Category: Truth

• Worship then Spiritual Warfare

  Look around. What do you see? Do you notice the beauty around you? Do you notice things that you deem wrong? Think about that for a minute. What is it you focus on? I ask this question because there is so much more than what we can physically see. Our physical eyes have limitations that […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/04/2022

  bible, Christian Life, Christianity, disciples, gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, methodism, methodist, ministry, thinking, thoughts, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Christian life, focus on Jesus, mindset on worship, power of worship, Psalm 27, spiritual warfare, victory of God, worshipping Jesus

• 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

  anxiety in making decisions, Christian life, complete life change, devotional on discernment, God has a plan, how to make a decision, live differently, Trust Jesus, what does discernment mean, who does God want me to become

• 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

  bible study, faith in Christ, God is with us, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, how do I know who I am, Jesus brings salvation, message of the Bible, new creation in Christ, story of Christian scriptures, transformation in Christ, what does New Testament say, who is Jesus?

• 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

• REFRESHING MY SOUL

  

  I need to rest. This is an everyday truth for me. But it is hard to rest because I have so much to do each and every day. How will I get everything done if I take time to rest? Who will take up the slack, especially in a busy season of life? These are […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/12/2022

  ambition, belonging, calling, career, Christian Life, Christianity, glory to God, God’s grace, Life, ministry, pastor, remember, renewal, rest, Sabbath, Truth, uncategoried

  burnout is real, loving God, loving my family, refreshing my soul, signs of burnout, time to rest

• The Greatest Gift

  Read Mark 12:38-44 October 31 is Reformation Day. What does this mean? This is the day Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the front door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This is the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Reformation. Every 500 years, or so, the Church goes through a process of “reforming” to […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/02/2021

  arrogance, attitudes, awakening, belief, believe, belonging, bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, community, compassion, disciples, faith, God’s grace, good news, gospel, hypocricy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Martin Luther, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Uncategorized, worldview, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  compassion of Jesus, God raises up people, know Gods love, love God, love people, Mark 12:38-44, praise God, Protestant Reformation, reformation of the church, Trust Jesus, widows mite

• 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

• God Responds

  Click here to read 1 Samuel 8. Samuel is an interesting character. He is a mild-mannered prophet who has no problem removing the head of enemy kings. He is someone you can go to in order to hear from God, and also someone who will make sure the job gets done. (Stay with me this […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/08/2021

  bible, Bible, calling, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conflict, confrontation, devotionals, disciples, Emotions, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, holy, holy life, holy living, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, praise, Prayer, prayer life, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  1 Samuel 8, God hears prayers, god is not caught off guard, God knows, God loves you, God seeks us, God’s response, Israel asks for a king, rejecting God

• Made in the Image of God

  Created in the Image of God “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”[1] The imago Dei has been a […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/04/2021

  believe, belonging, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, family, family of God, forgiven, Forgiveness, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, holy, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, humanity, Image of God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, pastor, preach, preaching, proclaiming Christ, reflection, relationships, renewal, repent, repentance, revival, Spiritual transformation, transformation, trust, Truth, worship, writing, youth ministry

  born again, building relationships, Christian life, Genesis 1:27, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, likeness of Jesus, made in god’s image, recreated in god’s image, Trust God, what is the i age of 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