children, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Creativity, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, faithful, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new life, new year, pastor, preach, preaching, proclaiming Christ, Relationships, religion, repent, repentance, revival, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  baby shark, changing the world, Christian life, community of faith, faith in Christ, Good News of Jesus Christ, Gospel changes us, gospel of Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Jesus changes everything, Jesus Christ, life is worship, new life in Christ, prayer life, sharing our faith

• What is Christian Worship?

  “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us…Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God.” (Tozer 47) How we worship God during the week reflects how we worship God together at weekly gatherings. What is worship? Worship is more […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/21/2019

  bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, new life, pastor, planning, power, praise, Prayer, prayer life, preach, spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, transformation, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  celebrating the life of Jesus Christ, Christian calendar, Christian life, disciples in the world, measuring time in the church, order of worship, purpose of worship, theology of worship, what is worship, worship is a way of life, worshipping Jesus

• 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

  be not afraid, Christmas story, God came down, God in flesh, heaven came to earth, incarnation of Christ, incarnation of Jesus, Jesus birth, Jesus is, John 1:1-5, John 1:14, life of Jesus, life of Jesus Christ, love of God, Luke 1:26-33, transforming the world

• BREAKTHROUGH: When the Holy Spirit Moves

  I am excited to announce this NEW daily devotional: BREAKTHROUGH: When the Holy Spirit Moves You can order your Kindle or paperback option from Amazon: Click here to order. The Book of Acts tells the historical events that shaped the early church through the powerful, dynamic movement of the Holy Spirit. This power is still […]

  Ryan Stratton

  08/21/2018

  Apostle Paul, belief, believe, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, facing challenges, Failure, faith, faithful, faithfulness, freedom in Christ, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, harevsting, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, hope, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, pastor, power, praise, pray, Prayer, prayer life, preach, preaching, proclaiming Christ, revival, Spirit, Spirit led, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, transformation, travel, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, witnessing, Wonder, Work, Worry, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  Apostle Paul, book of Acts, Christian life, daily devotionals, faith in Christ, God has a plan, Good News of Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit power, live by faith, live differently, new creation in Christ, new life in Christ, new published book, transform the world, Trust God, Trust Jesus

• 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, to […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/06/2018

  belief, believe, bible, calling, career, challenge, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Creativity, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, example, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, freedom, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, Golden rule, good news, gospel, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judgement, judging, leadership, learning, Life, lifestyle, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, preparation, prepare, priorities, proclaiming Christ, redeemed, service, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Temptation, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  blog series, bringing life, calling of the disciples, grand visions from God, learning patience, loving people, loving people to life, making progress, new life in Christ, taking time in changing things, transformation begins with relationships, transforming a community, work of the Holy Spirit

• The Journey Continues

  

  Click here to read Acts 28. Paul makes it to Rome. His journey to Rome was full of turmoil, danger, unrest, and more. Yet through all of this, Paul kept his faith. That’s remarkable! Paul believed God when He said Paul would make it to Rome. I wonder how many times Paul had to remind […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/19/2017

  Apostle Paul, belief, bible, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, devotionals, disciples, example, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, journey, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, patience, peace, preach, proclaiming Christ, service, sharing our faith, Spirit led, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, wisdom, witnessing, Work, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Acts 1:8, book of Acts, carry the gospel to the ends of the earth, faith in Christ, faith in God, faithfulness of God, Great Commission, life’s journeys, Matthew 28:19-20, movement of the Holy Spirit, not losing hope, Paul believed God, Paul makes it to Rome, promises of God

• Not For Sale

  

  Click here to read Acts 8:5-25. When you go to a garage sale, one of the first questions asked is “how much is _______?” We want to know how much it is going to cost us to get what we want. There is a sweet couple who grow produce in their garden. The husband refuses […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/30/2017

  ambition, Apostle Peter, belief, bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, control, devotionals, disciples, Ephesians, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, gift, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, humanity, humble, hypocricy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, motivations, power, praise, repent, spiritual growth, trust, uncategoried, Worry, worship, writing, youth ministry

  book of Acts, devotional, Ephesians 2:8, following Jesus, gift of grace, God paid the price, God’s grace is free, God’s great love for us, motivations for joining, power of the Holy Spirit, revelation of God

• Recognition & Generosity

  

  Click here to read today’s text, Acts:5:1-16. We live in a culture that makes us desire to look good and perfect in front of others. What this means is we are going to do everything we can to hide our faults, hide our weaknesses. Why do we want to be perfect? I think our pride, […]

  Ryan Stratton

  05/23/2017

  arrogance, attitudes, awakening, belief, belonging, bible, charity, Christian Life, Christianity, church, compassion, devotionals, faith, faithful, gift, glory to God, God, God’s grace, Golden rule, good news, gospel, grace, holy, holy life, Holy Spirit, humility, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, pastor, people pleasing, priorities, reconciliation, Relationships, repent, Spirit, spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  Acts 5, being generous, feeding our egos, giving our best, giving our lives away, helping others, Holy Spirit convicts, loving God, loving people, motivated by pride, story of Ananias and Sapphira, wanting recognition, what generosity is