Welcome to our podcast where you can listen to our latest sermons and other helpful content. We hope this podcast will help you Know Jesus and Make Him Known. To learn more, visit us at www.refugecitychurch.com.
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Most people say they are spiritual. Far fewer go to church. That gap describes our culture, and it described Athens too. Paul preached the same gospel in three cities and got three different responses. In Thessalonica, jealousy started a riot. In Berea, people examined the Scriptures every day and believed. In Athens, the intellectual capital of the ancient world was packed with idols and an altar “to the unknown god.” Paul did not start with condemnation. He started with their own altar. Then he named the God they were reaching for in the dark: the Creator who made the world, gives life and b
The Gospel doesn’t ask permission. It disrupts. In Acts 16, the unstoppable message of Jesus crashes into a missionary’s carefully made plans, a successful businesswoman’s closed heart, a demonic economy built on exploitation, and a desperate man’s midnight despair. Four disruptions. One powerful Gospel. From the closed doors that redirected Paul to Macedonia… to the Lord opening Lydia’s heart by the river… to the casting out of a spirit that collapsed a profitable racket… to a Philippian jailer about to take his own life who instead finds salvation— This is the same Gospel that still refuses
In Acts 15 the early church faces a deadly internal threat as sincere men demand circumcision and the law be added to faith in Christ—yet Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James stand firm that God has already cleansed Gentile hearts by faith alone and that salvation is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as it is for the Jews. In this message, we are confronted by every quiet addition we still make—performance, culture, secondary convictions, or religious ladders—and shows that the free gospel is the narrow pass that must be held at all costs if the nations are ever to hear it. You will see ho
In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas move from bold preaching in Iconium to a stunning miracle in pagan Lystra, only to be stoned and left for dead—yet the living God raises Paul and sends him back to strengthen the very churches that cost him so much. This message confronts our modern hunger for an easy path and shows that the same sovereign Lord who opens doors of faith uses hardship, opposition, and scars to advance the gospel farther than comfort ever could. You will see how intentional discipleship, the appointment of elders, and the honest announcement of tribulation form the pattern for church
In Acts 13 the Spirit moves the church from local safety in Antioch to global mission, sending Barnabas and Saul after worship, fasting, and prayer. In this message, Matthew talks through how the gospel advances through a unique leadership team, Spirit-directed obedience, and direct confrontation with darkness, never staying bottled or comfortable. Paul then preaches a clear, historical, verifiable message centered on Jesus as the promised Savior who brings forgiveness and freedom the law could never give. The gospel always demands a verdict—some rejoice and believe while others resist—and it
In Acts 12, deadly political pressure crashes into the early church as Herod Agrippa I executes James and locks Peter in maximum-security prison with a public spectacle scheduled right after the feast. While the apostle sleeps between two soldiers, the church gathers for earnest, stretched-out prayer—the kind of intense intercession that refuses to accept another apostle’s head on a platter. God answers by sending an angel who strikes Peter awake, drops the chains, and walks him past guards and through an iron gate that opens by itself. Yet when the freed Peter arrives at the prayer meeting, t
In Acts 11, ordinary, nameless believers—scattered by persecution—stepped into Antioch, crossed cultural lines, and preached the Lord Jesus to Hellenists, and “the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21, ESV). These were not apostles or platformed leaders, but faithful “them” whose obedience launched gospel advance from the third-largest city in the Roman Empire and birthed the very name “Christians.” This message confronts the lie that God only uses the gifted, the clean, or the famous: He delights to rest His hand on ordinary people wh
In Acts 10, we witness one of the most decisive turning points in the New Testament as the gospel bursts beyond the Jewish world into the Gentile nations through God's sovereign initiative. God tears down the deepest barrier of the early church—not by human strategy, but by preparing both Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, and the apostle Peter through visions that forced a complete reckoning with their old categories of clean and unclean. In this message, Pastor Matthew challenges us to examine the lines we still draw—who we think is “too far,” “too different,” or beyond reach—and calls us
This message from Acts 9:10–31 gives the powerful moment when Ananias responds to God’s call with, “Here I am, Lord,” and how his simple obedience becomes part of Saul’s dramatic transformation into the apostle Paul. Through this passage, we see how God’s providence is at work in ordinary places, positioning His people for extraordinary purpose. The message challenges us to embrace courageous obedience even in the presence of real fear and to trust that God is already at work in our current circumstances. It also reminds us that our personal testimony is a powerful weapon for the Gospel, meant
In Acts 9:1–11, we witness the dramatic conversion of Saul, a man breathing threats against the church, when the risen Jesus confronts him on the road to Damascus. Matthew talks through how God’s overpowering grace interrupts rebellion, exposes spiritual blindness, and reveals the glory of Christ. Saul’s story shows that conversion is not self-improvement, but a divine collision that turns enemies into followers and messengers. It also reminds us of our union with Christ - what is done to His people is done to Him. This is not just Saul’s story; it is an invitation to surrender, repent, and be
In “Outsiders and a Desert Road” from Acts 8, we see how God expands His mission by exposing false faith and pursuing unlikely people. From Simon the magician’s corrupted motives to an Ethiopian eunuch’s life-changing encounter with Jesus, this passage confronts our hearts and widens our vision. Pastor Matthew explains that through Philip’s obedience, God often works not just in crowds, but in quiet, divine appointments. This sermon calls us to repent of self-centered faith, embrace Spirit-led availability, and believe that no one is beyond the reach of the gospel.
In this message, Dan Busch walks through Acts 6 and explains how the early church faced its first growing pain over neglected widows. Greek-speaking believers complained that their widows were being overlooked in the daily food distribution. Rather than neglect prayer and the ministry of the Word, the apostles directed the church to choose seven men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to serve tables. Dan shows how this moment marked a shift from religious positions of status to Spirit-empowered service as these men became the first deacons. He challenges every believer to examine why they serv
This message from Acts 5 reveals the danger of “playing church” while hiding a dishonest heart. In this passage, Matthew talks through how the Holy Spirit is not a spiritual accessory but a holy, searching presence who guards the integrity of Christ’s bride. God sometimes exposes sin dramatically to protect His church, and He will not trade true holiness for outward success or image. You’ll understand how fear of the Lord is not the enemy of revival, but part of it. This message is an urgent call to stop performing, step out of hiding, and walk in honest, Spirit-empowered holiness before God a
In this message, "Costly Boldness", believers are called to a costly, Spirit-empowered boldness that refuses to go silent about Jesus, even when obedience draws fire. Tracing Peter and John’s arrest, trial, and Spirit-filled response, we see that opposition isn’t a sign God has left; it’s often evidence that He is powerfully at work. Pastor Matthew presses into how the early church prayed for boldness instead of safety and how God shook the place and filled them afresh for mission. The text also shows how genuine boldness overflows into radical unity and generosity, as believers open their han
In Acts 3:1–11, we see a man who spent his life begging at the gate encounter something far greater than silver or gold—the transforming power of Jesus Christ. In this message by Pastor Matthew, we look at what the church uniquely carries that the world cannot replicate: not just resources, but resurrection power that brings new life. Through Peter and John’s bold faith, we’re reminded that God uses ordinary people to bring extraordinary healing, belonging, and hope. This message calls us to lift our eyes, be interruptible, and offer what we have in the name of Jesus. Discover how the power of
This Pentecost-powered sermon unpacks the first Christian message that ignited a movement and still transforms hearts today. Walking verse by verse through Acts 2, we see Peter boldly proclaim Jesus as the crucified, risen, and reigning King. This isn’t a safe or polished message—it’s a Spirit-filled declaration that confronts sin, exalts Christ, and calls for true repentance. Discover how God’s sovereignty, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the beauty of the early church still shape our lives and mission today. If you’re ready to move from passive belief to radical devotion, this message will
Waiting seasons aren’t empty; they are where God does some of His deepest work in His people, just like He did with the 120 in the upper room in Acts 1:12–26. In this message by Pastor Matthew, “What to Do While You Wait,” we walk through how the early church responded between Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost—fighting for unity, devoting themselves to prayer, and interpreting their pain through Scripture instead of their feelings. If you’ve felt stuck between a clear promise and a silent heaven, this message will help you recognize your waiting room as holy ground and the Refiner’s fire that tra
Waiting seasons aren’t empty; they are where God does some of His deepest work in His people, just like He did with the 120 in the upper room in Acts 1:12–26. In this message by Pastor Matthew, “What to Do While You Wait,” we walk through how the early church responded between Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost—fighting for unity, devoting themselves to prayer, and interpreting their pain through Scripture instead of their feelings. If you’ve felt stuck between a clear promise and a silent heaven, this message will help you recognize your waiting room as holy ground and the Refiner’s fire that tra
The first command the risen Jesus gives His disciples after forty days of resurrection appearances isn't "go." It's "wait." In this message from Acts 1:1-11, we sit in that tension and ask why the gap between what God has called us to and what we're currently experiencing often comes down to one word: power. From Luke's prologue to Theophilus, to the disciples asking the wrong question about Israel's kingdom, to the ascension itself, every word in this passage is loaded with mission. The ascension isn't a footnote. It's the coronation of a King who now rules and reigns at the right hand of the
On the greatest day in history, two disciples walked away from Jerusalem convinced they had lost everything — and the risen Jesus quietly joined their road. In this Easter Sunday message, we journey through Luke 24 and discover that the resurrection is not just the promise of life after death, but the presence of a living King in the middle of your hardest seasons. If you've ever said "I had hoped" about a prayer, a relationship, or a season that feels buried, this message is for you. We see how Jesus walks with discouraged people, rewrites their story through the Scriptures, and opens eyes an
On the cross, Jesus did not whisper a defeated goodbye; He cried out a clear word of victory, “It is finished.” In this message from John 19, we step onto Golgotha and listen as the Lord of Glory declares that the debt of our sin is fully and finally paid. We see why the cross was absolutely necessary, why our self effort can never cancel our guilt, and how "It is finished" means the work of salvation is complete, not waiting on your performance. Pastor Matthew unpacks how Jesus drank the full cup of judgment in our place, nailed our record of debt to His cross, and tore the veil so the way in
“5 Years of Building on the Rock” is our 5-year anniversary message, a celebration of grace and a sobering look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21–27. In this sermon, we explore why it is possible to be busy for Jesus and never actually belong to Him, and why only a life built on Christ will stand when the storms come. Pastor Matthew unpacks three piercing questions from Jesus: Do you know His name, or do you know Him? Are you performing for Him, or obeying Him? Are you decorating the house, or building on the Rock? Along the way, we celebrate five years of God’s faithfulness, honest stories of s
This sermon from Matthew 7:13–20 explores Jesus’ sobering picture of two gates, two roads, and two eternal destinations. We confront the illusion of a safe middle lane and hear Christ’s uncompromising call to enter the narrow gate by grace through faith. We’ll also examine how to spot false prophets, test spiritual “fruit” in character and doctrine, and practice discernment in an age of platformed personalities and soft teaching. This message urges believers to embrace costly discipleship, guard the church from deception, and cling to the gospel that both wounds our pride and heals our souls.
Matthew 7:1–12 shows Jesus pressing on four major heart issues: how we judge others, how we discern, how we pray, and how we treat people, all under one Kingdom “measure.” In this sermon we walk line by line through “Judge not…,” “do not throw your pearls before pigs,” “ask, seek, knock,” and the Golden Rule, to see how self‑examination, wise boundaries, bold prayer, and sacrificial love all flow from the same Father’s heart.
Kingdom Calm Over Worldly Anxiety is a sermon from Matthew 6:25–34 about how Jesus confronts our age of anxiety with a better way to live. The message contrasts a world where one in three adults wrestle with anxiety and depression with the calm Jesus offers as we trust a Father who feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. The message shows that anxiety isn’t just emotional but deeply theological, springing from misplaced allegiance to money, image, or control instead of God. It walks through Jesus’ command to “seek first the kingdom of God,” explaining that this is not a vending‑machine promise
