Refuge Church Fort Myers

From start to finish life rarely goes according to plan. It changes, breaks us, and surprises us. But Philippians 1 reminds us of this truth: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. Coach Paul As we’ve learn in this series, Paul wrote Philippians from prison. But still his […] The post Philippians // From Start to Finish appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Welcome to week 2 of our series through Philippians! Last week we looked at what Paul meant when he said, “to live is Christ.” It wasn’t about survival or success, or even suffering. It was about being anchored in Jesus. Living and love the way Jesus did! This week we look at what it means […] The post Philippians // To Live as Christ Together appeared first on Refuge.Church.

This week we start a new series. After wrapping our Heroes series; where we talked about injustice, courage, and the silenced voices who still have a place in God’s story. While important, some of it was really heavy. And at Refuge we desire to be like Paul when he says; To Live is Christ. So, […] The post Philippians // To Live is Christ appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Two midwives, and their defiance that changed history, The story of Shiphrah and Pugh in Exodus 1 is one of the most powerful acts of resistance in the Bible. It begins with fear. Pharaoh feared the growing strength of the Hebrew people. Fear turning into oppression. Laws were written. Families enslaved. Lives were being crushed. […] The post Heroes // Shiphrah & Puah appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Two stories. Two Tamars. One gospel. Most people don’t even realize there are two Tamars in the Bible. One in Genesis. One in 2 Samuel. Their stories are wildly different, yet both reveal something powerful about God’s justice and mercy. Pastor Nicole believes scripture isn’t polished or sanitized. It’s raw, messy, and sometimes painful. And […] The post Heroes // Two Tamars. One Gospel. appeared first on Refuge.Church.

She's rarely in the spotlight.You may never have heard her name.Yet she was essential. This is Phoebe the deacon. Paul didn’t just call her a helper. He used the same word he used for his closest leaders. She carried letters, led with courage, and modeled faithful service. This sermon brings Phoebe the deacon out of the margins. It […] The post Heroes // Phoebe appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Let’s be honest… when you hear the word “baptism,” you probably think of white robes or tearful testimonies. You probably don’t think of baptism as protest. But the truth is; baptisms were never meant to be about performance or perfect. In this sermon, Pastor Nicole flips the script and dives deep (pun intended) into the […] The post Heroes // Baptisms appeared first on Refuge.Church.

What if the greatest stories in the Bible weren’t just about the men we always hear about… but ALSO the invisible women in scripture? These are the women who cooked the meals, nurtured he prophets, raised the leaders, and set their names were never recorded. In this powerful kick off to our series Heroes: The […] The post Heroes // The Invisible Women appeared first on Refuge.Church.

One Misfit Turning Practice into Purpose In our Holy Habits series we’ve talked a lot about transforming our mental health. How we move from worn out to whole and healed. But it’s one thing to just talk about holy habits, but it’s another thing to see them in action. How do these practices hold up […] The post Holy Habits in Real Life appeared first on Refuge.Church.

At Refuge, we’ve spent the last several weeks working though Holy Habits; a series about the sanctity of self-care. But Self-care was never the final destination. It’s the foundation. We care for ourselves so that we can care for others and build community. Love God, Love Yourself, Love Others Jesus said: “Love the Lord God […] The post Holy Habits // The Work of Love appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Jesus, Justice, and Flipping Tables Deconstruction & Juneteenth? Believe it or not deconstruction and Juneteenth are more connected than you might think. At Refuge, we follow Jesus into hard conversations, especially when it comes to justice, truth, and repentance. This week’s message starts to dig into what it means to deconstruct harmful beliefs, examine our […] The post Holy Habits // Deconstruction and Juneteenth appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Sabbath as Self-Care And its our fourth Holy Habit that closes out Part 1 of our Holy Habits series is Sabbath. Pastor Nicole called it “part 1” because this is the last holy habit that looks inward at loving ourselves. Sabbath isn’t just about stopping. It’s about a rhythm of life, and listening. Sabbath is […] The post Holy Habits // Sabbath appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Silence & Solitude We live in a world constantly filled with noise. Scrolling, multitasking, and reacting. Silence and solitude often feel awkward – or even impossible! But the ancient practices of silence and solitude are vital for our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. At Refuge, we believe self-care is sacred. And this week we talk […] The post Holy Habits // Silence & Solitude appeared first on Refuge.Church.

At Refuge, we’ve been walking with Jesus and watching how he practiced self-care. Last week, we slowed down enough to meditate. This week, we slow down enough to speak. This week’s message is about the Holy Habit of Prayer. Prayer is for All People. The holy habit of prayer isn’t only a Christian practice. It’s […] The post Holy Habits // Prayer appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Did Jesus Meditate? When we hear the word meditation, many of us might flinch. Maybe we think it’s too mystical or unfamiliar — or even unbiblical. But what if we’ve misunderstood it all along. In week two of our series, Holy Habits: The Sanctity of Self-Care, we explore meditation. Not as a trend, but as […] The post Holy Habits // Meditation appeared first on Refuge.Church.

We Don’t Know How to Rest Let’s be real. Most of us don’t know how to rest well, let alone take care of ourselves in a meaningful way. We’ve been taught to hustle. We’ve been conditioned to believe that our worth is tied to our productivity. Even in church spaces, we’ve heard messages that elevate […] The post Holy Habits // Self Care appeared first on Refuge.Church.

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This week at Refuge, we continued our QTNA (Questions That Need Answered) series with a question that deserves a thoughtful, grace-filled response. The Gay QTNA. This question directly challenges how some Christians have used the Bible to link homosexuality and sin, causing deep shame. So, instead of just giving a theological deep dive (though we love a […] The post QTNA // The Gay QTNA appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Why do we not hear from modern day prophets? It's a fair question—especially in a world that feels like it's constantly teetering between chaos and collapse. As I prepared this message, I found myself wrestling with despair. News cycles are… Read More QTNA // O Prophets Where Art Thou? The post QTNA // O Prophets Where Art Thou? appeared first on Refuge.Church.

The Bible is thousands and thousands of years old, its hard not to wonder about the accuracy of the Bible translations. The Bible has been rewritten and interpreted by different people throughout history, so how can we trust it? This… Read More QTNA // The B.I.B.L.E The post QTNA // The B.I.B.L.E appeared first on Refuge.Church.

What is Prayer For? Why do we keep praying? What is it eve for? Is God listening? Prayer is not just about asking for things. It’s about connection and relationship. Isn’t it odd that the disciples asked Jesus to teach… Read More QTNA // Is God Listening? The post QTNA // Is God Listening? appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Why do bad things happen to good people? It’s a question we’ve all wrestled with. When life feels unfair, it’s natural to ask, “Why me? Why this? Why God?” This week Pastor Nicole dove into one of the toughest questions… Read More QTNA // Good People. Bad Things The post QTNA // Good People. Bad Things appeared first on Refuge.Church.

New Year, New Series! Here at Refuge, we’re jumping into 2025 with the thought-provoking series QTNA // Question That Need Answered. Our members have submitted their biggest questions and we will spend the next several weeks exploring them together! But… Read More QTNA // Ask, Seek, Knock The post QTNA // Ask, Seek, Knock appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Big Dreams. Big Plans. It’s hard not to think that big equates to success. But success looks different to everybody. So, what if there’s actually strength in smallness. In this bottle episode, Pastor Nicole reminds us that smallness isn’t a… Read More Acts of the Spirit // Bottle Episode: The post Acts of the Spirit // Bottle Episode: appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Gentleness can often be misunderstood. Many think it’s about weakness or avoiding confrontation. But true gentleness is far more powerful. Gentleness is strength under control. In her sermon on gentleness, Pastor Nicole teaches about this Christlike quality that doesn’t demand… Read More Acts of the Spirit // Gentleness The post Acts of the Spirit // Gentleness appeared first on Refuge.Church.

In this sermon from our Acts of the Spirit series, Pastor Nicole turns our focus to our Acts of Patience. More Than Waiting The biblical patience from Galatians is more than waiting in line or staying calm when your coffee… Read More Acts of the Spirit // Patience The post Acts of the Spirit // Patience appeared first on Refuge.Church.

What is Real Peace? When you think of peace, what comes to mind? A quiet moment? The absence of conflict? Maybe even a personal sense of calm? These are all great pictures of peace, but when we look at the… Read More Acts of the Spirit // Peacemaker The post Acts of the Spirit // Peacemaker appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Feeling Joyless? You’re Not Alone Have you ever wondered why your life sometimes feels like its missing joy, even when you’re trying to live out your faith? In this week’s sermon, Pastor Brian tackles this question head-on. Diving into Romans… Read More Acts of the Spirit // Restore Joy The post Acts of the Spirit // Restore Joy appeared first on Refuge.Church.

This week Pastor Nicole started our NEW SERIES. We’ll be diving into the FRUITS of the Spirit in the book of Acts. Pastor Nicole started us of with the core FRUIT; LOVE! Love. It’s more important that a good feeling… Read More Acts of the Spirit // Love The post Acts of the Spirit // Love appeared first on Refuge.Church.

We end our Y’all Means All series by answering this quesiton: Can faith and critical thinking coexist? If we read our bible through a critical lens, doesn’t that mean we’re criticizing the bible? In this weeks sermon Pastor Nicole takes… Read More Y’all Means All // From the Head to the Heart The post Y’all Means All // From the Head to the Heart appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Conflict is inevitable. No matter where we are, we all encounter disagreements. But how do we, as a community of believers, hand conflict in a way that reflects Jesus. This is the question Pastor David tackles as he takes us… Read More Y’all Means All // Conflict The post Y’all Means All // Conflict appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Have you ever found yourself in a strange place you never expected to be? Maybe you’ve looked back at your life and though: how did I get here? Was it coincidence, was it fate, or was it something bigger and… Read More Y’all Means All // Stranger things The post Y’all Means All // Stranger things appeared first on Refuge.Church.

We are moving right along in our summer of series! This week Pastor Nicole kicked off our new series: “Y’all Means All!“ Over the next few weeks we’re going to be looking at the apostles’ ACTS of inclusivity. So, to… Read More Y’all Means All // Tolerance vs. Inclusion The post Y’all Means All // Tolerance vs. Inclusion appeared first on Refuge.Church.

This we Pastor David wrapped up our Upstart Apostles Series! David looks at the transformation of one of the most pivotal upstart apostles of the early church; SAUL! Saul’s story stands as a reminder that no one is beyond the… Read More Upstart Apostles // Transforming Together The post Upstart Apostles // Transforming Together appeared first on Refuge.Church.

We continue to explore how the Apostles of Acts upstarted the church. The followed the bold vision through adversity and persecution, using innovation and creativity to meet people where the were. They were men and women filled with the Holy… Read More Upstart Apostles // Innovation The post Upstart Apostles // Innovation appeared first on Refuge.Church.

This week Pastor David takes us through a familiar story with fresh eyes. Stephen’s name might ring a bell for some. Known as the first Christian martyr, is story often stops at his tragic death. However, there is so much… Read More Upstart Apostles // Resilience in Adversity The post Upstart Apostles // Resilience in Adversity appeared first on Refuge.Church.

We are continuing our SUMMER OF SERIES with our NEW SERIES: Upstart Apostles. We get our inspiration for this series from Acts 4:1 of the MSG translation where the early followers of Jesus are labeled “Upstart Apostles.” This term encapsulates… Read More Upstart Apostles // Visionary Leadership The post Upstart Apostles // Visionary Leadership appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Pastor David wraps up our Acts B.C. series with a powerful message about the strength of the early church. Pastor David takes a trip down memory lane reminding us of some terrible fads we suffered through. Remember water beds, planking,… Read More Act B.C. // Meetings, Prison Breaks, & Fads! Oh My! The post Act B.C. // Meetings, Prison Breaks, & Fads! Oh My! appeared first on Refuge.Church.

On Saturday, June 22nd, Refuge hosted out FIRST service in honor of Juneteenth. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. This service is a significant step forward in truly being a safe place for ALL PEOPLE to be unapologetically… Read More Juneteenth // A Night Of Reflection The post Juneteenth // A Night Of Reflection appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Acts 4 This week Pastor David tackles the theme of courage and boldness. In Acts 4:23-31 we read of profound courage within the early church. This is an encouragement we need today more than ever! Peter and John are once… Read More Acts B.C. // Boldness The post Acts B.C. // Boldness appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Pastor Nicole keeps our summer of series moving forward as she dives into Acts 4. The story of the church moves forward with the aftermath of the apostles healing the paralyzed man. Last week, we learned how Peter and John… Read More Acts B.C. // Act Like Jesus The post Acts B.C. // Act Like Jesus appeared first on Refuge.Church.

We continue to explore the beginnings of the early church and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. So, this week Pastor Davide tells the moving story from Acts 3. The ACTS of Peter and John healing a man who… Read More Acts B.C. // You Are Seen The post Acts B.C. // You Are Seen appeared first on Refuge.Church.

This week we learn about what to expect when we’re expecting! Pastor Nicole brings to life the Day of Pentecost from Acts 2. In this sermon on expectancy, pastor Nicole emphasizes the importance of living with a mindset rooted in… Read More Acts B.C. // What to Expect… The post Acts B.C. // What to Expect… appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Summer is right around the corner, an we’re kicking of a Summer of Series at Refuge. We will be journeying through the book of Acts from start to finish! One series at a time exploring it’s themes and telling its… Read More Acts B.C. // Previously On… The post Acts B.C. // Previously On… appeared first on Refuge.Church.

In the conclusion of his CYS series, Pastor Brian takes us deeper into the idea of choosing our suffering. Will we take the path of growth and resilience over passive endurance? We are introduced to a talented young artist, Jacob… Read More CYS // Choose Your Suffering Part II The post CYS // Choose Your Suffering Part II appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Are you feeling stuck in life’s struggles? Overwhelmed by challenges thrust upon you? Pastor Brian’s NEW mini-series; “Choose Your Suffering,” explores the idea of embracing hardships on our journey to find purpose and meaning. In this challenging message, Pastor Brian… Read More CYS // Choose Your Suffering Part I The post CYS // Choose Your Suffering Part I appeared first on Refuge.Church.

This week Pastor Nicole wrapped up The Barbie Movie series by showing us how much Barbie and Nicodemus have in common! We’ve been diving deep into the realms of deconstruction and restoration. And how this never ending process is supposed… Read More The Barbie Movie // Finale The post The Barbie Movie // Finale appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Welcome to week two of our FUN-conventional series centered around The Barbie Movie. Yes, yes, I know! You’ve heard all the things about Barbie! But stick with us, because this journey is about so much more than what meets the… Read More The Barbie Movie \ Advocate Barbie The post The Barbie Movie \ Advocate Barbie appeared first on Refuge.Church.

The Barbie Movie Follows stereotypical Barbie, who lives a seemingly perfect life alongside other Barbies and Kens in Barbie Land. In this world the Barbies have to prestigious careers, like doctors, lawyers, professors, teachers, and politicians… and the Kens they… Read More The Barbie Movie // Deconstruction Barbie The post The Barbie Movie // Deconstruction Barbie appeared first on Refuge.Church.

This week Pastor Davide wraps up his Before & After series by taking us on a journey through (of all things) The Lion King! Pastor David uses his favorite move to explore the before and after stories of one of… Read More Before & After // Peter The post Before & After // Peter appeared first on Refuge.Church.

Happy Easter! This year Pastor David dives into the significance of Easter. He unravels a beautiful message of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From his personal stories to biblical passages, Pastor David creates a safe place to… Read More Before & After // Easter The post Before & After // Easter appeared first on Refuge.Church.