REFUGE KENOSHA

YOUR RULER DETERMINES YOUR STEPS // Matthew 13:47-58

As we close out Matthew chapter 13, we are going to see one big idea: your ruler determines your steps—your destination, your responsibility with God’s “treasure,” and even how people respond to you when you won’t bow to their kingdom. What (or who) is ruling your heart right now—and where is it actually taking you?

WHAT'S YOUR TREASURE? // Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a buried treasure and a priceless pearl—so valuable that the one who finds it gladly gives up everything to possess it. When God truly rules a life, priorities don’t just shift; they’re transformed by joy-filled surrender. 

CHANGED PEOPLE CHANGE THINGS // Matthew 13:31-35

When we consider how we are to be used by God, often we approach the question with a very mathematical mindset. Today, as we look at the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven, we will see that when Christ rules in the lives of His people, results always follow. In a world that expands through conquering, the kingdom of God will expand through humble, compassionate love.

OVERREACTING AND WISE PATIENCE // Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the weeds explains why evil, hypocrisy, and confusion can exist right alongside real gospel fruit. Instead of overreacting with scorched-earth “purity” campaigns, we’re called to wise patience, sober discernment, and confidence that Jesus will make all things right at the harvest. If Jesus sees the injustice and still says, “let both grow together,” what does faithful obedience look like for you right now?

EVERYTHING HUMBLE // Christmas 2025

Christmas exposes our “bigger and better” obsession—bigger boxes, louder hype, more followers—and then flips it upside down with the shocking humility of Jesus. From the manger to the cross to the quiet victory of the resurrection, Jesus came not to be served but to serve, paying the ransom we couldn’t and offering the only gift that actually lasts: peace with God.

WHY "FAILURE" IN EVANGELISM IS NECESSARY // Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

In a world where high-profile believers and everyday friends alike seem to “fall off the wagon,” this podcast digs into Jesus’ first parable in Matthew 13—the Sower and the soils—to make sense of why the same gospel produces wildly different outcomes. We’ll see that you can’t control how people receive the message, but you can control the quantity and quality of what you sow.

REVEAL AND CONCEAL // Matthew 13:10-17

As we head back into the Gospel of Matthew, we prepare to dive into the Parables of chapter 13. We will see why Jesus teaches in parables, and be challenged to let Him define our view of what His Kingdom is all about.

GOD'S UNCHANGING LOVE // Psalm 23:6

People change. But...does God change? If He does, then good news is only good news as long as He does not change who He is. However, as we will see, Psalm 23:6 reminds us that His mercy and goodness will follow His own spiritual kids as long as we live (and even after that).

BEYOND CIRCUMSTANCES // Psalm 23:5

We step inside the stunning promise of Psalm 23:5, where God doesn’t just rescue us—He prepares a feast for us right in the middle of our battles. We’ll explore what it means to live under a blessing that is both fixed in heaven and formed in our daily choices.

THE PATH TO HIGHER GROUND // Psalm 23:4

Life isn’t lived on the mountaintop—it’s forged in the valley. As we look at Psalm 23:4, we uncover how God can use our darkest seasons not to destroy us, but to lead us toward higher ground with Him. What if the valley you’re walking through right now isn’t a setback, but the very path your Shepherd is using to take you deeper?