Refuge Church - Lynnwood, WA

How can we avoid being a killjoy? Or having our own joy killed? Proverbs 15 provides us with life-giving answers.

Which "house" are you in? Pastor James helps us "sort" ourselves as we continue traveling through Proverbs.

We know we ought to read Proverbs. But, in truth, Proverbs reads us. Knowing that will motivate us to pursue God's wisdom and perspective.

Righteous restraint, guidance, and contentment may not sound exciting, but they keep us rooted in wisdom, instead of running after folly.

Elder Jonathan Schultz opens up Proverbs 11 and explains its truths, and how extra-scriptural sources of righteousness fail to stack up.

For "he who has ears to hear," Proverbs 10 calls us to use wisdom as we labor, listen, live life, and use our lips.

As a preface to rejoining our journey through Proverbs, we revisit Chapter 9, which features two influential ladies vying for our attention: Wisdom and Folly.

In the 4th and final gospel, John reveals a pre-incarnate Son on mission for the Father, who is at the same time a friend who is closer than a brother.

The good doctor Luke succeeded in what he set out to do under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - to provide us with an "orderly account" of Jesus' birth, death & resurrection.

Mark's gospel is chock-full of urgency, as he communicates a Messiah whose message we must respond to...immediately!

Matthew's Gospel is the gift that keeps on giving!

A man standing alone against a tank column, and a campy caped crusader...learn how those intersect with Psalm 89 in this final sermon in our series!

In this deepest, darkest lament in the Book of Psalms, we find a saving God who both ordains affliction and sustains us through it.

Psalm 87 gives us an opportunity to pause and consider God's preference for Zion, and the generosity of His rescue mission to all mankind.

At the center of Psalm 86 lies a challenge. Will we echo David's heart cry to be “undivided” in our pursuit of God's will and way?

As another divinely inspired song from the Sons of Korah, Psalm 85 shows us (1) our state, (2) our need, (3) our shadow, and (4) God's promise!

In Psalm 84, the Sons of Korah reach divinely inspired poetic heights as they exult in God's House, Plan, People, and - finally - God Himself.

Psalm 83 seems ripped from the headlines, but how are we to sing and pray the curse invocations of a psalm like this? And where is Jesus in all this?

God's care and love for the downtrodden is far deeper than, and very different from, the "social justice" of our day.

Is singing a suggestion? Not for the Christian. It's a command. And we must sing strongly and continuously, athwart the cultural tides, movements and technologies that flash and fade.

Nehemiah 3 is more than just a list of gates and names, it is a helpful blueprint for the Spirit-empowered actions and organization of the Church.

Before the work of rebuilding of Jerusalem's could begin, Nehemiah got busy adding diligence in planning to his faith in God's promises. Elder Jonathan Schultz reminds us of this important takeaway as he preaches on Nehemiah 2.

The beginning of Nehemiah presents us with 2 questions we need to answer. Elder Ben Keller talks about Jerusalem's crumbled wall, and Nehemiah's response to news of its condition.

The Greatest Gift: many remember Linus explaining what Christmas is all about to Charlie Brown. Pastor James explains that, while Linus is technically correct, it is about much, MUCH more!

Sin's remedy needs the right recipe. We conclude our 4-week series on the gift of Creeds the church has received from its forebears, looking at the ingredients of the incarnation and how a meticulous God planned our salvation so perfectly.

Week 3 of our Advent Series springs from scripture to the clarifying creed about our triune God, and the work of the early church to present a gift of coherence for congregations to come.

We open the second of four Christmas gifts the church has wrapped and passed to its members throughout history: the additions in this crucial creed of Christianity shines a light on Christ's deity and the Holy Spirit's work.

We open the first of four Christmas gifts the church has wrapped and passed to its members throughout history: each simple stanza of this "cradle creed of Christianity" connects us to a host of scripture, useful for teaching and discipleship in line with our Great Commission, even down to its Trinitarian form.

3 John - themes of hospitality and loving character mark the basic notes of this affectionate letter by the apostle John, but expressed throughout is the unerring emphasis and joy of walking in the truth.

In his short 2nd epistle, John reminds us that truth and love must never be separated. And for the Christian, truth and love are rooted in eternity past in God's choice of a people for himself.

When we reject Jesus, we're also rejecting the recognition of our misery and malady. Jesus' perfection shines a light on our lack, and we push back because we don't want to admit how broken and needy we are. When we're forced to acknowledge our infirmity, we stop screaming "crucify Him" and cry out "save us".

We see that Jesus' betrayal in scripture is not just by Judas, but a multitude of persons... and ultimately includes us. This punctuates our need for what He came for, and what he achieved.

Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane represent not only the beginning of a suffering beyond our imagining, but also a deliberate call back to where humanity's problems began. Will we heed our Savior's call to watch and pray, or will we be found asleep like His disciples?

Matthew 26 is a familiar passage to most Christians. It's a Passover to remember with feasting, singing and betrayal. What can Judas, Peter, and an unnamed woman teach us about following Jesus?

Feasts are a huge part of culture, whether it's holidays or special events or commemorative occasions... so how does the Bible view feasting? What Feasts did God ordain, and why? Pastor James looks at the biblical emergence, ordinance, and aim of biblical feasting.

Matthew 25 uses three thematically linked illustrations to talk about what we've been given, how we should use it, and what it says about our professed faith if we aren't prepared and/or do nothing with what we've been entrusted.

The Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 is one of the most difficult passages in scripture. Pastor James takes on the challenge by explaining where, and whether, Jesus breaks the 4th wall in his message to His disciples, and to us.

Matthew 23 gives us 7 "woes" and a few moments to go "Whoa" as we consider Jesus' emphasis on the weight of sin and hell, and our need for the gospel.

Matthew 22 represents a final series of questions from Christ's opponents which play out more like a prosecution than an honest discussion. Jesus is able to stymie them in his responses, but will we listen better than his opponents?

Pastor James looks at the Parable of the Wedding Banquet and what it means to be God's guest - not the center - of his grand story, and not only “invited” but “chosen”.

Jonathan Schultz takes us into this potentially depressing but ultimately joyous duo of parables that Jesus shares bluntly with his antagonists 2,000 years ago, and us today.

Pastor James explores how Jesus is like a Box of Chocolates: you may not know what you're gonna get, but ultimately 'tis SO sweet.