In winter 2026, Pastor Ryan explored the claims of the Apostles’ Creed. His focus was the basic statements of faith that all Christians should be able to agree on.
The creeds articulate basic tenets of faith, but they do not explain them. This leaves space for Christians to ponder and consider more deeply the mysteries of God. None of us (person, church, or denomination) fully comprehends these mysteries, but if we hold to the statements of faith in the creed, we can open space for dialogue with other Christians who also believe them. These conversations can then lead to the healing of divisions and of the church itself.
Here is the creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
The third and final section of the Apostles’ Creed talks about the Holy Spirit. In this sermon, Pastor Ryan focuses on forgiveness, resurrection and eternal life. He makes the point that the creed tells us what we believe but doesn’t explain the details. But if we hold to these truths, we open up space and grace for dialogue with other Christians, and this can help us find that elusive unity that Jesus prayed for.
The third section of the Apostles’ Creed talks about the Holy Spirit. In this sermon, Pastor Ryan focuses on the Holy Spirit working in and through the church.
The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, and it grow in us through the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. It is not a collection of fruits, but rather part of one larger fruit, like the segments of an orange rather than a bunch of grapes. Pastor Ryan gives a deep dive into these segments in this series from the winter of 2025.
“Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
The fruit of the Spirit is not formed in us because we follow a law (legalism) or because we are free to operate outside of law (moral freedom). Instead, it forms because God has placed his Spirit within our hearts. The result of God’s presence and work inside of us is that our character becomes more and more like God’s. The character of God in us is revealed by the presence of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
“Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Pastor Ryan’s sermon “Those Dry Bones” talks about times in our lives that seem dry, like the dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision. The good news is that God can and will breathe new life into dry bones, just like he did at creation. What can we do to allow this to happen in our lives?
Pastor Ryan’s sermon “You Will Receive Power” says that the power we are given through the Holy Spirit is more than just for the doing of mighty miracles (although that is a significant part of that power). We have power to love and to be disciplined in our study and journey of faith. We have power to lean into, without fear, the gifts of the Spirit that God gives us.
Argyle Road Baptist Church 