Refuge Church

Matthew 18:21-35: The Unforgiving Servant (The Good Teacher)

Welcome to the 4th sermon in our series on the teachings of Jesus. (4 of 8)

We have been spending time in the gospel of Mark. We have been looking at the events of Jesus’ life and how he interacted with people. This summer we are going to shift our focus to the teachings of Jesus. What do his parables mean? Why did he tell the stories he told? When people listened to the Good Teacher, what was it that he wanted them to hear?

Luke 10:38-42: The Fuel and Goal of Mission (For the Sake of the World)

Welcome to the 2nd sermon in our series on Christian mission. (2 of 6)

Have you ever started telling a story and then gotten halfway through it and completely and totally forgotten the point of the story you were telling? When it comes to the idea of Christian mission, it is easy for us to forget the point of the story. We often start substituting our own preferences and using Christian language to support our own goals. In this series we are going to look at what it should look like to be on mission as a Christian. A mission is basically showing and telling a story. As followers of Jesus we have a beautiful, new, better story. But it is critical that we remember the point of the story, remember our place in the story, and not get caught up in competing narratives. The mission of a Christian is about telling God’s story. That somehow, some way, miraculously we have gotten caught up into His story.

Philippians 2:12-13: Practicing Prayer (Working Out Your Salvation)

Welcome to the 1st sermon in our series on spiritual disciplines (1 of 4)

Each new year brings with it opportunities to make changes in our lives and to try something new. Normally our new resolutions center around exercise, diet changes, etc. So this year we are going to look at what the Bible has to say about working out!

We are going to look at the daily spiritual practices that help us work out our salvation, to practice the reality of the gospel. Not so that we earn our salvation, but to help us learn how to walk as a forgiven person. The practice of spiritual discipline works much like exercising, building up our basic spiritual muscles so that we can meet the challenges of life as they come along. Prayer reminds us that we are not in control but are deeply dependent on God. Meditation fixes our hearts on Gods approval and not the approval of other men. Study humbles us with the knowledge of who God is and his power, and fasting teaches us to find satisfaction in who God is and what he has done and not on our own pursuit of personal comfort.

1 Peter 5:1-5: What is an Elder? (The Elders Among You)

Welcome to the 1st sermon introducing the elders of Refuge Church (1 of 4). - Eric VanDyne

Who are the elders among you? They are witnesses to the sufferings of Christ. They are partakers in the glory, shepherds over the flock, overseers and instructors of God’s word. The elders are called to be examples to the flock, those who will one day receive the crowns of glory themselves. These edifying qualities are offset by a large dose of humility by those who are called and commanded to take watch-care over souls. Now it would be too easy to use these qualities to become puffed up, but elders are called not to be domineering to those in their charge, but to be examples for the flock. The elders are not to be above you, but among you. We hope you will see yours elders not as arrogant but as approachable. The guys you go to talk to after service, not intimidating but inviting. The guys you want to go out for coffee with to talk about scriptures and issues in your lives. As your elders, we want to be invited into conversations with you, to be invited into your lives, as we invite you into the life of Refuge church which ultimately spills out into the life of St. Charles and surrounding communities.

1 Peter 4:12-19: Dealing with Trials (The Death of Christendom)

Welcome to the 8th sermon in our series on the book of 1 Peters (8 of 8).

For nearly 1700 years in the western world, Christianity has played a major role in the government. That has changed…and it’s OK. Since Genesis 3 the world has been in rebellion against God. If the world is in rebellion against God, then it makes sense that it would also be in rebellion against Christianity, that Christianity wouldn’t quite fit in the world. Peter wrote to Christians that were dealing with social ostracization and marginalization. Many of their behaviors were looked at peculiarly. They didn’t belong to the popular culture. Peter reminds them of what really matters and of what they should trust. Join us as we walk through an encouraging first letter from Peter that reminds us that Christianity is not a voting bloc, rather a living hope!