REFUGE KENOSHA

In a culture marked by restlessness, Jesus offers the truest and highest form of spiritual rest. He gives the famous invitation in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He gives this invitation first to those who don’t follow Him, but continues to extend this offer to those who call Him Lord every day. The question for you, then, is, “How are...

Indifference may seem harmless, but Jesus warns it is a deadly response to all that He has revealed—one that invites judgment even more severe than some forms of godless behaviors. In Matthew 11:20-24, we see that seeing the works of Christ and shrugging them off is among the gravest of offenses. The question for you today is: How might spiritual indifference be lurking beneath the surface of your...

Have you ever doubted God? Or have you ever been overly critical of a person or idea, but only because it convicted you? In Matthew 11:1–19, we see how hearts respond to Jesus through doubt and criticism. When the way of Christ challenges you, do you question your heart honestly or do you criticize and narrate to protect your comfort?

What if the life you’ve always wanted is actually found in surrender, not survival? In Matthew 10:32–11:1, Jesus calls us to a bold, public allegiance to Him—one that acknowledges Christ over comfort, treasures Him above every relationship, and takes up a cross rather than chasing convenience. In a culture obsessed with self-preservation, how do we live the kind of life that speaks, sacrifices, an...

What we fear reveals what we worship. In a world quick to cancel, slander, and shame, Jesus reminds us that the disciple is not above the teacher—and the cross-shaped life is often misunderstood and maligned. But reputation, security, and worth on this earth are fleeting compared to what is eternal. Matthew 10:24-31 calls us to fearless faith in the face of opposition, grounding our identity not i...

Jesus sends His followers out as sheep among wolves—vulnerable, yet Spirit-empowered; exposed, yet divinely protected. In Matthew 10:16–23, we’re called to live with sharp discernment and quiet purity, resisting the goddess of comfort and embracing our place in a world that may oppose us. When opposition comes, will your faith endure with both wisdom and innocence?

How is Jesus’s instruction to His disciples on this short-term mission trip to Jerusalem relevant for us today? As we continue looking through Jesus’s sermon on mission (Matthew 10), we will be challenged to look to God for guidance. What would change in your life if your decisions were shaped by dependence on God?

When Jesus sent out the twelve, He gave them a focused mission and a clear message: proclaim that “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” This message isn’t just ancient history—it’s a call to recognize the rule and reign of Christ right now and live accordingly. Do you truly see the people around you with spiritual clarity, and does your inner life know the King’s message, or are you carrying a me...

Jesus calls ordinary people to extraordinary mission—not because of their qualifications, but because of His transforming grace and power. Jesus met His disciples in their ordinary lives and sent them out together with authority, reminding us that greatness in God’s Kingdom begins with becoming less. In a culture obsessed with platform, are we willing to be the “and” in someone else’s story for th...

Compassion for the lost and godless anger cannot co-exist in the Christian heart. As Nathan McCray closes our mini series on Jonah, we will see how Jonah, “The Angry Prophet,” teaches us that our anger at others will always block some of the Lord’s greatest spiritual blessings over our lives.

When we think of God’s warnings of judgment, we tend to see it in negative terms. However, what if those warnings were actually forms of God’s grace? As Nathan McCray takes us through Jonah chapter 3, we will see how God is constantly in the business of rescuing lost people.

What is to be our motive as Christians for reaching lost people? Today, as we look at Matthew 9:35-38, we are going to see the compassion of Jesus, as well as what His solution is to the problem of those who are far from God.

What causes you to lose a clear vision of God and His work in your life? Stresses, crises, even pursuing good things in a particular way can begin to blur how we see God, ourselves, and the world. As we look at the last set of miracles in Matthew 9:27-34, we will see that the closer we are to Christ, the clearer our vision will become.

When pain, fear, and loss press in, where do you turn? In Matthew 9:18–26, two desperate people reach for Jesus—one grieving a child, the other bleeding for twelve years—and both discover the power of a Savior who responds to fragile faith. In this message, we explore how our most desperate moments can become the canvas for Christ’s greatest work.

Jesus doesn’t call the qualified—He calls the unlikely and sits at their table. In this passage, we see that following Him means leaving behind old forms and embracing the new life and joy He brings. The presence of Jesus changes everything, and when He shows up, it’s time to feast, not fast.

What does it mean for Jesus to have authority to forgive sins, and how does that authority change everything? In Matthew 9:1-8, we see Jesus not only heal a paralyzed man but also declare his sins forgiven, revealing a power that shocked religious leaders. Today we’ll see that our deepest need is not just physical healing, but the forgiveness that only Christ can give.

Every human path is ultimately a reaction to Christ’s authority. In Matthew 8:28-34, we witness demons who recognize Jesus’ power, a man who is radically transformed, and a crowd that begs Jesus to leave. How we respond to Christ’s authority reveals the true state of our hearts—will we reject Him, or will we follow in obedience?

What do your reactions reveal about your heart? When the disciples faced a violent storm in Matthew 8:23-27, their fear exposed their lack of trust in Jesus. Yet, with a word, He calmed the wind, waves, and coincidentally, their hearts. This passage challenges us to examine our own responses to life’s storms and to stand in awe of the One whom even the winds and waves obey.

Following Jesus requires more than good intentions—it demands complete commitment. In Matthew 8:18-22, Jesus confronts half-hearted disciples with the hard truth that following Him means not living primarily for comfort, security, and personal priorities. Have you truly counted the cost, or are you clinging to compromises that keep you from fully following Jesus?

Jesus has the authority to heal and restore what is broken, but do we truly believe that today? In Matthew 8:1-17, we see Christ’s power displayed as He touches the untouchable, commands creation, and restores people for service. This message challenges us to approach Jesus with humble trust, recognizing that His authority is not just a past reality but a present and personal invitation to faith.

In today’s message, “Running from God; Finding His Mercy,” Nathan McCray is going to lead us through some of the story of the prophet Jonah, a story of rebellion, pursuit, and relentless grace. We will find that often in our running from God we can actually come face to face with His inexhaustible love. Are you running from God? If so, today is an invitation to return to Him and seek Him out with...

Have you ever felt too broken, too unworthy, or too far gone for God’s grace? Today, as we look at John 4, Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well reveals a love that breaks every barrier to offer living water to the thirsty. No matter your past, God's grace is greater than your sin, and His invitation is for you—will you come to the well? Speaker: Mark Lehmann.

What defines the true purpose of a local church? Today we are looking at the last Mark of Refuge - We prioritize gathering in Christ to GROWGO. What exactly does GROWGO mean, and why should it matter to Christians today? We will look at Hebrews 10:24-25 and Colossians 1:28 to see how God has called His church to build up one another toward love and good works

Posture is important in everyday life; what if spiritual posture mattered in an even greater way? Today we look at Refuge’s second mark of church life: “We posture ourselves to be poured out before God.” We will see how the posture of surrender and anticipation will lead to a collective pouring out of our hearts in prayer, praise, and service to God.

We are taking a break from our study in Matthew to focus on the three marks of Refuge Church. Our first mark is “We pursue Scripture as God’s clear voice to us right now.” We believe that the Bible guides our lives and shapes our faith. How often do you pause to hear what God is saying through His Word?