Read the word.
Teach the word.
Preach the word.
- 1 Timothy 4:13
Our journey though the Gospel of Mark has finally brought us to Passover in the upper room—the final hours before Jesus would be captured, beaten, mocked, flogged, and crucified.
For the disciples, no amount of denial could take away the underlaying fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that they would face without Jesus being by their side. For Jesus, the crushing emotional weight of what was about to happen caused His soul to be exceedingly sorrowful. Nevertheless…Jesus was obedient to the will of God. He looked beyond the shame and suffering of the cross to a greater joy that allowed Him to endure it all (Hebrews 12:2). Watch or listen to our study from Mark 14:12-36 as we paused and considered the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
In Mark 14, we read how the religious rulers sought to manipulate people and events to achieve their desired outcome—which was to get rid of Jesus.
And yet—even though their cunning was in direct opposition of Jesus, there is no doubt that God was in control of what was going on. In the midst of all of this, we read of a beautiful moment of personal worship of Jesus. It was a moment that shocked many who saw it, and yet blessed Jesus immensely. Watch or listen to our study from Sunday as guest speaker Pastor David Guzik led our time considering this moment we discover in Mark 14:1-11.
Join us Sunday at 10am 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at http://refuge.fm or 96.1 FM (in the St. Cloud area).
Join us Sunday at 10am 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at http://refuge.fm or 96.1 FM (in the St. Cloud area).
Scripture quoted out of context can become a pretext for whatever you’d like it to say. That’s why context is so important. Reading what is before and after can really help us understand scripture better.
Context was especially helpful in our study this past Sunday as we encountered several scenes that may have left us scratching our heads if considered one-by-one. But when read and studied together, we have a clearer understanding of what is going on and what God is saying. Watch or listen to our study of Mark 11:12-12:12 as we consider the context of the words and actions of Jesus to bring clarity, meaning, application, and most importantly fellowship with our Father. Join us Sunday at 10am 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at http://refuge.fm or 96.1 FM (in the St. Cloud area). “This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
This is something we say and sing to ourselves and each other to remind us that God is still on His throne. He made this day, He saw this day, and He prepared for this day from before the foundations of the world. But where does this quote come from? It’s more than a verse from a song—it’s scripture! This declaration of providence is from Psalm 118 and describes the coming of the Messiah. There was a day that was very special. It was a that God planned and prepare from before the foundations of the world. Watch or listen to our study of Mark 11:1-11 as we considered what made that specific day so special. 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at http://refuge.fm or 96.1 FM (in the St. Cloud area).
Each and every one of us will stand before the Lord and give an account for every single deed every single word and every single thought.
For unbelievers, that Day should be something to fear—and should be motivation to turn to Jesus for salvation. For believers, that Day shouldn’t be something to fear, but something to factor in every choice we make. It will be an accounting—not for punishment or sin, but for authentically motivated service for Jesus. This should influence our decisions every day. While life on earth is short, what we do in here and now affects the life to come. Watch or listen to our study of Mark 10:24-31 as we considered the importance of living in the light of eternity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm.
Christianity is the only major religion to have as its central event the humiliation of its God. Which might seem odd in light of the transfiguration we studied last week.
If there was one event that would make for an amazing central event, Christ's appearance in radiant glory to three of his disciples would certainly be a top contender. But it was at the cross where Christ was exalted. In Philippians 2 we learn about what Christ was thinking as He came to serve, suffer, and save. Watch or listen to our study from Sunday as guest speaker Pastor Nate lead our time in Philippians 2:5-9. Join us Sunday at 10am (central) as we worship the Lord & study His word. We gather in-person at 912 W. St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm.
In Mark 9 James, John, and Peter have a mountaintop experience. In their time with Jesus, they receive amazing clarity concerning who He truly is. As Jesus is transfigured before them, they see the divinity of Jesus through His humanity. He is the Song of God, the promised Messiah!
We can also have mountaintop experiences in our regular times of solitude with Jesus. But these times are intended to be temporary—we receive clarity about Jesus so that we can come down the mountain and minister to people who are suffering in the dark. Watch or listen to our study in Mark 9:1-29 as we considered the importance of solitude before service. 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm
Jesus didn’t come to save us from our circumstances. He came to save us from our sins. But in order to do this, Jesus needed to serve, suffer, sacrifice, and die.
Once we are saved, He wants us to and calls us to participate and co-operate with Him in what He is doing. Like Jesus, we must be willing to live a similar life—a life of serving, suffering, and sacrifice—not to add to anyone’s salvation, but to lead others to salvation. This is where the life that is truly life is found—in being a disciple of Jesus, The Messiah. Watch or listen to our study from Mark 8:27-38 as we learned what it means to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
For the last couple of Sundays, we have had this odd question reappearing in our studies: have we learned the lesson of the loaves yet?
If you remember, Jesus walked on water not long after Jesus fed over 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish. The apostles were astonish and greatly marveled at this because “they had not understood about the loaves…” (Mark 6:52). Their hearts were hardened and they were not fully accepting of the fact that Jesus is God and there is nothing too difficult for Him. What about you? Is your heart hardened? Do you understand that Jesus loves you and would do anything for you if He knew it would bless you and bring God glory? You can trust Him and pursue Him passionately—just like we saw in several scenes from our study this past Sunday. Watch or listen and continue to learn the lesson of the loaves—Jesus loves you and there is nothing too difficult for Him. 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm.
In the book of Acts, Peter summarizes a good portion of Jesus’ earthly ministry: “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
We see Jesus healing many as we continue our study in Mark 6. How could anyone find fault with Jesus of Nazareth for going about doing good with God’s anointing? The Pharisees could—and did. They made it their mission to find fault with Jesus. These religious leaders from Jerusalem were devoted to preserving the culture of Judaism instead of Scripture. Somewhere along the way, they began to believe that their culture was more important than Scripture. Too often, we are guilty of the same thing. We too sanctify our own preferences or write our own set of rules, or preserve our own culture at the expense of Scripture. When we do, we need to heed the warning Jesus gives us in Mark 7. Watch or listen to our study from Sunday and learn how legalism always fails to accomplish what only love can.
Is anything too hard for God? Spoken out loud or pondered in the heart, it’s a question that’s been asked time and again. Is anything too difficult for God?
It’s no surprise that Jesus definitively answers that question—through His life and through His ministry. Whether it’s miraculously multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish to feed over 5,000 people or walking on water, nothing is too difficult for God. But like the disciples, we can forget about what the Lord can do and start to doubt to the point that we’re surprised when He does something that He promised He would do. Jesus knows this about us, but doesn’t condemn us. Instead, He continually calls us to Himself in order to make us into His disciples. This is just one of the lessons we learned this past Sunday as we took a closer look at Mark 6:45-52. Watch or listen to our study and discover how important it is to keep our eyes on Jesus. 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm.
Jesus is gracious when others would be gruff. He is selfless in every way. He also needs to be serious at times. As He makes disciples who would make disciples, He sometimes needs to be stern and direct.
As we continue our study in the Gospel of Mark, we’ll notice that the closer Jesus gets to the cross, the more serious He will be about making the apostles into disciples. He needed to stretch them to make them into disciples and challenge their capacity to be servants. We read of one of these times in Mark 6:30-44. Watch or listen to our study from this past Sunday and learn how we can be thankful for those times when Jesus is stern and serious. Join us Sunday at 10am 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm.
Life is messy and can often end in difficulty. That was the reality for John the Baptist, the greatest man born of a woman. He followed God wholeheartedly his whole life. And yet, his life on earth ended in a prison cell because of his faithfulness to God and to His word.
We’re living in a society that is drifting from the truth—not only questioning the existence of objective truth, but punishing those who proclaim it. There will be real and significant consequences for retaining loyalty to God and what His word says—especially what His word says concerning sin. The only way for you to endure the difficulty to come is to have a thorough, working understanding of God through a thorough, working understanding of His word. With this understanding, you’ll be able to know what’s coming, but more importantly the God who is able to see you through. Watch or listen to our study of Mark 6:14-29 as we considered the sobering reality of the times we live in and the hope extended to all through Jesus.
Join us Sunday at 10am in-person at 912 W. St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm.
Join us Sunday at 10am 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm.
Jesus has a unique way of training, developing, and maturing those who freely choose to follow Him.
Consider the disciples. Initially, these men simply watched Jesus serve in their communities. Soon, Jesus invited them to serve with Him: “Follow Me.” They were able to see up close how Jesus served. Soon, they wanted to be with Jesus, but you can’t be with Jesus for long before you start to be like Him (serving, ministering, and helping those around you). And before they knew it (or maybe without knowing it), Jesus was helping them serve. And soon He was watching them serve. Now it was time for them to serve without Jesus present. But He gives them practical and applicable principles before sending them out. Watch or listen to our study of Mark 6:7-13 and learn how we can apply these practical principles as we follow and serve Jesus today. Join us Sunday at 10am 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm.
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” That’s a question Nathaniel asked in John 1:46 when Philip told him about Jesus. Nathaniel didn’t get excited about the Messiah. He got hung up on Nazareth.
He wasn’t alone. Nazareth was looked down on by people in the region as an insignificant backwoods community. But this was Jesus’ hometown—it’s where He grew up, where He worked, and where He lived for a majority of His life on Earth. So when He returns home (with a small following of disciples) after performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God, you might think that this carpenter-turned-rabbi would be welcomed with enthusiasm. But sadly, many in Nazareth were offended at Him. Why? Watch or listen to our study of Mark 6:1-6 and learn about the hazard of having an odd and unhealthy familiarity with Jesus. Join us Sunday at 10am 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; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) or at https://refuge.fm. |
From Pastor Dom...When I first gave my life to Jesus, there were friends in my life who helped me to grow in my understanding of God, through His word, and for those friends Archives
March 2024
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Strengthened by grace is the Bible Teaching ministry of Pastor Dominic Dinger.©2022 - All rights reserved.
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