It’s important to invite people to repent of their sin and receive Jesus as Lord. And it’s just as important to fully explain the gravity and seriousness of that decision. For if their decision for Jesus isn’t sincere and informed but shallow and uniformed, there’s a greater risk of falling away not long after. 

That’s why great grace and tough truths are so important in evangelism and discipleship. We see both in the life and ministry of Jesus. This past Sunday, we carefully considered the grace extended and truth explained by Jesus during his exchange with a rich young ruler. 

Watch or listen to our study of Mark 10:17-23 and hear this grace and truth so you can truly understand and appreciate the gravity and seriousness of making God your singular priority—so He will be number one on a list of one.

​Join us Sunday at 10am (central) as we worship the Lord and continue our study in the Gospel of Mark. We gather in-person at 912 W. St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN or online at https://live.refuge.mn.

If we want to be servants of Jesus—in the church and especially in the home—we must be a servant, not a ruler. We need to serve knowing that there is nothing beneath us.

We must also limit our liberties in love so that others do not stumble and to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. Following His example, we are to forgive the people we are serving again, and again, and again, and again—even as they sin against us again, and again, and again, and again.

In all of this, remember that little ones are listening and learning. The secret to being a servant leader is found in preserving the tender heart of a little child, leading them with such care and tenderness that nothing would be a stumbling block for them. In doing so, we preserve, protect, enhance, and bless them.
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This is the model Jesus gives to us to follow. It wasn’t something He just said to do, it was something He did. On the very night He was betrayed, He did was no one else was willing to do—Jesus humbled Himself and washed His disciples feet.  It’s His example that we should all want to follow as His disciples—not just in the church, but especially in the home.

There is a vast difference between being a religious ruler and a servant-leader. If anyone had every right to be a religious ruler, it was Jesus. And yet, the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve; not to save His life, but to lay it down as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).

Jesus’ example shows us what servant-leadership looks like. It’s His example that we should all want to follow as His disciples—not just in the church, but especially in the home.

Watch or listen to our study of Mark 9:36-10:16 as we learned about the revolution Jesus initiated from religious rulership to servant-leadership and the blessing that comes to us if we do as He did.

esus is so patient with us, isn’t He? He was patient with the disciples too—even as they were arguing and disputing instead of actually ministering and serving.

To make matters worse, they were arguing and disputing about who would be the greatest—or which one of them was the most important person, as the Children’s Bible renders it.

They were arguing about all of this right after Jesus—the Suffering Servant—told them plainly that He would be betrayed and killed and then rise again on the third day.

But instead of firing them all on the spot, Jesus sits down and calls them to Himself. He doesn’t rebuke them for their desire to be great, but He ministers to them and helps them. He simply teaches them (and us) where true greatness can be found—in service. True greatness is found in being a servant—in serving those who can’t serve back, the “least of these”.

But Jesus didn’t just define greatness—He made it accessible to everyone. Everyone has the capacity and invitation to become great in the Kingdom of God as the servant of all.

What does it mean to be greatly used of God? How does Jesus view and define greatness? How does someone become great in His kingdom?

These are questions we all want answered. And when we don’t know the answers, we tend to argue about it—just like the disciples. But we don’t need to quarrel and squabble—Jesus answers these questions for us.

He tells His followers that true greatness is found in being a servant and in serving. Being great means serving those who have no ability to bless you back and who can’t make you feel important.

Watch or listen to our study of Mark 9:30-37 as we learned one of the most important lessons we could ever learn.

Join us for an evening of worship with special musical guests Terry & Nancy Clark this Sunday, September 12th at 6pm. Terry & Nancy Clark are great friends of the fellowship with a heart for the Lord and leading others into a deeper intimacy with Jesus through their music. We hope you can join us this Sunday at 6pm.

There is a cosmic battle taking place in the heavenly realm. It is the battle for the hearts and minds of men, women, and children. It’s a battle for cities and nations. And ultimately, it’s a battle for the right to rule this planet.

But it is not a physical battle—and it cannot be fought or won physically. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

So what’s our part to play in this battle? How can we fight by faith for the kingdom of God? Watch or listen to our study from Sunday as guest speaker Peter Warren explains the weapons of our warfare, the tactics of the enemy, and the victory we have in Jesus.

We are passionate people, aren’t we? We can find something to fight about or argue over with each other in seconds. But what do we want to be found doing when Jesus comes—serving and ministering, or arguing and fighting?

The disciples had this experience as Jesus came down from the mountain after His transfiguration. In Mark 9:14, we read how Jesus noticed the scribes disputing with the disciples while there were people who needed help.

Wasting time arguing instead of serving is one of the most often made mistakes as servants of Jesus. It’s a trap—it saps our energy, grieves the Holy Spirit, and robs those around us who need our help. It’s something we are to avoid (see 2 Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9, and Ephesians 4:29-32).\

So instead of wasting time arguing and fighting, invest time in prayer and fasting so you can serve those around you by bringing them to Jesus.