Advertise on podcast: Refuge Audio Podcast

Life is full of exciting mountain top experiences and toiling treks through valleys. We tend to forget the valleys when we are on the peaks. Sometimes, the descent can be just as perilous as the ascent. But we often pray for someone when they trudge through the valley; seldom do we pray for someone when things are going well on the mountain peak. The Apostle Paul was different. He prayed for the believers in Ephesus (and Philippi, and Colossae) because they were full of faith, hope, and love. Watch our study of Ephesians 1:15-21 and consider why and how Paul would pray for believers whose circumstances were really good.

Ephesians 1 opens with a beautiful doxology to God. In one sentence, the Apostle Paul highlights God's goodness and grandeur, ushering us into awe and wonder at God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Over the past few Sundays, we’ve had the opportunity to consider not only each member of the Trinity, but also what happens when each member blesses humanity. This past Sunday, we focused on the two verses about God the Spirit and considered seven subsections of truth about the Spirit’s work in a believer's life. Watch our study of Ephesians 1:13-14 and reflect on the nature of the Spirit and the many ways He blesses a believer to the praise of His glory.

Many truths in Scripture may seem contradictory, but they are actually complementary. We can fall into serious errors when we promote one truth to the exclusion of other complementary truths. When this happens, we venture outside Scripture and impose the limited boundaries of our brains. But we must be careful not to place unnecessary limitations on God’s Word. For His thoughts are not like our thoughts; His ways are not like our ways (see Isaiah 55:8-9). How can we be predestined according to the purposes of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will and be those who choose to trust and believe in Him? Watch our study as we search the Scriptures to understand that God’s ways are not our ways.

“In Him…” This phrase is repeated ten times in Ephesians 1:7-12, highlighting the importance and blessing of being found in the Beloved. But who is the Beloved? And why is it important to be found in Him? He died and defeated death so we could be forgiven, set free, and be with Him forevermore. He is God the Son, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 begins the longest sentence in Scripture. Over the next 12 verses, a single sentence describes three subjects: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. A similar phrase ends each section (“to the praise of His Glory”), making each a doxology—a hymn of praise to God. The first segment contains eight phrases to highlight God’s goodness and grandeur. Watch our study of Ephesians 1:3-6 as we read these magnificent phrases that draw us into adoration of God the Father.

The first two verses of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians contain three phrases. Each phrase has four components. And in those four components, we find enough to unpack and unfold to edify and stir us up in our relationship with God. But if you just read through it, you might think these verses are just an unremarkable greeting that’s in the way of the good stuff. And while it’s true that Paul needed to start his letter somewhere, we would miss a treasure of insight and understanding in these words if we see them only as an opening greeting.

In our first study in Ephesians, we considered the congregation to which this letter was addressed—their past, present, and future. In our study this past Sunday, we considered the writer of this letter—his past, present, and future. We know the author as Paul, but he wasn’t called by that name at first. ​When we’re first introduced to him in Scripture, he is known as Saul, a zealous man who was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. But then, he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. From that moment on, everything changed—his heart, his mission, and even his name.

What would you do if you had all power and all authority? Would you choose to lay down your life? Would you choose to pick it up again? Would you want to share that power and authority with others who abandoned you at your darkest moments? Would you be willing to be a suffering servant so that others might live? ​And yet, this is what Jesus did. With all power and all authority, He chose to lay down His life to save wretched people like us. Then He picks up His life again and entrusts us with His message so that others might pass from death to life. As our study of the Gospel of Matthew draws to a close, we consider the power and authority Jesus had and what He chose to do with them, so that we might partner with Him in His mission.

In Matthew 27, we observe God's sovereignty and humanity's responsibility as we approach the cross at Calvary. We see God’s sovereignty woven into what transpired perfectly and purposefully for all of mankind. We also see the responsibility humanity had for the death of Jesus–those who were at Golgotha, and even us today–for we must acknowledge that our sin and Jesus’ love kept Him on the cross until the work of salvation was finished. Watch our study of Matthew 27:1-54 as we humbly consider God’s predetermined purpose and plan to offer up His one and only Son, who was arrested, beaten, mocked, crucified, and ultimately killed at the hands of sinful men.

There are two truths in the Scriptures that we should hold on to — like two sides of a coin. One truth is found in John 15:15, where Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” The other truth is found in Philippians 4:13, where Paul writes, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Peter lived in John 15:5. He was a mix of hubris, pride, and irrational self-confidence in a futile endeavor to somehow earn Jesus’ favor. But one day the coin flipped, and Peter learned to live in the truth of Philippians 4:13. He understood that apart from Christ, he was nothing and could do nothing. But there came a point when he realized he could do all things through Christ, who gave him strength.

Resurrection matters. The Apostle Paul tells us it is at the center of our faith in Jesus—if Christ is not risen, our faith is empty (1 Corinthians 15:14). Since He has risen from the dead, we too will be risen from the dead. But do we as followers of Jesus really believe that? Do we understand what the Bible teaches about our own bodily resurrection? And what difference should it make in our lives now and for eternity? Watch the message from this past Sunday, in which guest speaker Jim Stigman led our study on the importance and implications of the resurrection from the dead.

There are quite a few troubling words in Matthew 26. Words like crucified, buried, betrayed, broken body, blood shed, strike the shepherd, sheep scattered, stumble, and denial. These are all troubling words that speak of troubling times. But there is hope. Is your heart troubled today? Perhaps over your own sin and failings? Over others' sin and failings? Maybe your heart is troubled over something in the past, or something that might be in the future. There is hope. And thankfully, Jesus will tell us about the comfort only He can provide for our troubled hearts.

In Matthew 25, Jesus continues teaching His disciples about His return. At that time, Jesus describes three ways people will be separated. First, the wise will be separated from the foolish. Second, the faithful will be separated from the unfaithful. And third, the sheep will be separated from the goats. Through these examples, Jesus shows how true believers will be found busy about their master's business as they anticipate His imminent return. Watch our study of Matthew 25 as we consider the hope that we can have now to be ready for His return at any moment.