Tag: Jesus

• I Don’t Want to Return to “Normal”

  Last Sunday, I preached on the leadership qualities found in 1 Peter 5. During the course of the sermon, I mentioned how people are desiring to return back to “normal.” Here is what I said: “What I hear people say they are ready for things to get back to “normal”, what they are saying is […]

  Ryan Stratton

  05/22/2020

  ambition, beauty, belief, belonging, bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, faith, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, holy life, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, possibilities, renewal, writing, youth ministry

  compassionate life, hindsight is 2020, Jesus, living new normal, normal Christian life, normal life, the great realization, way of life, what is God doing?, work of God

• Imagine: New Heaven & New Earth

  God is always working. What’s even more amazing is that we are invited to join God in the work he’s doing! Can you imagine a new heaven and a new earth? What does that look like? How is God asking you to be involved? Are you ready?

  Ryan Stratton

  08/13/2019

  belief, believe, Bible, Blessings, body of Christ, Christian Life, Christianity, church, disciples, faith, faithful, glory to God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, revival, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  book of Isaiah, God is working, Jesus, join God in his work, new heaven and new earth, redeeming the world, visioning for the future

• Prayer Walk (Mark 10:46-52)

  Jesus and his disciples are walking from Jericho. Sometime today, tomorrow and the next day, I invite you to take a walk. Place yourself within this passage. It may be helpful to have a time limit, if you’re not used to doing an exercise like this. I used to not enjoy reading when I was […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/28/2015

  beauty, belief, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Creation, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, faith, God, good news, gospel, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, Prayer, prayer life, renewal, revival, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation

  bible, bible study, caring for our neighbor, Christian life, daily devotionals, devotionals, finding God in life, God, God changes us, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus healing Bartimaeus, making scripture come alive, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, pray without ceasing, prayer, prayer changes everything, prayer life, prayer walk, transform the world, transformation in Christ

• “Gaining Sight: Praying the Scripture”

  We have been on this journey through Mark chapter 10 this month. Now, we are in the final verses of this chapter. To recap, we have encountered Jesus Christ in several different ways. Hopefully we have all grown closer in our faith in Christ. This week, we’re going to do something different in our devotional […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/26/2015

  belief, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, community, Emotions, faith, God, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, new creation, new life, pray, Prayer, prayer life, relationships, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation

  bible study, blind Bartimaeus, Christian life, God, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lectio divina, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, praying the scriptures, regaining sight, time with God, transform the world, transformation in Christ, worship

• “The Example”

  Mark 10:44-45 Whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all, for the Son of Man didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people. True greatness does not lie in the position one has in life. True greatness lies in the attitude and character […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/23/2015

  belief, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, example, faith, God, good news, gospel, Gospel of Mark, grace, greatness, Holy Spirit, hope, humility, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, new creation, new life, position, relationships, serve, service, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation

  becoming a servant, bible, bible study, Christ, Christian life, daily devotionals, devotionals, God, God in flesh, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, incarnation of Christ, Jesus, Jesus Christ, live what you preach, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, transform the world, transformation in Christ

• Think Like This?

  Mark 10:28 Peter said to him, “Look, we’ve left everything and followed you.” Don’t you just love Peter? I love how he always seems to put his foot in his mouth. This is a great skill Peter has developed. I’m getting good at putting both feet in my mouth when I say things I shouldn’t. I […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/15/2015

  Apostle Peter, arrogance, belief, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, faith, glory to God, God, good news, gospel, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, Life, Lord, Love, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, relationships, renewal, revival, Savior, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, witnessing

  arrogant people, bible study, children of God, Christian life, daily devotionals, following Jesus, foundation for our life, give glory to God, God, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, humble lifestyle, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Lord and Savior, listening to the Spirit, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, what did Jesus say

• Unjoining Union

  Mark 10:2-8 “Some Pharisees came and, trying to test him, they asked, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus answered, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a divorce certificate and to divorce his wife.” Jesus said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you because of your […]

  Ryan Stratton

  10/06/2015

  belief, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, community, divorce, faith, faithful, God, Golden rule, gospel, Gospel of Mark, grace, heart, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, Life, Love, marriage, methodism, methodist, ministry, new creation, new life, peace, relationships, renewal, revival, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, testing, transformation, youth ministry

  bible study, Christian life, daily devotionals, faith in Christ, glory of Christ, glory of God, God, God has a plan, God with us, God’s grace, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Mark, hard hearts, Holy Spirit, human condition, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Kingdom of God, live by faith, live differently, marriage relationships, new life in Christ, testing Jesus, transform the world, two becoming one flesh

• Control

  James 3:2-3 CEB “We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely. When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies.” I love the […]

  Ryan Stratton

  09/15/2015

  belief, bible, bible study, body of Christ, book of James, Christian Life, Christianity, church, control, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, faith, gifts, glory of God, God, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, Life, Love, maturity, methodism, methodist, mindset, new creation, new life, peace, perfection, reflection, relationships, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, thinking, transformation, words

  bible study, book of James, Christian life, controlling our tongue, daily devotionals, God, God is love, God with us, God’s grace, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, higher thougts, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit is our counselor, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life is worship, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, transform the world, transformation in Christ, trust, Trust God, Trust Jesus

• Cookie Cutters?

  Romans 12:4 “We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function.” Wouldn’t it be nice if all of us had the same function, same mindset, same gifts and talents as each other? Wouldn’t that make life easier? I know we say (and hopefully tease), “If only [insert name […]

  Ryan Stratton

  05/06/2015

  Apostle Paul, belief, bible, bible study, body of Christ, book of Romans, Challenges, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, community, compassion, Creativity, faith, glory, glory of God, God, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, relationships, Romans, Spirit, spiritual growth, Spirituality, transformation

  Apostle Paul, body of Christ, book of Romans, Christian life, community of faith, creativity of God, diversity is good, faith in Christ, fruit of the spirit, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, live by faith, live differently, live free, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, praise God, spiritual gifts, Trust God, Trust Jesus, universal church

• Filled

  Ephesians 5:15-21 So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly. Take advantage of every opportunity because these are evil times. Because of this, don’t be ignorant, but understand the Lord’s will. Don’t get drunk on wine, which produces depravity. Instead, be filled with the Spirit in the following ways: speak to each other with […]

  Ryan Stratton

  02/24/2015

  Apostle Paul, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, church, community, Ephesians, God, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, new creation, new life, Spirit, spiritual growth, Spirituality, transformation

  Apostle Paul, book of Ephesians, filled with the spirit, finding joy in life, God, God gives life, Good News of Jesus Christ, Gospel changes us, gospel of Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, live by faith, live differently, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, transformation, treating people with respect