tylerramsbey Christian Life, Culture, Ministry, Pastor

No Ordinary Man

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Hi everyone! I had the honor of teaching the Bible this past Sunday at The Rescue Church. We are currently going through a series called “The Story” and are taking an adventure through the entire Bible.

I taught on Chapter 24 – No Ordinary Man – and it was one of the favorite messages I have done so I wanted to share it with you!

Below are the notes.

The Story – Part 24
“No Ordinary Man”

  • Jesus is a Teacher. (Mark 4:1)
  • Jesus is a Healer. (Matthew 14:36)
  • Jesus is a Provider. (Matthew 6:25-34; Mark 4:35-40)
  • Jesus is THE Lord. (John 6:29; John 6:66)

 

How does this apply to my life?

Jesus is a Teacher… Are YOU listening?

Jesus is a Healer… Are YOU believing?

Jesus is a Provider… Are YOU trusting?

Jesus is the Lord… Are YOU submitting?

Did you enjoy the message? Be sure to leave a comment and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Culture

The Key to Humility

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What does true humility look like? Is it a person who feels as if he is the scum of the earth and believes everyone else is better than him? Is “humility” just a big theological term for low self-esteem?

I don’t think so.

Brennan Manning, in his book Ruthless Trust, says this about humility, “Humble men and women do not have a low opinion of themselves; they have no opinion of themselves, because they so rarely think about themselves.”

REAL humility begins and ends with self-forgetfulness, not self-pity.

This poses the question: If humble people do not think about themselves, what do they think about? I’m glad you asked!

Instead of trying to explain this in my own words, I want to share once again from Brennan Manning – “The heart of humility lies in undivided attention to God, a fascination with his beauty revealed in creation, a contemplative presence to each person who speaks to us, and a ‘de-selfing’ of our plans, projects, ambitions, and soul.”

How are YOU doing in this area? The key to humility is being so consumed with the character of God that you forget yourself. This is counter-cultural in a world where “selfie” is one of the most popular terms of our day.

I want to encourage you to live out the words of the Apostle Paul –

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4:8

What do you think are some practical ways to forget ourselves and focus on God? Let me know by leaving a comment; I would love to hear from you!

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Culture, Ministry

I REFUSE!

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I just finished reading Revelation 14. God has convicted me of a truth we often overlook in our evangelical church culture.

God will not overlook sin forever.

Hear me Christian!

I am disgusted by the fact that so many of us are content with keeping quiet about who Jesus is. I have seen many people in the church – who claim the name of Christ – refuse to call people to repentance in an effort to be “tolerant”.

I REFUSE to tolerate millions of people dying apart from Jesus Christ and spending eternity in Hell.

I REFUSE to tolerate sitting idly by while friends, family, and even church members live with a false sense of security.

Christian – Why is it that when you are in the midst of unbelievers you are too much of a COWARD to talk about Jesus? The most UNLOVING thing you can possibly do is be quiet about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Not everyone is going to Heaven.

Matter of fact, the vast majority of people walking on earth today will spend eternity separated from God (see Matthew 7:14). Apart from Jesus Christ, there is absolutely NO way to the Father.

Not Islam. Not Buddhism. Not New-Age. Not Mormonism. Not the Watchtower. Not Hinduism. Not even “being a good person”.

Truth is NOT politically correct.

Every single day, you look into the eyes of fellow human beings who, if they were to die today, will suffer “the wine of God’s wrath, which is mixed full strength in the cup of His anger.” They “will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night.” (Revelation 14:10-11)

Yet… “God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

You can’t afford to be a coward!

Christian – I PLEAD with you to lovingly but BOLDLY proclaim who Jesus is in every area of your life.

REFUSE to be silent.

(DISCLAIMER: I do not advocate self-righteous hatred against those of different religions. But I DO believe that love is shown in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with EVERYONE of EVERY religion. Even if they are offended.)

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Ministry

Lost (for 40 years!)

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Missed church? Check out the message HERE!

Can you imagine being lost for forty years?

I have the opportunity of teaching the Bible this weekend at The Rescue Church. We are currently going through a series called “The Story”. It is based on a book called The Story which removes verse numbers and breaks large sections of the Bible into chapters (using transitions in order to cover large amounts of text, at times). It is not meant to be a replacement for the Bible but it is a very good introduction; especially for people who are new to Christianity.

I will be sharing from Chapter 6 which is called “Wandering”. This chapter is about the Israelites wandering around in the wilderness for forty years – Can you imagine??

One of the leaders of the early church, James, refers to the Bible as a mirror. When we set our attention on the Bible, God enables us to view ourselves through the lens of Scripture. As I have been studying this chapter, God has convicted me of sin and led me into worship more times than I can count.

I believe God has something powerful to say to you this weekend!

Whether you are a Christian or not, it would be an honor to have you join us this Sunday. We have multiple locations and service times (including online!)

Flandreau, SD: 10:00am
Colman, SD: 10:00am
Deeside, Jamaica: 10:00am
iCampus: 10:00am
Garretson, SD: 6:00pm

Head on over to www.therescuechurch.com for directions, more information, and past messages!

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Leadership

Three Books YOU Should Read!

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I recently wrote a blog post explaining the statement “Leaders are readers.” If you haven’t read that yet, click HERE and check it out!

I want to recommend three AWESOME books I have read recently.

  1. Taking God At His Word: Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me by Kevin DeYoung

This book is great probably because it is about the greatest book ever written (well, technically collection of books; namely, the Bible!) DeYoung goes into detail explaining what it means for the Bible to be knowable, necessary, and enough. One of the best things about this book is how short it is. It is a very easy read and theological primer for those who either have questions about or would like to learn more about the Bible. So… READ IT!

 

  1. Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

Yup, another book by DeYoung. He is a great writer and is able to make difficult and complex topics easy to understand for the average person. The subtitle for this book explains why it is so awesome, this is what it says – “How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc.” If you want to understand the will of God, read this book!

 

  1. Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas

What the world needs is positive role models, especially those who are men. The vast majority of modern movies, sitcoms, and songs make men appear like incompetent, ignorant, and foolish cave dwellers. Unfortunately, many young guys are following in those exact footsteps and the only goals they aspire to is having sex with as many women as they can and beating their last high score on a video game.

Eric Metaxas lays out mini biographies on seven different men in order to inspire us to lead lives that make a difference. The seven men that Metaxas cover are George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Charles W. Colson.

Leaders ARE readers. What are some books you have read recently that you would recommend? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Leadership

Leaders ARE Readers.

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Leaders are readers.

I have no idea who first shared that statement. It is something I hear numerous times in leadership and yet it is often overlooked. If you are going to lead, you NEED to be reading; not just in your area of study but in all disciplines (to a certain degree).

Below are three reasons YOU need to be reading a wide variety of books/blogs on a daily basis.

  1. Reading connects you with the past.

Let’s be honest, there are a lot of dead people that have much more wisdom than you or I. Most of my favorite books are written by people who have been dead for centuries. The really beneficial aspect of reading old books is that the wisdom has been tested and proven true.

Truth is timeless.

If the book is sharing REAL truth then it will stand the test of time. If the writing is more focused on pop psychology and fads, no one will remember it 100 years from now – so why read it? If the book has stood the test of time, you NEED to be learning from it.

  1. Reading allows you to have a conversation with people you will (probably) never meet.

If you are going to grow both as a person and a leader, you need to be around people who are farther along than you are in your field of study. This is the reason mentors are so important; they can share wisdom and experience with you.

Reading is a conversation.

One of the reasons I find reading so beneficial is that it is not a lecture. You are able to read, ponder, and meditate at your own speed as you study literature. I love to journal and speak my thoughts verbally as I read a book. It allows me to digest the information and, in a way, have a conversation with the author who has much more experience, knowledge, and wisdom in their specific field than I do.

  1. Reading improves your writing and speaking ability.

Being able to write efficiently and speak pervasively are arguably the most important skills you will ever develop. If you want to make a difference and impact the world (which I hope we all do) you NEED to be able to clearly express yourself as both a dynamic speaker and influential writer.

Don’t believe me? Do a Google search for “skills that employers look for” and I guarantee both writing and speaking will make virtually every top ten list you can find.

By spending time reading both modern and historic literature, you will expand your vocabulary and have a better understanding of others’ viewpoints. When you are reading the works of another person, you are able to enter into their thoughts; this will help you immensely both to understand and connect with your audience.

Reading connects you with the past, allows you to converse with various authors, and improves your writing and speaking ability.

How has reading helped YOU grow as both a person and a leader? Leave a comment and let me know!

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Ministry

The Sacred Apprenticeship

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Have you apprenticed yourself to sin or to God? Are you experiencing death or renewal? Who is molding your life – is it the desires of your flesh or the Holy Spirit of God?

In Garretson, I am meeting with a great group of people every Tuesday afternoon to study the book of Romans. This work of literature is considered by many to be one of the most influential letters in all of history. In Romans, the Apostle Paul is explaining and clarifying the Gospel for a group of ancient believers in Rome. It was written over a thousand years ago but is extremely relevant for today.

In Romans 6, Paul makes the point that all of us are either slaves of sin or slaves of righteousness. To look at this from another perspective, we all serve some type of master. This is true whether you are religious or not. You either serve the master of sin or the master of Christ.

Dave Seemuth, in his commentary on Romans, explains it this way….

 “In certain skilled crafts, an apprentice works under a master, who trains, shapes, and molds his apprentice in the finer points of his craft. All people choose a master and pattern themselves after him. Without Jesus, we would have no choice – we would have to apprentice ourselves to sin, and the results would be guilt, suffering, and separation from God. Thanks to Jesus, however, we can now choose God as our Master. Following him, we can enjoy new life and learn how to work for him. Are you still serving your first master, sin? Or have you apprenticed yourself to God?”

Below are three ways you can apprentice yourself to God.

  1. Spend time with Him!

It is truly strange that there is such a large number of Christians who think they can grow in their faith without ever seeking the God they claim to know. If we had the opportunity to meet our favorite celebrity, we would be willing to give up an entire week’s worth of sleep! How come we hit snooze on the alarm clock multiple times and forget meeting with the God who CREATED our favorite celebrity?

How can you possibly be trained, shaped, and molded by someone you never speak with?

Spend time THIS week seeking the God who made you. Be still and seek God through prayer and Scripture. (If you have never read the Bible, I recommend the Gospel of John as a good starting place!)

 

  1. Work from HIS wisdom!

An apprentice does not make up how to do the craft. You apprentice yourself to someone to specifically learn the set of skills you need to be successful. How often do Christians (me included) try to serve in ministry without seeking God for a proper understanding on how to do the work in the first place!

I think all Christians (and churches) are guilty of this in some degree. We are guilty of thinking we are “clever” enough to strategize our own way of doing ministry. Then, when things do not go as WE planned, we expect GOD to bless it!

The next time you make a decision, spend time seeking God’s direction! Instead of expecting God to bless YOUR “amazing” plan; seek to pattern your life and decisions after HIS wisdom.

 

  1. NEVER graduate!

The goal of a regular apprenticeship would be to learn the skill or craft and then venture out on your own. Unfortunately, many Christians have applied this type of thinking to their sacred apprenticeship. Christians begin their faith attending church, committed to community, and seeking God; then, out of pride and foolishness, they decide their too “spiritual” for these things.

Lack of accountability will ruin your life and demolish your integrity.

An apprenticeship with God lasts for all eternity. You will never graduate from the foundation of His Scriptures, the support of His Church, or the strength of His Spirit.

On a daily basis, seek to spend time with God, work from HIS wisdom, and NEVER graduate His apprenticeship as you “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” – 2 Cor. 3:18

 

Have you apprenticed yourself to God? If so, what are some other helpful disciplines to grow in the Christian faith? Leave a comment and let us know!

tylerramsbey Christian Life

Church Online?

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(Yes, that picture is on a whole ‘nother level of awesomeness)

Have you ever attended a church service in your pajamas?!

I wanted to take a couple of minutes to invite you to join me tomorrow morning on The Rescue Church’s iCampus. Every Sunday morning at 10am central time, we stream our entire service live. There is also interactive chat, notes, and prayer.

If you have ever wanted to see what a service at the Rescue Church is like but have never had the chance to attend, we would be honored to have you join us tomorrow morning! We do not consider our iCampus as a replacement for a local church, we urge you STRONGLY to be plugged into a church in your community.

BUT, if you have not been to church in years, it can be pretty intimidating going back. We would like to help disarm your worry and anxiety by offering the service to you via your computer.

So why not join us tomorrow? I will be in the chat as a “Host” and would love to talk to you. See you at 10am!

The Rescue Church iCampus – www.therescuechurch.tv

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Finances

Three Reasons Why YOU Need a Budget!

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In a couple of weeks, Ashley and I will be celebrating our one-year anniversary! Today I was thinking about some of the practical things that made our first year together a success. One of the many tools we implemented was a budget that we actually use.

YOU NEED A BUDGET!!!!!

I cannot overemphasize that point. Whether you are in high school, college, a 9 to 5 (or more than one of those) you NEED to be following a functional budget. Below are three reasons why.

“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” – Proverbs 21:5

 

  1. A budget helps maximize your giving.

One of the pushbacks I hear about sticking strictly to a budget is that it overemphasizes money. Honestly, I think this is just an excuse for lazy and foolish people to not properly manage their finances (before you get mad that I called you lazy and foolish, go read Proverbs and you’ll find out it’s true). I have found that keeping a budget does not decrease your giving, it actually INCREASES it.

When you form a budget you are able to create certain categories that have set amounts. When you spend out of these categories, you do not have to feel guilty or worried about your monthly bills because you know you can afford to spend money in that area (as long as your budget is actually functional of course).

Practically, I highly recommend having at LEAST two areas for giving in your budget. The first one being tithing to your local church (yup, that DOES mean at least 10% of your income). Second, I would recommend setting apart an amount that you can give to other people. This amount can be used for any type of giving – from charity to taking a friend out to eat. This will make you much more generous AND give you confidence that you won’t go broke.

 

  1. A budget destroys the power of money.

If you have never used a budget, you probably think this point is counterintuitive. You may be asking, “How does spending time managing my money help remove its power? Wouldn’t that put a greater focus on cash?” The keyword to that question is MANAGING.

Either YOU will manage money or MONEY will manage you.

If you are going through life without a budget (especially if you are on a fixed income) you will constantly be attacked with thoughts of anxiety and stress over your finances. You will buy a gift for someone or have to repair your car and then spend the next two weeks worrying about whether or not you will be able to pay your rent and electricity bill.

If you manage your money properly, money will serve you. If you do not manage it properly, you will serve money.

 

  1. A budget increases your income.

Okay, not technically. If you stick to a budget I cannot promise that your income will go from $30,000 to $60,000 but it WILL increase your savings and your overall wealth. Sticking to a budget is not a “get rich quick” scheme. It takes many years of discipline. Yet the time will come when you will look back and are grateful you heeded the advice of being strict with your spending habits.

“If you live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.”

Above is a quote by Dave Ramsey. If you live and are strict on your budget now, you will reap the rewards later. This should not be your sole reason for sticking to a budget but it is the eventual outcome. I would like to take some liberty and change Dave Ramsey’s saying slightly… If you live like no one else, later you can GIVE like no one else.

Sticking to a budget will maximize your giving, destroy the power of money, and increase your income! So why not give it a shot?

Do you use a budget? What are some of the advantages that you have noticed when it comes to properly managing your finances?

By the way, I highly recommend checking out the ministry of Dave Ramsey. His website can be found at www.daveramsey.com – He has loads of Biblical wisdom when it comes to managing finances.