Refuge City Church

Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)

Matthew Thrower

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In this powerful message from our series "Living the Way of Jesus," Pastor Matthew dives into Matthew 5:13-16, where Jesus declares His followers as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Learn how we're called to preserve truth amid moral decay and illuminate grace in a darkening society.

This sermon confronts complacency with prophetic urgency: If we lose our saltiness or hide our light, we risk divine judgment. But as kingdom citizens, we're equipped to infiltrate culture, uphold holiness, and shine boldly for God's glory.

The Beatitudes: A Kingdom Manifesto (Matthew 5:1-12)

Matthew Thrower

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Join us for the kickoff of our new 8-week series, "Living the Way of Jesus," as we dive into the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 (ESV). In this first message, "The Beatitudes: A Kingdom Manifesto" (Matthew 5:1-12), we explore Jesus' upside-down blessings that shatter worldly expectations and call us to humble dependence on Christ.

In a culture obsessed with self-sufficiency and success, Jesus declares true blessing for the spiritually bankrupt, the mourning, the meek, and more—marks of kingdom citizens transformed by grace. Drawing from the grand biblical story—from Adam's fall to Christ's cross—we see how these Beatitudes confront our illusions, build prophetic urgency, and demand a verdict: Will you surrender your brokenness to the King, or cling to pride?

Be Strengthened (2 Timothy 2:1-13)

Matthew Thrower

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In this message from 2 Timothy 2:1–13, Pastor Matthew unpacks Paul’s final charge to Timothy from a Roman prison: “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Paul calls believers to live as soldiers, athletes, and farmers in a real spiritual war, refusing distraction and comfort-driven faith. You’ll be confronted with the Enemy’s subtle schemes, reminded to “remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,” and invited to repent of complacency, reenter the battle, and endure for the sake of the gospel and the salvation of others. This sermon is a call to courageous, grace-fueled, missional living in a soft world.

The Light Has Come (Isaiah 9:1-7)

Matthew Thrower

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In this Christmas message, Pastor Matthew explores Isaiah 9:1–7, the breathtaking prophecy that announced hope to a people surrounded by fear, war, and despair. Long before a manger in Bethlehem, God promised a Child who would shatter oppression, conquer death, and reign forever as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Step into the story behind the prophecy. Lean into the historical anguish of Isaiah’s audience, the cosmic hope of the coming Messiah, and the personal assurance that Christ’s light still breaks through every shadow today.

When life feels dark, when fear, anxiety, or loss cloud your vision, remember: “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” That light has come. His name is Jesus.

Final Warning (Galatians 6:11-18)

Dan Busch

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In this week’s message, Pastor Dan wraps up our study through Galatians by reminding us of the simple gospel: Jesus is enough.

Galatians 6:11–18 calls us to stop adding man-made requirements to the message of grace. Paul reminds the church that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything—what matters is becoming a new creation through faith in Christ.

Through the story of Abraham and the thief on the cross, Dan challenges us to see that our salvation is based on belief, not performance. It’s not grace plus works; it’s grace alone.

Key Themes:

• The danger of adding to the gospel

• What circumcision truly symbolized

• Why good deeds can’t make us righteous

• The freedom of being a new creation in Christ

  If you’ve ever struggled with feeling “not good enough,” this message will remind you: Jesus is enough.

Don't Grow Weart

Matthew Thrower

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Join us for our sermon from Galatians 6:1-10, where we look at the call to persevere in doing good. Pastor Matthew explores the context of living in the Spirit, the principle of sowing and reaping, and the powerful exhortation in verse 9: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

In this message, you'll learn:

• How to bear one another's burdens with gentleness and humility (verses 1-5).

• The unshakeable truth that what we sow, we will reap—whether to the flesh or the Spirit (verses 6-8).

• Why weariness is real but giving up isn't an option, with God's perfect timing and promise of a harvest (verses 9-10).

• Practical applications for your personal life, relationships, and church community, especially after a challenging year.

Whether you're facing hardship, seeking encouragement to keep going, or wanting to grow in faith, this sermon reminds us that faithfulness matters, God's not mocked, and the harvest is coming—if we don't quit.

Life by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)

Matthew Thrower

What does it really mean to “walk by the Spirit” so that you “will not gratify the desires of the flesh”? In this sermon from Galatians 5:16–26, we explore the radical reality of belonging to Jesus Christ, that those who are His have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” and are now called to keep in step with the Spirit every day.​

If you’ve ever wrestled with questions like “Why do I still struggle with sin if my flesh is crucified?” or “How do I actually walk in the Spirit in my ordinary week?”, this message will help you see both the seriousness of the battle and the hope of real change in Christ.

Freedom to Set Us Free (Galatians 5:1-15)

Matthew Thrower

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Christ has set us free—now what do we do with that freedom? In this message from Galatians 5:1–15 (ESV), we explore how the gospel frees us from both legalism and licentiousness, and calls us into a life of love-motivated obedience. We’ll see why “Jesus + anything” is not the gospel, how the law condemns but grace comforts, and why true Christian freedom is not the right to do whatever we want, but the Spirit-given ability to do what we most deeply desire in Christ.

Who's Your Mother (Galatians 4:21-31)

Matthew Thrower

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Galatians 4:21-31 draws a sharp line between two ways of relating to God: striving by human effort or resting in His promise. Through the story of Hagar and Sarah, Paul invites us to pause and quietly consider the question, “Who’s Your Mother?”—that is, are you living out of the spiritual lineage of slavery or the freedom found in God’s promise?​

One path leads to the burdens of law and self-reliance, while the other opens the door to life as children of God, motivated by gratitude instead of fear. Paul urges us to abandon the cycle of performance and receive our secure identity in Christ—a gift, not something earned. In this text, he calls us to let go of old mindsets and embrace the privilege of living boldly as free children of the promise.

Don't Go Back (Galatians 4:8-20)

Matthew Thrower

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Are you going back to chains Jesus broke? In this message on Galatians 4:8–20, we confront both the subtle and dramatic ways believers drift from gospel freedom back to forms of spiritual slavery—be it through performance, religious rules, approval-seeking, or addiction achievement. Paul’s urgent warning to the Galatian church becomes hauntingly relevant for us today: You can’t have Christ and keep your chains. This message exposes how easy it is to slip from grace into works, from sonship into striving, from deep joy into quiet compromise. Pastor Matthew calls out modern idols, exposes the power of being “known by God,” and urges us to repentance, restored living, and urgent participation in God’s mission. Whether you feel stuck, are tempted to return to old habits, or simply want to hunger for more of Christ, this message will confront you at your crossroads.