REFUGE KENOSHA

Today is part one of a message on the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus withdraws to be alone with the Father—yet when the crowds chase Him down, He meets interruption with compassion, healing the sick and multiplying five loaves and two fish until everyone is satisfied.

In Matthew 14:1–12, Herod shows what happens when truth brushes your conscience but never becomes your King—interest without obedience turns into fear, compromise, and eventually violence. John the Baptist stands as the opposite: steady, costly faithfulness to the God of truth, even when it leads to chains, isolation, and a brutal end. Are you living the truth you admire—or silencing it to protect...

As we close out Matthew chapter 13, we are going to see one big idea: your ruler determines your steps—your destination, your responsibility with God’s “treasure,” and even how people respond to you when you won’t bow to their kingdom. What (or who) is ruling your heart right now—and where is it actually taking you?

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a buried treasure and a priceless pearl—so valuable that the one who finds it gladly gives up everything to possess it. When God truly rules a life, priorities don’t just shift; they’re transformed by joy-filled surrender. 

When we consider how we are to be used by God, often we approach the question with a very mathematical mindset. Today, as we look at the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven, we will see that when Christ rules in the lives of His people, results always follow. In a world that expands through conquering, the kingdom of God will expand through humble, compassionate love.

Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the weeds explains why evil, hypocrisy, and confusion can exist right alongside real gospel fruit. Instead of overreacting with scorched-earth “purity” campaigns, we’re called to wise patience, sober discernment, and confidence that Jesus will make all things right at the harvest. If Jesus sees the injustice and still says, “let both grow together,” what does faithf...

Christmas exposes our “bigger and better” obsession—bigger boxes, louder hype, more followers—and then flips it upside down with the shocking humility of Jesus. From the manger to the cross to the quiet victory of the resurrection, Jesus came not to be served but to serve, paying the ransom we couldn’t and offering the only gift that actually lasts: peace with God.

In a world where high-profile believers and everyday friends alike seem to “fall off the wagon,” this podcast digs into Jesus’ first parable in Matthew 13—the Sower and the soils—to make sense of why the same gospel produces wildly different outcomes. We’ll see that you can’t control how people receive the message, but you can control the quantity and quality of what you sow.

As we head back into the Gospel of Matthew, we prepare to dive into the Parables of chapter 13. We will see why Jesus teaches in parables, and be challenged to let Him define our view of what His Kingdom is all about.

People change. But...does God change? If He does, then good news is only good news as long as He does not change who He is. However, as we will see, Psalm 23:6 reminds us that His mercy and goodness will follow His own spiritual kids as long as we live (and even after that).

We step inside the stunning promise of Psalm 23:5, where God doesn’t just rescue us—He prepares a feast for us right in the middle of our battles. We’ll explore what it means to live under a blessing that is both fixed in heaven and formed in our daily choices.

Life isn’t lived on the mountaintop—it’s forged in the valley. As we look at Psalm 23:4, we uncover how God can use our darkest seasons not to destroy us, but to lead us toward higher ground with Him. What if the valley you’re walking through right now isn’t a setback, but the very path your Shepherd is using to take you deeper?

When your soul feels worn thin and every “quick fix” leaves you emptier than before, Psalm 23:3 offers a deeper promise: restoration that only the Good Shepherd can bring. In this message, we explore what it truly means for God to “restore my soul” and to lead us in paths of righteousness—not for our glory, but for His name’s sake. What if the renewal you’re craving isn’t found in escape, but in s...

Sheep are by nature very timid creatures. In order to be able to lie down anywhere, several conditions must be met. Like sheep, we all have needs in order to experience spiritual rest. How can the Good Shepherd help us to find rest amidst the difficulties of this life? We look at Psalm 23:2.

When faced with trouble, where do we look for our help? What source do we put our trust in? Has God truly given us what we need for all these moments? Join us as we look at Psalm 23:1.

How are we to face our troubles and struggles in this life? Elder Mark Lehmann takes us through Psalm 27.

Pastor Tom takes a look at Proverbs 3:5-6.

What if belonging to Jesus redefined what it means to belong to family? In Matthew 12:46–50, He declares that those who do the will of His Father are His true brothers and sisters, inviting us into a family shaped by faith rather than blood. This podcast explores the call of discipleship, the cost of misplaced priorities, and the hope of life together in God’s household.

In Matthew 12:43–45, Jesus warns against the danger of outward reform without true inward renewal. It’s possible to sweep our lives clean and even decorate them with religion, yet remain empty of Christ’s transforming power.  Are you pursuing outward reformation, or resurrection life in Christ?

Proverbs 18:21 says that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The words that we speak are not accidental—they come from a storehouse of what resides inside of our hearts. Today, as we look at Matthew 12:33-37, Jesus teaches us that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. What does your speech today reflect about the status of your heart?

In a world that thrives on gray areas, Jesus draws a clear line: there is no neutral ground. In Matthew 12:22-32, we encounter a moment that forces every person to answer life’s most important question: What will you do with Jesus? This message explores why indifference is enemy territory, why every heart must respond to Christ, and why the stakes are eternal. Are you gathering with Him—or scatter...

Jesus is described in Matthew 12:15–21 as God’s chosen Servant—marked by service, justice, gentleness, and mercy. Unlike the leaders of His day, He did not clamor for attention or dominate with power, but quietly brought healing, rightness, and hope to the broken. In a world obsessed with influence, numbers, and noise, this passage calls us to see true greatness in humble servanthood.

Religious devotion can look convincing while still missing the heart of God. In Matthew 12:9–14, Jesus exposes a godless religion that values rules over mercy, accusation over truth, and self-protection over love for God and others. Can it ever be the case that some of your devotional practices are actually keeping you from trusting in Christ today?

When religious rules become the focus, we risk missing the very heart of God. In Matthew 12:1–8, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and reveals that He—not our man-made regulations—is Lord of the Sabbath. Could it be that your version of obedience is actually keeping you from resting in Christ?

Today, we are looking at the heavy Doctrine of Election. Jesus makes some staggering claims in Matthew 11:27. He claims that He’s been entrusted by God the Father with all things. He claims that nobody knows Him except for the Father. And then He claims that nobody knows the Father except Him and anyone to whom Jesus desires to reveal Him. What does that mean?