Refuge City Church

What are We Doing Here?

Dan Busch

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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 serve and to do so from a heart of humility rather than recognition.

The Dangers of Playing Church

Matthew Thrower

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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 and His people.

Costly Boldness

Matthew Thrower

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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 hands and hearts to meet needs in Jesus’ name.

More Than the World Has to Offer

Matthew Thrower

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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 Christ still changes lives today—and how you’re invited to be part of it.

Pentecost Powered Sermon (Acts 2:22-47)

Matthew Thrower

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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 challenge and awaken you.

When Heaven Breaks Loose

Matthew Thrower

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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 trains your faith, just as generations of believers have discovered.

What to do While You Wait (Acts 1:12-26)

Matthew Thrower

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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 trains your faith, just as generations of believers have discovered.

Born for This Moment (Acts 1:1-11)

Matthew Thrower

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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 Father, and we are not ambassadors of a defeated cause. You were placed in your city, your neighborhood, and your family in 2026 by a God who wastes nothing, and this week you have one assignment: name your Jerusalem and have one intentional gospel conversation. You weren't born into this moment by accident. You were born for it.

The Risen King Who Walks Beside You - Luke 24

Matthew Thrower

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The Risen King Who Walks Beside You - Luke 24

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 and sets hearts on fire in the most ordinary moments. Whether this is your first time in church or you've been walking with Jesus for decades, the empty tomb has something to say to exactly where you are today. The tomb is empty, the road is not lonely, and your story is not over.

It is Finished

Matthew Thrower

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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 into God’s presence is forever open. We also look at how the finished work of Christ kills pride, kills self salvation, heals hostility, and gives us a new way to live as we take up our cross daily. As you watch, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you are still living like it is not finished, and hear Jesus speak over your guilt, striving, and resistance, “Paid in full.”