Tag: new life

• What Does It Mean to Receive Christ?

  Christians often talk about “believing in” Jesus or “receiving” Jesus. What does this mean? How does “believing in” or “receiving” Jesus impact ad change our life?

  Ryan Stratton

  12/15/2022

  believe, Bible, bible stories, bible study, children, Christian Life, Christianity, confession, disciples, eternal life, faith, good news, gospel, Gospel of John, holy life, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, leadership, Life, light, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, passion, pastor, preaching, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Christian life, God is with us, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, how Jesus transforms our life, how to receive Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 1, John 1:1-18, John 1:9-13, new life, Trust God, Trust Jesus, what does it mean to believe in Jesus

• God’s Love Prevails

  While I was sitting in the airport recently, I observed the people around. Some were in the hustle and bustle of their day. Some were very irate when their flight was missed or delayed. Some were very worried about not making connecting flights. The tension in airports is very high. The airport is also one […]

  Ryan Stratton

  02/21/2020

  answers, beauty, belief, believe, Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, church, compassion, faith, faithful, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new life, Prayer, prayer life, preach, preaching, Relationships, repent, sin, Sinners, Spirit, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Christian life, Christians and suffering, God is love, God is with us, God’s love, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, née life in Christ, new life, Trust God, Trust Jesus, trusting God, why do bas things happen

• The Problem of Evil

  A perfectly good God exists, and evil exists. This is a challenging enigma to contemplate and understand. After all, a good God would stop all evil and suffering from happening, so we would not have to experience it, right? This is where we need to pause and consider some of the characteristics of God and […]

  Ryan Stratton

  01/24/2020

  beauty, belief, believe, bible, challenge, Christian Life, Christianity, church, devotionals, disciples, Failure, failures, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, learn, Life, pastor, power, Prayer, preaching, purpose, reconciliation, Relationships, religion, Sin, sin, Sinners, trust, Truth, worldview, Worry, worship, writing, youth ministry

  children of God, Christian life, evil in the world, freedom in Christ, God, God is with us, God with us, Good News of Jesus Christ, Gospel changes us, gospel of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Kingdom of God, live differently, new life, transform the world, Trust God, Trust Jesus

• Really Ready for Christmas?

  This week, we have asked some tough questions, hopefully preparing us and challenging us to embrace the real Christmas event so our lives reflect Christ in this world. Once more, I invite you to read the scripture focus for this week. Take some time to ponder what we have talked about this week. Most importantly, […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/04/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, believe, bible study, challenge, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, Creation, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, faith, faithful, forgiven, gift, gifts, glory, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, light, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, new creation, new life, new year, pastor, Prayer, prayer life, preach, preparation, prepare, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, revival, Savior, Spirit led, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Urgency

  Today, we again look at the passage in Luke 21 of Jesus speaking about the end and the glorious return of the Son of Man. This time, I invite us to look at verses 34-36. “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/03/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, believe, bible, Bible, bible study, challenge, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, glory, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, heart, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, new year, pastor, pray, Prayer, preparation, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, repent, revival, Savior, sharing our faith, Spirit, Spirit led, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, testimony, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, witness, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Do We Take Christ Seriously Enough?

  This may seem like a strange question as we begin Advent, but I believe it is an important question we should ask ourselves. This is a questions I ponder most days. How we think about Christ changes our to do list and what we do day to day. What we believe about Christ changes our […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/01/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, believe, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, facing challenges, faith, faithful, faithfulness, forgiven, gift, glory, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, new year, pray, Prayer, preach, prepare, relationships, renewal, revival, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• “Prayer and Praise” Week 2

  This week, we look at the passage in Mark 12. In this, we can see several things; but the biggest concept I think we can take out of it for this week, is the concept of giving thanks in our lack and being thankful for the opportunity to give. Mark 12:38-44 “As he was teaching, […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/08/2015

  belief, bible, bible study, Blessings, Challenges, Christian Life, Christianity, church, faith, gifts, giving thanks, glory of God, glory to God, God, good news, gospel, Gospel of Mark, grace, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, praise, Prayer, prayer life, relationships, renewal, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality

  Christian life, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, give God glory, giving thanks, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Mark, new creation in Christ, new life, new life in Christ, prayer and praise, transform the world, transformation in Christ, trust, Trust God, Trust Jesus, widows and orphans

• “Prayer and Praise Week 1”

  “Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love endures forever.” ~1 Chronicles 16:34 CEB November is the time that giving thanks, or at least these words, are at the forefront of our conscience. We tend to be thankful for all we have, all we have been blessed with, and the people […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/01/2015

  belief, bible, Blessings, challenge, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Communication, community, disciples, faith, family, gifts, giving thanks, glory of God, God, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, methodism, methodist, ministry, new creation, new life, patience, praise, Prayer, prayer life, realtionships, renewal, revival, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, thankful, transformation, witnessing, youth ministry

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• 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

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• “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

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