The Refinery Church Sermon Podcast

Pastor Landon shares the many ways that God has been and continues to work in and through The Refinery in the past year and shares how we The Refinery will continue to make a great impact for the Kingdom in our community and across the globe. 

Questions:

1. When you hear the phrase “Review & Renew,” which part resonates more with you right now — remembering what God has done, or renewing commitment for what’s ahead? Why?
2. In Numbers 13, the land was just as good as God promised — but fear shifted the focus. Where have you seen that tension between faith and fear play out in your life before? How did you manage that tension well or poorly? What did you learn from that time? 
3. The Israelites said, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes.” How does our self-perception influence our faith and obedience? How should we view ourselves in light of God's love for us? 
4. The sermon emphasized that numbers matter and indicate stories of growth and change. Which “story behind the number” stood out to you most: baptisms, life groups, debt reduction, outreach, growth? Why are you drawn to that number/story in particular?
5. Our mission to “help people love and follow Jesus for life” drives everything we do as a church. How has that mission personally shaped your faith this year? How might it shape you in the year ahead?
6. Of the five commitments (actively worship, cultivate spiritual disciplines, live in community, intentionally serve, invest & invite), which one feels strongest in your life right now? Which one may need renewed focus?
7. The church is planning ahead (debt reduction, potential campuses, staffing). How does wise planning reflect faith rather than fear?

In the final message of our Adrift series, Pastor Landon walks us through Exodus 35–40 and the detailed construction of the tabernacle. At first glance, these chapters can feel repetitive and even mundane—lists of materials, measurements, garments, and instructions. But what if those “small things” are actually the point?

Drawing a parallel to the original Karate Kid—where simple, repetitive tasks became the foundation for something greater—Pastor Landon reminds us that God uses ordinary obedience to build extraordinary faithfulness. For Israel, every stitch, every board, every offering mattered. Their daily submission in the details ultimately led to God’s glory filling the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–38).

The big idea: A life submitted to God in the small things will build to the big things as well. When we honor God in the quiet, unseen, and mundane moments of life, we position ourselves to honor Him in the significant moments too.

Lifegroup Questions:

1. Read Exodus 35:5–9 and 36:8–13 before discussing. What stands out to you about the level of detail and craftsmanship God required for the tabernacle? Why do you think God included so many “small” instructions? What might this teach us about how God views faithfulness in ordinary tasks?
2. Read Exodus 40:33–38 together. Notice the phrase: “And so Moses finished the work.” Then the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. What connection do you see between Israel’s obedience in the details and God’s visible presence and guidance? How might that shape how we approach the “unfinished” or mundane responsibilities in our own lives?
3. Read John 16:12–13. Jesus promises the Spirit will guide us into truth. If we don’t have a visible cloud like Israel did, how do you think the Spirit most often leads believers today? What role do consistent spiritual habits (Scripture, prayer, gathering, generosity, serving) play in learning to recognize His guidance?
4. The sermon compared spiritual formation to sports fundamentals — dribbling, shooting, boxing out — and even “wax on, wax off.” What are some “spiritual fundamentals” that feel repetitive or unnoticed in your life? Why is it tempting to skip them? What has happened in your life when you’ve stayed consistent with them over time?
5. When you think about your current season of life, does it feel more like a “practice gym” or a “double-overtime game”? How might God be using this season — whatever it is — to shape you for something ahead?
6. The sermon emphasized that small disciplines compound over time — for good or for harm (like finances, health, work habits). Where do you currently see compounding at work in your life? Are there small habits forming you toward who you want to become in Christ — or away from it?
7. The tabernacle wasn’t built in one dramatic moment — it was built through many acts of obedience and generosity. How does this challenge the idea that spiritual growth happens mainly in big experiences? Share a time when a quiet, faithful season prepared you for a bigger moment later.
8. Why do you think we’re often drawn to the dramatic or visible moments of faith rather than the quiet, consistent ones? What does that reveal about our expectations of how God works?
9. Imagine living with the confidence described in Exodus 40:36–38 — knowing when to move and when to stay. If the Spirit truly guides us, what might be one small area of obedience God could be inviting you into right now? Is this a major shift, a small adjustment, or simply a call to keep going?
10. If someone looked at your daily rhythms (how you spend time, energy, attention), what would they say you’re being formed into? Are those small, repeated patterns aligning with the life you believe God is calling you to?

What if the thing that needs to change isn’t your situation—but your perspective?

In Week 2 of our Adrift sermon series, we step into Exodus 32 and wrestle with a familiar tension: God’s faithfulness versus human impatience. Fresh off miraculous deliverance from Egypt, Israel finds itself waiting—and waiting distorts their view. What the people describe as God being “so long in coming,” God describes as them being “quick to turn away.” Same moment. Very different perspectives.

Drawing from Exodus 32:1, 8, along with Isaiah 55:8–9 and 2 Peter 3:8–9, this message explores how limited perspective can lead to misplaced trust, fractured relationships, and spiritual drift—and how seeing through God’s eyes can change everything. From wilderness impatience to everyday conflicts with the people closest to us, this sermon invites us to slow down, seek understanding, and remember that the right perspective can change everything.

Lifegroup Questions:

1. The sermon talked about how time feels different depending on circumstances. Where in your life right now does waiting feel especially hard—or surprisingly welcome?
2. Read Exodus 32:1-8. When the Israelites say Moses was “so long in coming down the mountain,” what do you notice about their response to waiting? What emotions or fears seem to be driving their actions? How can you relate to their response?
3. God describes the people as being “quick to turn away.” Why do you think God and the Israelites experienced the same delay so differently? Where do you see that kind of perspective gap in your own life?
4. The sermon suggested the people were in a moment of intentional pause—but refused to stay there. What does it look like for us today to rush in and try to control outcomes instead of waiting on God?
5. The sermon described faith as both catalytic (decisive moments) and processive (ongoing formation). Why is it important to recognize both elements in faith development? Where do you see yourself right now—needing a decisive step, or needing patience in a process?
6. The Israelites wanted a god they could see and control. What are some modern equivalents—things we’re tempted to trust, cling to, or control when God feels distant or slow?
7. The Israelites grew weary from waiting for 40 days. It's almost as though they forgot the 400 years of hardship they were rescued from. What kinds of waiting tend to wear you down most quickly? How do Isaiah 55:8–9 or 2 Peter 3:8–9 challenge or reframe that waiting?
8. The sermon closed with the idea that the right perspective can change everything. How can you be intentional this week to pursue God’s perspective rather than reacting out of impatience or fear (family, work, etc.)?

In the opening message of our new series Adrift, Pastor Landon explores what happens when we try to live without guidance, restraint, or purpose. Drawing from Proverbs 29:18, this message reminds us that while freedom without boundaries may seem appealing, a life without direction often leaves us drifting in the storms of life. Just as uncultivated land grows wild, so do our lives when we lose sight of God’s purpose. This message challenges us to resist the pull toward aimlessness and instead embrace the purposeful life God calls us to live—anchored in His wisdom and guided by His direction.

Lifegroup Questions:

1. The pastor shared about not liking to be told what to do but his
recognition as well for his need for guidance. Where do you see that same
tension in yourself between freedom and guidance?

2. When you think about your current season of life, do you feel more anchored or more adrift? What indicators help you answer that honestly?

3. Our culture often celebrates “total freedom” and resists restraint. Where do you see signs of this playing out in society right now? What are the results of that?

4. Read Proverbs 29:15–17. These verses connect discipline with peace and delight. How does this challenge the way we often think about discipline—as something negative rather than life-giving?

5. Read Proverbs 29:18. What stands out to you about the connection between revelation, restraint, and blessing? 

6. Read Proverbs 29:20. “Do you see someone who speaks in haste?” Where do you see this proverb playing out in today’s world—and how might practicing restraint in our words reflect trust in God’s wisdom? How might speaking in haste or showing restraint impact our witness as well? 

7. Proverbs frames wisdom as living skillfully with reverence for God. What does it look like, in your own words, to put this into practice? 

8. The sermon emphasized “working on the pause.” What’s one area of your life (relationships, work, social media, news, family, etc.) where you tend to react quickly rather than pause?

9. What might it look like for God’s Word—not emotions, opinions, or pressure—to serve as an anchor in that area? Are there specific practices that could help?

In the final message of our Cultivate series, Pastor Jay reminds us that the ultimate goal of spiritual growth is fruitfulness—and that fruit always flows from abiding in Jesus. Just as a healthy garden naturally produces fruit, a life rooted in Christ will overflow with impact for God’s kingdom. This message explores what spiritual fruit looks like in everyday life, from sharing our faith and serving others to living in a way that brings glory to God. As we close the series, we’re invited to embrace our role as fruitful branches, remembering that all lasting growth and impact come not from our own effort, but from a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus.

Lifegroup Questions:

What is a pet peeve of yours? 

Read John 15:2. The Fathers role (the gardener) is to cut off and prune. What do you think that looks like practically in our spiritual walk? If you’ve experienced this, talk about what took place and how it impacted your walk. 

On Sunday Jay mentioned, “Pruning isn’t about what’s wrong in your life, it’s often about God wanting to further multiply what is right in your life.” Is there anything good in your life that God wants you to lean further into? Would doing so require you to let go of something you want to hold on to?

Read John 15:4-8. Reflecting on your own practices, what does it look like and mean to “remain” or “abide in Jesus?”

Read John 15:16. When you hear the phrase “fruit that lasts,” what kinds of fruit do you think Jesus has in mind? How does that differ from success, busyness, or
achievement?

In John 15 we get the picture that the true evidence of lasting fruit is about how we pass the fruit on to those around us. 

Who are 1-3 people you are praying for, hoping that you can pass the seed of faith on to them? Take time as a group and pray for these people by name. 

Every garden faces weeds, rocks, and thorns—and so does every believer. In Week 3 of our Cultivate series, Pastor Landon challenges us to confront the obstacles that hinder spiritual growth. Drawing from Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower (Mark 4) and the call to “throw off everything that hinders” (Hebrews 12:1), this message helps us recognize what’s choking, crowding, or blocking our spiritual progress.

Landon helps move us from personal reflection to shared experience, anchoring us in God’s Word, and calls us to intentional action. Growth doesn’t happen by accident—it requires awareness, honesty, and removal of what stands in the way.

Sermon in a Sentence:
If we want to grow, we must identify and eliminate obstacles to growth.

Lifegroup Questions:

· When you encounter problems or obstacles in life, how do you tend to respond—avoidance, anxiety, problem-solving, prayer, optimism, or something else? 

· The sermon reframed problems as opportunities for growth. Can you share a time when a challenge or obstacle ultimately strengthened your faith or clarified what God was doing in your life? Are there any problems presently in your life that you might benefit from looking at from a different perspective?

· Read Mark 4:13-20. Jesus names trouble, persecution, worries, wealth, and competing desires as obstacles to fruitfulness. Which of these feels most present or pressing for you right now?

· The sermon emphasized that problems reveal the condition of the soil rather than being the primary issue themselves. What might your current struggles be revealing about the “soil” of your heart?

· Read Hebrews 12:1-3. What are some specific hindrances you may need to throw off in order to run your race with perseverance? Is there any sin (or disordered thinking) that seeks to creep in and entangle you in this season of life? 

· How does keeping Jesus as our model change the way we face ongoing hardship, discipline, or sacrifice in our walk with God? How are you practically keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus, or how might you grow in this way as a daily practice? 

· As a group, how can we help one another identify and work through the obstacles in our lives? 

What does spiritual growth actually look like—and who’s responsible for it? In Week 2 of our Cultivate series, Pastor Bailey walks us through Paul’s powerful imagery in 1 Corinthians 3 to uncover a freeing and grounding truth: we tend the soil, but God gives the growth.

This message explores the three roles Paul names—planting, watering, and growing—and how misunderstanding them can lead either to burnout or passivity. Planting happens as we consistently place God’s Word before our hearts through Scripture, prayer, worship, and truth spoken over time. Watering is the patient, often unnoticed faithfulness of community, encouragement, and spiritual rhythms that sustain long-term growth. But transformation itself—real maturity, lasting fruit, changed desires—belongs to God alone.

Pastor Bailey connects this theology of cooperation to the spiritual disciplines and the five commitments of The Refinery, showing how these practices aren’t rules for approval, but “watering cans” that create space for God to work. You’ll be invited to shift from trying to training—from short bursts of effort to sustainable rhythms of faithfulness.

Lifegroup Discussion Questions

Cultivate: Nurturing Growth (1 Corinthians 3:1–10)

1. Paul says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” Which part of that process—planting, watering, or trusting God for growth—do you find most difficult right now, and why?
2. The sermon warned us against two dangers: burning out by trying to control outcomes or drifting into passivity. Which of those tendencies do you see more clearly in your own spiritual life?
3. Planting was described as consistent exposure to God’s Word through practices like Scripture, prayer, worship, and speaking truth. What does planting currently look like in your daily or weekly rhythm? Where might God be inviting you to sow more faithfully rather than sporadically?
4. Watering requires patience and long-term faithfulness— “a long obedience in the same direction.” Who has helped water your faith over time, and how did their steady presence shape your growth?
5. The sermon emphasized that watering supports growth but does not force it. How does this truth change the way you view spiritual disciplines—especially when they feel ordinary or unnoticed?
6. Paul reminds us that only God makes things grow, protecting us from both pride and discouragement. Where do you need to release control and trust God with the results—either in your own life or in someone you are investing in?
7. Looking at the Five Commitments, which one feels most life-giving for you right now? Which one feels most neglected—and why?
8. This week’s challenge is to treat the Spiritual Health Reflection as a soil test, not a report card. Which description best fits your current season—dry soil, crowded soil, or exhausted soil—and what is the one discipline you will commit to “watering” for 10 minutes a day this week?

What does it really take to grow spiritually? In the opening message of our new series, Cultivate, Pastor Landon invites us to consider the powerful image Jesus gives us in the Parable of the Sower. Just like a seed planted in the ground, spiritual growth begins with something small—but full of promise.

This message reminds us that all the power and potential for growth is already within the seed of faith. God’s Word lacks nothing; it is fully equipped to take root and produce fruit in our lives. The question isn’t whether the seed works, but whether our hearts are being cultivated to receive it.

Lifegroup Questions:

1. The message begins with the image of pulling weeds and gardening. What experiences have you had with gardening, yard work, or even houseplants—and how do those experiences help you relate to the idea of spiritual growth?
2. Read Matthew 13:1-9. When you hear Jesus’ parable of the sower as a whole, what stands out to you most this time? Why do you think that detail caught your attention?
3. Understanding isn’t about intelligence but about receptivity and willingness. What do you think it looks like, practically, to be open to God’s word rather than just hearing it?
4. Read Matthew 13:18-23
5. The parable describes four types of soil. Which one do you most naturally see yourself in right now—and what has shaped that condition of your “soil” recently?
6. The rocky soil represents joy without deep roots. What helps move faith from surface-level enthusiasm to a deeper, lasting obedience—especially when life gets hard?
7. The thorny soil is choked by worries and the deceitfulness of wealth. What are some modern-day “weeds” that tend to crowd out your attention to God? How do you usually respond to them?
8. If the power is in the seed but the condition of the soil still matters, what are some intentional practices or rhythms that help cultivate “good soil” in your life right now?

As we begin this Cultivate series and consider a tool like the Spiritual Health Reflection, what is one area where you sense God inviting you to grow this season—and how can this group support you in that?

Join us for the last message in 2025 as Pastor Landon walks us through passages in 2 Timothy and Judges to help us remember to be intentional in the way we live and invest in others. He encourages us all to walk away with this final message: The lives we live teach and model to others what we most value. 

Lifegroup Questions:

1. As you reflect on the year that’s ending, what word or phrase best describes it for you—and why?
2. The sermon talked about unintentional influences (like favorite foods or habits). What are one or two things about you that you can trace back to your family or early influences?
3. The sermon reminds us that influence isn’t limited to parents. In what ways do you see yourself influencing the next generation—positively or unintentionally—through your words, habits, or presence?
4. Read Judges 2:6-10. When you hear that “another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done,” what stands out to you? What do you think might have gone wrong between those generations?
5. Read 2 Timothy 1:1-5. Paul highlights a sincere faith passed from Lois, to Eunice, to Timothy. What differences do you notice between this passage and the story in Judges? What do those differences teach us about intentional faith?
6. The sermon makes a distinction between what is taught intentionally and what is simply “caught” through proximity. In your life, what faith practices are you intentionally teaching—and what might others be catching just by watching you?
7. Our calendars, spending, and routines quietly communicate what we value most. If someone observed your life for a month, what do you think they would conclude matters most to you?
8. The sermon ends by asking whether our story will read more like Judges 2:10 or 2 Timothy 1:1–5. As you look ahead to the coming year, what is one intentional step you could take to live—and pass on—a sincere faith?

Christmas Eve at The Refinery with Pastor Landon Yowell.