In a world full of trouble and fear, Jesus has given us the Spirit to comfort us until he returns.

Join us this morning as we continue our series on the Holy Spirit "Empowered!"

John 14:15-27

We often confuse conviction and condemnation. We’re so used to being accused, convicted and condemned, that we start to believe that God relates to us in the same way. Instead of feeling the conviction of the Spirit and allowing it to drive us to Jesus for forgiveness, we feel guilt, shame, and condemnation and wallow in despair.

How should we respond?

John 16:7-11

Our best attempts at saving ourselves will always fail. That's because it is primarily a work of God. Long before we choose to follow Jesus, every person of the Trinity has already been at work in your salvation.

Titus 3:4-8

By the Spirit’s power in creation, God brought forth light out of darkness and order out of disorder. It says, “Let us make…” The Father speaks, the Word goes forth, and the Spirit applies the Word of God to the subject/recipient. Thus, one of the key works of the Holy Spirit is to bring things to life and to set things in order.

Acts 1:6-11

The resurrection changes everything! If Jesus really got up, everything changes. Everything you know about the world. Everything you know about humanity. And everything you know about eternity. If Jesus rose from the dead, everything is going to be alright.

Philippians 1:18b-24

We think that blessing means more money, upward mobility, marriage, children, a big house, health, success, status, prestige, power, respect, being served, etc. But what Jesus' triumphal entry shows us is that true blessing is found in humble service.

John 13:12-18

We relate to God as slaves, not friends. We come to Him, still bearing the chains of our past, the echoes of our former servitude to sin. We see Him as a demanding master, a celestial taskmaster, whose love is conditional upon our performance.

But Jesus offers us a place at His table, not as slaves, but as his friends. He doesn’t want our fear-filled obedience; He wants our hearts, our trust, our abiding. He desires that we see Him not as a distant, demanding ruler, but as a faithful friend, who rejoices in our presence. He invites us to lay down our fear, to rise from our bowed posture, and to walk with Him, hand in hand, as beloved friends of the King.

John 15:12-17

We settle for temporary happiness over eternal joy. But Jesus promises us that abiding in him fills your joy fully!

John 15:11

Obedience is a gift, not a burden.

John 15:9-10

Too often our “good works” are really all about us, a sort of spiritual "virtue signaling." But what Jesus teaches us in verses 7-8 is that the fruit we bear as Christians isn't ultimately about us at all. Everything is for God's glory and proof that we belong to Jesus!

John 15:7-8

Though we often rely on our own efforts to be better and do better. A fruitful life comes only from complete dependence on Christ.

John 15:3-6

No one likes discipline and trial. Oh, they just chafe and chap our flesh, doesn’t they? But here’s the good news behind those times when you are being disciplined by God and brought through trials…they slowly form you into all that God intended you to be. The comforting truth we can hold onto during discipline and trial is that God loves you too much to leave you the way you are.

John 15:1-2

When you’re filled with Jesus, you overflow in proclamation. The more you know Jesus, the more you make him known. On the other hand, if you are not satisfied in the goodness of God, if you haven’t been transformed by the gospel and delight in the glory of God’s riches to you in Christ Jesus, you will not tell others. Simply put, Shallow faith is not evangelistic.

Colossians 1:24-29

Our differences naturally lead us to division. But through his cross, Jesus reconciles us to God and to one another.

Ephesians 2:11-19

"It shouldn't have to happen to you for it to matter to you." Too often the reality is that it doesn't matter to us until it happens to us. We don't show mercy, and we're not interested in doing justice, unless we're the ones who need it. But what if God took that same approach? Humanity would still be lost, with no hope of salvation. But the good news is that God moves toward humanity with compassion. God shows mercy by doing justice.

Psalm 10:12-18

We let the world define our identity. And it’s not just the world’s fault because we allow it. We eat it up because racism makes us feel better about ourselves, political division makes us feel smarter, aligning with perceived superior groups makes us feel more powerful, boasting about achievements makes us feel more successful.

But having our identity found and formed in a family of faith, humbles the prideful and lifts up the lowly. And when we have truly believed the gospel and experienced the unconditional love and acceptance of God through his family, those lesser identities we let the world define us by, can’t stay on the throne of our hearts. Because God says your identity is found and formed in a family of faith.

1 Peter 2:9

The world presses you to sacrifice everything for yourself. Christianity says sacrifice yourself.

Romans 12:1-2

The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is of supreme importance. As we reflect on the life and work of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we look at how the gospel drove his struggle to make our world look a little bit more like heaven. In the same way, Refuge seeks to be a gospel-centered church, as we work for the flourishing of all people!

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Happy New Year!

It's hard to see reality for what it truly is. So often our small story crowds out God's bigger work in the world. Our limited perspectives lie to us. We feel our lives so deeply, it makes it so hard to see it from another perspective.

With God, there’s always a bigger picture. We’re always missing something. And if we would humble ourselves, we would begin to see reality in light of that bigger picture.

Psalm 73

Our world says you need money, status, connections, and influence to “get in," to truly be somebody. Jesus says you need to be like a child to enter the kingdom. But what does that mean? Find out this morning!

Mark 10:13-16