God’s vision for His church isn’t complicated: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)

From these commandments, we see the vision for the church summarized in three words: Worship, Discipleship, and Evangelism.

We worship the Lord with all that we are and all that we have. Our love for our neighbor takes two shapes: if they follow Jesus, we encourage and help them in their faith (that’s discipleship). If they do not yet follow Jesus, we introduce them to Him (that’s evangelism).

The purpose of the church is to mature believers for the work of the ministry (see Ephesians 4:11-12). And it looks like what the church did when it first began: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) When we gather, we study the Word of God, enjoy fellowship with one another, partake in communion together, and seek the Lord in prayer.

​This is all we’ve got…but this is all we really need!

​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.

​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.

​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.

On the first Sunday of every year, we review the history, vision, purpose, and practice of Refuge so that we can confidently answer these questions:

What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What does it look like?

Year after year, this study hasn’t really changed—but we sure have! As we behold the glory of God in the face of Christ, the Spirit of God transforms us from the inside out. That’s a promise God makes and fulfills through His Word.

And so we turn again to His Word to find the answers to those important questions—what are we doing? Why are we doing it? And what does it look like?

Watch our study from Sunday as we reviewed God’s vision for God’s church.

​On the first Sunday of every year, we review the history, vision, purpose, and practice of Refuge so that we can confidently 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.

On the first Sunday of every year, we review the history, vision, purpose, and practice of Refuge so that we can confidently 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.

​Join us Sunday at 10am (central) as we worship the Lord. 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).

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

There’s another verse in the Bible that talks about love. Jesus said it’s the distinctive feature of those who follow Him—“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35). It’s not by having impressive Bible knowledge, or big budgets, or bigger building. It’s love. People will know we follow Jesus by our love. When people start to realize that we are truly following Jesus, they are drawn to a real relationship with Jesus as well.

Love is the key to God’s vision for His church. Simply loving the Lord with all that we have and all that we are. And loving our neighbor as ourselves. If our neighbor is a follower of Jesus, then we love them by helping them to follow Jesus. If our neighbor doesn’t follow Jesus, then we love them by introducing them to Jesus. 

That’s it—simplicity of heart in love for the Lord and love for each other. 

Let us love our God supremely,
Let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners,
​Till our God makes all things new.

On the first Sunday of every year, we review the history, vision, purpose, and practice of Refuge so that we can confidently answer these questions:

What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What does it look like?

Year after year, this study hasn’t really changed—but we sure have! As we behold the glory of God in the face of Christ, the Spirit of God transforms us from the inside out. That’s a promise God makes and fulfills through His Word.

And so we turn again to His Word to find the answers to those important questions—what are we doing? Why are we doing it? And what does it look like?

Watch or listen to our study from Sunday as we reviewed God’s vision for God’s church.

The book of Acts chronicles the birth of the church—believers coming together being the body of Christ. In Acts 2:42, we read specifically what they did when they came together—a model we strive to follow to this day: 

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

They studied what the apostles taught. They shared life together. They broke bread with each other—during meals and in communion. And they prayed. Studying God’s Word, fellowship, communion, and prayer—these are not a holy to-do list that we check off every week. These are things we strive to do out of hearts overflowing with love and appreciation for our Lord. It might not seem like much, but it’s all we really need. 

Notice the key phrase at the beginning of this short list…”they continued steadfastly.” These believers were resolutely firm and unwavering in these things. Should we be any less? 

This year, it would be good for us to be steadfastly committed to developing daily Godly disciplines. Read your Bible. Talk to God. Tell someone honestly how you are doing when asked. Have communion. And continue steadfastly as you follow Jesus.

​Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.