tylerramsbey Ministry, Missions

EMTs: Garretson Storm Response

Credit: Garretson Gazette
Credit: Garretson Gazette

As many of you may know, the city of Garretson was severely hit early Monday morning with straight-line winds. There were wind speeds up to 100 mph. As a result, there were many homes that were destroyed by the storm and large trees were completely uprooted. As a church, our vision is to make such an impact in the community that we show the visible love of Jesus Christ to EVERYONE.

Part of this effort is our EMTs (Extreme Ministry Team). The purpose of our EMTs is to serve people in practical ways in order to display the love of Jesus Christ. One of the major functions of our EMTs is to assist in areas that have been crippled by severe weather.

Monday evening, we had a team of over 25 people that came together last minute, equipped with heavy machinery, to serve the community! I was in awe as more and more people, with a strong desire to serve, continued to arrive from The Rescue Church.

Below are a few photos of the work day:

Our Garretson Campus received minor damage from the storm. One of our large windows on the lobby side was blown out as a result of the pressure inside of the building. We also had some tiles and insulation pulled down from the ceiling. There were a few things knocked over inside but nothing major. (You will notice that somehow our yarn design stayed intact but the window busted!)

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Our first stop was at Tucker’s Walk (A vineyard outside of Garretson) that received heavy tree damage. The new tasting room, which was built only recently, had some shattered glass but the structure as a whole was okay. We had a team of people complete with chainsaws, four wheelers, and a skid loader to help with the clean up process. After this, we headed into town and helped a few residents clean their yards.

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If you are interested in helping the clean up process, the City of Garretson will be posting updates on their Facebook page. I will also be in Garretson this evening and tomorrow to help. Feel free to e-mail me (tyler@therescuechurch.com) if you have questions!

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Leadership, Ministry

Four INCREDIBLE Websites

Four INCREDIBLE Websites

If you want to grow in your life, you need to enter into conversations with a variety of people. We do this best through relationships, books, podcasts and blogs. I feed both my soul and mind on a daily basis through a variety of different mediums. The four websites below have encouraged and strengthened me in both my faith and leadership.

1. Desiring God
Desiring God is the primary teaching ministry of John Piper. This website hosts many resources to help you grow in your faith. From free books to an “Ask Pastor John” podcast, there is something for EVERYONE.

The blog is excellent both in content and quality. There are a variety of experts who write about many different subjects. Each time I open up my browser to Desiring God, my mind is renewed by the solid teaching of Scripture. The content on this website WILL inspire you to desire God more than you currently do.

2. The Gospel Coalition
Similar to Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition hosts a large library of resources. There is a focus on ending “Theological Famine” with a plethora of ministry training that is offered for FREE!

The blog alone is organized into six different sections:

Each one of these sections is filled with helpful content from trusted people!

3. Michael Hyatt
As you probably guessed by the name, this website is hosted by Michael Hyatt. Hyatt is the former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers. Since then, he has helped people build personal platforms. He is a sought after speaker and writer at a variety of conferences and publications.

What is incredible is that Michael Hyatt gives away so many FREE resources. His blog and podcast is focused on helping YOU “Win at work. Succeed in life.” All of Hyatts content is written from a Christian perspective – I HIGHLY recommend Michael Hyatt’s website ESPECIALLY if you are a leader.

4. Jon Sanders
This website is hosted by one of my personal friends and someone I have the honor of working with. Jon Sanders is the Lead (and founding) Pastor of The Rescue Church; A multi-site church with four physical campuses and one online campus. There are many different resources on Jon’s website. You can watch past messages, read his blog, and even listen to the Small Town, Big Church podcast which I was featured on a few weeks ago!

I have learned A LOT from Jon personally and through his website. I highly recommend subscribing to his website, ESPECIALLY for the podcasts.

What websites have you found helpful? I would love to check them out. Let me know by leaving a comment!

tylerramsbey Leadership, Ministry

A Word to Young Leaders (Featured on a Podcast!)

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I have the honor of being featured on the latest “Small Town Big Church” podcast with my good friend Chase Riber. This is a podcast hosted by Pastor Jon Sanders, the Lead Pastor of The Rescue Church. For more information on the podcast, you can read my review of it HERE.

Below is a brief description of this episode:

“In this podcast episode I interview Pastor Chase Riber and Pastor Tyler Ramsbey, two young leaders who serve on The RESCUE Church team. In the interview we discuss the topic of being young in ministry. What are some of the challenges? What are some of the advantages? I pray that this interview will encourage other young leaders to pursue their dreams of serving in pastoral leadership. I also pray that this interview will encourage older pastors to be committed to identifying, recruiting, and mentoring young leaders within their church.”

To listen to the Podcast and read the show notes, go here! – A Word to Young Leaders

Be sure to head to www.jonsanders.org to listen to other episodes, watch past messages, and read his blog.

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Ministry

The Discipline of Silence

The Discipline Of

“Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in Heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” – Ecclesiastes 5:2

Those words are incompatible with the evangelical culture of our day. We live in a world that is polluted with noise and speech; from the constant chatter of a television to the never-ending tones of a smart phone. This barrage of sound has even invaded our places of worship, effectively obstructing the voice of God’s Spirit.

Unfortunately, this contamination has even seeped dangerously into our personal relationship with God, especially in our prayer life.

Solomon offers profound advice to Christians today; specifically, I see two ways we should be applying this verse to our lives.

  1. SHUT UP!

Okay, Solomon may not have said these exact words, but the first sentence is informing us in no uncertain terms that we need to shut up – especially in the presence of God.

How often have we followed in the corrupt pattern of the Pharisees and believed God would be impressed with our many religious words?

When was the last time, at a corporate church service, can you remember the pastor or worship leader calling for a time of silence to hear God?

We are ADDICTED to speaking.

Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, unpacks our disorder:

“One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are so accustomed to relying upon words to manage and control others. If we are silent, who will take control? God will take control, but we will never let him take control until we trust Him. Silence is intimately related to trust.”

The reason we are fixated on our own speech is because we have trust and power issues. We have a strong desire to be in control and we refuse to relinquish it – even into God’s hands.

  1. Realize that you really aren’t that interesting or intelligent.

Imagine yourself sitting across the table from a world-renowned author and teacher in your field of study. You have been studying this field for one year; on the other hand, this teacher has been active and studying the field for 70 years.

How foolish would it be for you to take over the conversation and explain to this expert how much you know – interrupting him every single time he tries to get a word in edgewise?

That is EXACTLY what we do in our prayer lives.

We are so arrogant that we forget God is in Heaven and we are on earth – He sees the end from the beginning. He has all power, authority, and knowledge – completely transcendent and altogether different from the rest of creation.

Yet WE lead the conversation, don’t we?

God is far more willing to speak than we are to listen.

I believe God is calling us, through the words of Solomon, to shut up and listen. God desires to speak to YOU but YOU do not keep your mouth shut long enough to hear the still, quiet whisper of His Spirit. I exhort and encourage you to spend time actually LISTENING to God this week. Set apart time in your morning devotionals to truly be still and allow Him to teach you.

Friends, spiritual maturity is not measured by the quantity of your speaking but by the quality of your listening.

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Ladder of Humility, Ministry, Pastor

The Ladder of Humility (Part One)

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As I shared in my last post, one of the books I am reading is Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. The goal of this book is to help believers to not only be spiritually mature but emotionally healthy – and yes those are two different things.

Scazzero, the author, goes into detail on how the great trials, tribulations, and even tragedies in our lives are used by God as a refining fire to strengthen and sustain our faith. Part of this process is allowing God to guide us into greater depths of humility.

Saint Benedict, a monk from the sixth century, created a “Ladder of Humility”. I want to invite you to join me over the next several days as we study the different levels of humility. In each post, we will break down each step and look at the practical implications it has for us today.

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Step 1: Fear of God and Mindfulness of Him

Tragically, we have a tendency to forget that God is in our midst. This is evident in the first book of the Bible – Genesis – When Adam and Eve attempt to play hide-and-seek with the God of the universe. It is far more comfortable to laugh at their futile attempts to hide from God; it is far less comfortable to examine our own lives and see the many ways we conceal ourselves from Him.

The first step to humility and spiritual growth is a renewed understanding that God is ALWAYS in our midst.

Not only do we need to be mindful of him but we must have a healthy fear of who He is. The writer of Hebrews says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) Yes, we do serve an all-loving God but for love to be pure, there must be judgment. We do not define God by our ignorant definition of love; we define love by who God has revealed himself to be.

God looks upon sin with anger and disgust and promises to eradicate it from existence (which includes eternal damnation for those who live in unrepentant sin).

Practically, how do we go about cultivating this first step of humility? Here is one practical application you can begin today:

Set apart time every day to meditate, pray, and study the Word of God.

It is not possible to stress the sheer importance of this single discipline enough. First of all, allowing yourself time to rest and soak in God’s presence will enable you to be sensitive to his voice and presence the rest of the day. I highly recommend this as part of your morning routine, it will center you on the purposes and plans God has for you before you begin your work day.

If you have never spent time in prayer and study, it can be intimidating. I cannot urge you enough to watch this series of teachings by David Platt – Secret Church: How To Study The Bible – Yes, I know they are long but remember Jesus’ admonition:

“To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Matt. 13:12)

A second reason this is important is because it is impossible to think much of yourself in light of the Eternal God. After pondering on the greatness and grandeur of God, you will say with the Psalmist, “What is man that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4) Each day, the key to walking in humility is realizing that you are not God. You need to embrace your limitations and weaknesses and rest in the Alpha and Omega – The Unchanging One – Who will strengthen and sustain you in your life’s journey.

Your life is far too short to approach God recklessly and forgetfully. Friends, fear God and be mindful of Him this week.

What do YOU think of the ladder of humility? Do you agree with Saint Benedict? Would you add something? Leave a comment and let me know!

Go here to read Part 2: The Ladder of Humility (Part Two)

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Leadership, Ministry, Pastor

Three Books YOU Should Read

booksforblog

I love to talk about books (I’m a pastor and I work in a library, what can you expect?) At many of the staff meetings of The Rescue Church, I ask my staff what they are reading. I have learned through great men and women that Leaders ARE Readers!

I want to share with you three books that I am currently reading. I HIGHLY recommend each one of them:

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero

I discovered this book roughly a month ago. I have been meeting with a pastor to be mentored in regards to ministry. I asked him for a list of books that he would recommend. Out of this list, I had him narrow it down to one that had impacted him the most. This is that book.

The tagline of this book is, “It’s impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” Scazzero lays out the symptoms of “emotionally UNhealthy spirituality” and offers a remedy. Specifically, he shares his own experience of: avoiding conflict in the name of Christianity; ignoring his anger, sadness, and fear; using God to run from God; and living without boundaries.

There was even a point in Peter’s ministry that his wife quit his church because she did not trust his leadership. Whether you are in ministry or not, you NEED to read this book because ALL of us are emotionally unhealthy in varying degrees.

Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster

This book is a modern classic, originally published in 1978. When it comes to disciplines, celebration is usually not a word we would use to describe them. Foster writes about a variety of classic Christian disciplines that have been practiced for centuries by believers seeking to be transformed by God’s Word and Spirit.

To give you a snapshot of this book, here is a quick summary:

“Dividing the Disciplines into three movements of the spirit, Foster shows how each movement contributes to a balanced spiritual life. The inward Disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study offer avenues for personal examination and change. The outward Disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service prepare us to help make the world a better place. The corporate Disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration bring us nearer to one another and to God.”

I promise that you will be challenged, convicted, encouraged, and transformed if you study this book with a humble and teachable spirit!

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Hands down, this is the best devotional I have used. Chambers was born in 1874 and died in 1917. The fact that this book is still extremely popular is a testimony to the timeless truths that Chambers shares. As a devotional, the book is divided up by dates with short readings for each day of the year. Every morning, you will find my Bible, a highlighter, and this book on my desk.

By reading this book side-by-side with Scripture, you will be encouraged to fix your eyes on Jesus Christ, kill indwelling sin, and love people with profound compassion. If you have never used this book as a devotional, or even if you have, READ it!

Now I want to ask you the same question I ask those on my staff: What books are YOU reading? What should I read next? Leave a comment and let me know!

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Ministry

Paul’s Mission (Chapter 29 – The Story)

I had the honor of sharing from the Bible this past Sunday at The Rescue Church. Below are the video and notes from the message!

The Story – Part 29
“Paul’s Mission”

Paul’s Mission and Transformation

  • The Apostle Paul was the first terrorist towards Christianity. (Acts 9:1-9)
  • One of the greatest witnesses to the world about Jesus is a transformed
  • Paul faced intense persecution in every city.

Our Mission (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

  • To some people we are death (2 Cor. 2:16).
  • To some people we are life (2. Cor. 2:16).

How does this apply to my life?

  • Repent and put your faith in Jesus for salvation.
  • Display Christ in every area of your life.
  • Pray that God would break your heart for lost people

Enjoy the message? You can join The Rescue Church every Sunday morning at 10am central time from the comfort of your computer via the iCampus!

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 Culture, Ministry

God Is Not Angry At You.

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God is not angry at you.

Whenever I see Street Preachers screaming at the top of their lungs, proclaiming that every single person around them is going to Hell, I cannot stand it! These “preachers” attempt to scare people into the Kingdom of God. They make God out to be an angry, abusive, and distant Father that is waiting to punish every slight act of disobedience with eternal fire, offering no mercy.

I want to share a powerful verse with you from the Psalms that I read today.

“For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive
rich in faithful love to all who call on You.” – Psalm 86:5

I want to draw three applications from this verse.

1. All of us are sinful and in need of God’s forgiveness.
Don’t get me wrong. When I say that God is not angry at you, I do not mean He will not punish sin. Scripture teaches that Hell is hot and eternity is a LONG time and all those who reject Jesus Christ will suffer for all eternity.

With that being said, God desires ALL to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Gospel (That’s why Jesus lived a PERFECT life and died a BRUTAL death so you don’t have to!). He does NOT delight in the death of the wicked.

All of us NEED forgiveness – from the pastor to the prostitute; we all stand condemned apart from Jesus.

2. God is ready RIGHT NOW to forgive your sin.
You do not have to wait until you “have your life together” before you ask for forgiveness. We see all throughout Scripture that God stands ready to forgive us of ALL our sin. Our sin can ONLY be forgiven by putting our faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Brennan Manning, in his book Ruthless Trust, helps us understand God’s love:

“With a strong affirmation of our goodness and a gentle understanding of our weakness, God is loving us – you and me – this moment, just as we are and not as we should be. There is nothing any of us can do to increase His love for us and nothing we can do to diminish it.”

3. In order to be forgiven, you need to CALL on God!
There is a condition attached to this verse. Yes, God stands ready to forgive your sin but YOU have to do something. James teaches, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (James 4:8)”

You absolutely cannot afford to stand distant from God!

He promises if you draw near to Him (regardless of the junk and sin your life) He will draw near to you. Then, if you confess your sin (which means agreeing with God about it) and repent by the power of the Holy Spirit (turning FROM your sin and TO Jesus) you will be forgiven.

I want to invite you today to confess your sin, turn to Jesus, and know that the Father stands READY to forgive you of ALL sin (see 1 John 1:9)!

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.)