REFUGE KENOSHA

A SUBTLE POISON // Matthew 16:1-12

Today we are looking at Jesus’ warning against the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees, showing how the secret teachings of self-righteousness and self-advancement can silently infect our faith. To guard against building earthly kingdoms for our own comfort, we must actively practice remembrance by focusing our minds entirely on the person and work of Christ. Are you more driven by your focus on Christ, or driven by your focus on what you can get out of religious tradition?

THE QUALITIES OF GREAT FAITH // Matthew 15:21-39

As we look in Matthew 15 we’ll see how a Canaanite mother’s plea for her demon-possessed daughter models a bold, beggarly, and resilient faith that pushes past divine silence and societal obstacles. True spiritual greatness isn't found in dressing up our external lives, but in maintaining a humble fixation on Christ when we have nothing else to offer. Are you mistakenly treating Jesus as a mere life-coach to help you get what you want, or is your focus entirely fixed on Him as your all-sufficient source?

SURRENDERING OUR EXCUSES // Matthew 15:10-11, 15-20

Are you secretly using outward religious performance to hide a struggling heart, or blaming your external circumstances for the sin that actually originates from within? In this message from Matthew 15, Jesus cuts through the illusion of external righteousness, teaching that true defilement—and our deepest rebellion—comes exclusively from the unaddressed condition of our own hearts rather than our outside experiences. Listen in to discover how to abandon the exhaustion of religious posturing and experience true spiritual transformation by bringing your unfiltered inner life to the only Savior who can heal it.

DRESSED UP REBELLION // Matthew 15:1-20

Have you ever considered that the spiritual leadership you follow might be using religious traditions to mask a heart in full-blown rebellion against God? In this study of Matthew 15, Jesus exposes the toxic ambition of self-centered religious leaders, warning that these "blind guides" will inevitably poison others and lead their followers into a pit. Jesus urgently commands believers to leave these false teachers behind so you can cultivate a deeper, life-giving dependency on the simplicity of the Gospel.

IGNORANCE ON FIRE // Matthew 15:1-20

Could your most cherished religious traditions actually be a form of rebellion that masks a heart far from God? In this study of Matthew 15, Jesus exposes how elevating human rules over Scripture leads to spiritual hypocrisy and a failure to love others as God commanded. Listen in to discover how to distinguish between hollow rituals and a heart-centered faith that truly honors the Word of God.

THE WEAKNESS IN CALCULATION // Matthew 14:22-36

We are in Part Two of the story of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14. In observing Peter’s experience with Jesus, we will see that there is power in the commands of Jesus. Not only that, but faith in God itself is something that desires to step out and take risks.

JESUS OR PHANTOM? // Matthew 14:22-36

How do you view Jesus in seasons of difficulty or when you are experiencing a struggle with living according to God’s ways? Do you see a Savior who has paid the price in full, or do you see a phantom of your own making—one who demands more, or is full of disappointment? In part one of the story of Jesus walking on water, we’ll see that we have the tendency to make a phantom of Christ, when he is most really Christ.

LISTEN, LEARN, AND FOLLOW - Part 2 // Matthew 14:13-23

We are in Part Two of the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. We continue looking at what the right priorities are for our lives by looking at the life of Jesus. Again, to Christ, intimacy or closeness with the Father was of highest priority, and then compassion and love for others, and then discipleship.

LISTEN, LEARN, AND FOLLOW - Part 1 // Matthew 14:13-23

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.

TRUTH AND ITS CONSEQUENCES // Matthew 14:1-12

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 the life you refuse to surrender?