​We all have a special work that God has given us. We all have this exhortation that God has given us:

“…we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)

So what is your part in the body of Christ? What is it that God has given to you to give away so that you can build others up? What has He entrusted to you so that you can love your neighbor? 

Only you and the Lord can answer that, but whatever it is, you must give yourself to that. It’s essential that you “take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” (Colossians 4:17)

​What is your part in the body of Christ? What is it that God has given you so you can build up others and love your neighbor in this fellowship?

Only you and the Lord can answer that question. But whatever it is, it is essential that you “take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord that you may fulfill it.” (Colossians 4:17)

Watch our study from Sunday as we consider Ephesians 4:1-16 and ask the Lord what our part is in His body.

​You’ve probably heard the saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” The Bible says, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Jesus said that love is the distinctive feature of those who follow Him. It’s not by having impressive Bible knowledge, big budgets, or buildings. It’s love. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35). People will know we follow Jesus by our love. When people realize that we are truly following Jesus, they are drawn to Jesus as well.

Love is the key to God’s vision for His church—loving the Lord with your whole life and loving your neighbor as yourself. If your neighbor is a follower of Jesus, love them by helping them to follow Jesus. If your neighbor doesn’t follow Jesus, love them by introducing them to Jesus. That’s it—simplicity of heart in love for the Lord and love for each other. 

​On the first Sunday of the year, we review the history, vision, purpose, and practice of Refuge to answer these questions: What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What does it look like? We turn to the Bible to find the answers to those important questions so we can understand God's vision for His church.

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…” (Mark 1:1)

Consider the culture during the time that Mark wrote this sentence. There wasn’t a single section of life that the Roman Empire didn’t reach into and try to control. There wasn’t just a threat of persecution—there was straight-up, bone-crushing, soul-punishing, violent persecution of believers in Jesus. It was a time of incredible societal and political upheaval. 

It was a time like today—when the world desperately needs hope. Hope from a servant-leader who is not of this world. A radical, revolutionary, and self-sacrificial King who left His throne, laid down His crown, and humbled Himself to death on a cross, paying the penalty for sin and rising from the dead. The kind of King who promises never to leave, never forsake and always be with us until the end of the age. His name is Jesus.

Let’s not forget that Christmas is a time ripe with evangelistic opportunities. In a season when we talk about giving gifts, let’s not forget to mention the indescribable gift of God’s Son. In a season when we speak of hope, let’s not forget that hope has a name—Jesus. And in a season when we proclaim peace, let’s proclaim the good news of peace with God, purchased by the blood of God’s one and only Son, Jesus.

“For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:13-14)

Maybe that someone is you.

​“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…” (Mark 1:1) As 21st Century Gentiles, it's difficult for us to grasp just how dangerous, subversive & controversial it would be to write these important words. But when you consider the backstory of the man God used to write them, you can see why he had the courage, the passion & the urgency to publish something so revolutionary. Watch our study of Mark 1:1 as we considered the opportunities for evangelism all around us during Christmas.

​The birth story of Jesus in the Gospel of John isn’t easy to find. There’s no list of names like in Matthew. There’s no heavenly host addressing shepherds as in Luke. But it’s still there! Because John highlighted how Jesus is God, we need to rethink what a birth story for God would look like.

Watch our study of John 1 and marvel at the wonder of the Infinite becoming infant, the Maker becoming man—Immanuel, God with us!

​In Matthew 8 and Luke 7, we learn two important lessons about having and employing faith from an unlikely source—a Roman Centurion. 

First, we learn that faith is not about feeling worthy. Faith is not dependent on a feeling of worthiness we can muster up. Faith is about focusing on the authority and ability of God to do what He promised.

Second, we do not need to see to believe—especially if we understand God’s authority and ability to do what He promised to do for those who feel unworthy. We have to believe, and then God will show us. Our eyes can deceive us, but the Bible cannot. Scripture records the infallible track record of God doing exactly what He promised to do—each and every time.

When we understand His authority and ability and trust in His love and mercy, we choose to believe—even, and especially, if we cannot see. 

“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
–1 Peter 1:8-9

The world has a common saying: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But is this always the best way to see? Must we always insist on seeing something before we’re willing to believe it has happened? Or is there a better way?

In His conversation with Thomas after His resurrection, Jesus says there is a special blessing for those who have not seen and yet still believe (John 20:29). This is just as true today as it was for the first-century church.

This past Sunday, we met a man of faith who believed without needing to see. This man exemplified faith, love, and trust. He understood authority and the power of God. But he wasn’t a religious professional—he was a gentile, a Roman Centurion who caused Jesus to marvel.

Watch our study of Matthew 8:5-13 as we consider the blessing of believing, then seeing.

​When you were forgiven and saved—healed and cleansed from all sin—how long did it take to feel like the stain and the stigma of sin were gone? Maybe you still struggle with it. After years of identifying as unclean, the leper probably struggled with this feeling too, which is why Jesus sent the man to the priest to perform a specific ceremony for someone miraculously cleansed of leprosy (see Matthew 8:4).

As described in Leviticus 14, every detail points to Jesus—wood, scarlet, hyssop, and blood. Each element in this ceremony shouts: “Because of blood, you are clean!” 

We who have been healed miraculously of the deadly disease called sin need to hear this as well: “Because of the blood—the shed blood of Jesus—you are clean!” Our identity is no longer ‘sinner’ but ‘son’ or ‘daughter’ of the King of kings. We must hear this truth repeatedly, or we will return to our old identity and behavior.

Because of the shed blood of Jesus, we are completely forgiven and cleansed. You are a new creation in Christ. Your sin is cast as far as the east is from the west—never to be seen again. Nothing and no one can take you out of your Father’s hand or separate you from His love. He is with you! He loves you! 

YOU are clean! 
YOU ARE clean! 
YOU ARE CLEAN! 

​As Jesus descended from the mountain where He delivered His sermon, He interacted with a leper. In the parallel passage in Luke 5, we read of another interaction Jesus had with a different man named Peter. 

While the leper struggled with his external condition, Peter struggled with his internal condition. However, there are similarities in their struggle—and there are similarities in the answer to their struggle. His name is Jesus.

Watch our study from this past Sunday in  Matthew 8:1-4 and Luke 5:1-14 as we consider how able and willing Jesus is to heal and to cleanse.

“They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.”
–Nehemiah 8:5

Simply teaching the Bible is as important today as in Nehemiah’s day. It’s not the ideas or personality of a pastor that will change people’s lives. It is the Spirit of God working through the Word of God in the hearts of the people of God. 

Simply reading the Scripture clearly and then explaining the Scripture simply with the hope of helping others to understand can be radical and transformational for an individual, a family, a fellowship, or even an entire nation.

As we gather in unity, eagerly invite the pastor to “Bring the Book!” Serve behind the scenes to support the service and be intentional about what you hear. Be attentive and respectful, eager and appropriately emotional, responsive and worshipful. And as the Word read, be obedient and joyful—not only in understanding but also (and especially) in applying what you hear.

​When Jesus finished His Sermon on the Mount, Matthew writes that the people were astonished at His teaching, “for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:29)

Jesus wasn’t just a self-help guru sharing practical advice on how to get through life. Those who heard Jesus sensed the Holy Spirit stirring up their spirits as the ministry of the word happened. Something significant and important occurs when the Spirit of God works through the Word of God in the hearts of the People of God. 

On Sunday, we looked at another example in scripture where this occurred—Nehemiah 8. Watch our study as we consider the importance of the ministry of the Word and share the same request— “Bring the Book!”

Religion does not—and cannot—save you. Only Jesus can save you. Do you know Him? Does He know you? Have you genuinely asked Him to be the Lord of your life? Or do you casually, flippantly, disingenuously, and dangerously only claim Him to be the Lord of your life?

Only you and He know the answers to those questions. It would be best to have it sorted out now. At any time, we are all just a second away from eternity. Only Jesus can save you, but He cannot save you if you only know about Him intellectually or even how He could save you. You must place your faith in Him. You must believe Him and receive Him to be saved. 

The only way you enter a real relationship with Jesus Christ is to be born again of God’s Holy Spirit. This happens when you turn from your sin in repentance and turn towards Jesus in belief. Then place your faith in Him to save you from your sin and an eternity separated from Him.

Have you been born again? You can be—and have the assurance of eternal life! Simply acknowledge that you have sinned and ask Jesus to save you. Turn from your sin and ask God to forgive you. Believe that Jesus died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. Then put your faith in Him, invite Him to come into your life and take control through the Holy Spirit, and receive Him as your Lord and Savior.

Talk to God. Express these things in your heart. You could say something like this:
Dear God,
I know that I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and to take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, amen.