If you were to list all the names and titles of God, how long would it take for you to describe Him as your refuge? In this message, Dan invites us to consider what it truly means to be with God and to experience the deep peace our souls long for in His stillness. He challenges us to reflect on what we’re really seeking when we turn to vices or distractions instead of to Christ. Drawing on the story of The Lord of the Rings, the significance of Egypt in Scripture, and key Old Testament passages, Dan shows that the God who created all things longs to be our refuge, not just in moments of crisis, but always. How might your life and prayers change if you truly believed that?

1. Don’t kick against the goads – Resist the urge to fight God’s direction and trust His leading. 

2. Know God’s story – Immerse yourself in Scripture and delight in the character of your Creator.

3. Know your own story – Remember your deep need for Christ and how His grace has met you personally.

By embracing this framework, Jordan encourages us to become more faithful, loving, and effective ministers of Christ’s perfect gospel.

Olivia concludes our study of 2 Corinthians chapter 3 by unpacking Paul’s illustration of the New Covenant through the image of Moses’ veil. In Exodus 34, Moses veils his face so the Israelites won’t see the fading glory reflected from his encounter with God. Paul uses this moment to show that the Old Covenant was never meant to save, but to reveal our deep need for Christ. Olivia explains that while ignorance of the gospel can be met with Spirit-empowered boldness, hearing the gospel doesn’t always lead to faith. Some remain veiled by sin, rejecting the truth and even responding with hostility toward God and His people. Only through Christ can the veil be removed, just as the temple curtain was torn at His crucifixion. Olivia emphasizes the heart of the gospel: it is only by the blood of Jesus that souls are restored. Do you believe Jesus is the only way to true freedom? Have you put your hope in Christ, trusting that His sacrifice is sufficient?

Olivia walks us through 2 Corinthians 3:1–11, where Paul defends his apostleship, declares the sufficiency of Christ, and introduces the ministry of the New Covenant. After being challenged by false teachers, Paul reminds the church that his authority comes from the Spirit—not from letters of recommendation or human approval. Olivia unpacks how, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we’re freed from the law and made sufficient in Him. As ministers of this New Covenant, our confidence isn’t in ourselves but in the lasting glory of Christ. What areas of your life are you trying to fix without Jesus? Where can you admit the insufficiency of anything apart from the cross?

To conclude our study of Isaiah chapter six, Darnell focuses on the call God gives to Isaiah: “Go! Say to these people…” (v. 9). In verses 8–13, the Lord commissions Isaiah to be a light in a dark and unresponsive world. For us today, this reveals our calling as believers: to reflect God’s glory throughout the earth for all time. This divine mission echoes the same message found in all four Gospels. Darnell also challenges the idea that simply being “nice” is the same as being a light. If the power of God’s plan rested on human kindness alone, there would have been no need for Jesus to die in our place. The power of the gospel flows from the Creator Himself—we are merely instruments of His grace. All who are in Christ Jesus are called to live life on mission, bringing His light into every corner of darkness. The only question that remains is: will you go?

Continuing our study of Isaiah chapter six, Darnell reflects on the bold declaration of the Seraphim in verse three: “The whole earth is full of His glory.” This overwhelming truth reveals that God’s glory isn’t distant or hidden—it’s constantly on display all around us. Our calling, then, is to recognize it and reflect it. Darnell traces this purpose all the way back to Genesis nine and twelve, showing how God’s intent has always been for humanity to fill the earth with His glory. Returning to Isaiah 6, we’re reminded that it is God who prepares us for His presence. Darnell highlights how the burning coal the Seraphim presses to Isaiah’s lips symbolizes the atoning work of Christ on the cross—God making us clean so we can stand before Him.

In Isaiah chapter six, we are introduced to the Seraphim—heavenly beings who worship God with overwhelming reverence. They cry out in holiness, yet their experience of God is limited compared to the deep intimacy we are invited into through Christ. Darnell explores how God's redemptive love for humanity surpasses even what these glorious beings can comprehend. If the Seraphim worship without ever knowing the joy of forgiveness, how much more should we—those who have been redeemed—lift our voices in praise and share the grace we have received in Jesus?

In Psalm 131, David illustrates the strengthening of our faith as a child being weaned from its mother. Jesus desires to wean us off of our anxieties, burdens, and weariness to be dependent on his unconditional love alone.

The Bible is meant to be read and interpreted in a community.

This teaching is part of a series on Reading Scripture, one of the six practices in our community rule of life. Learn more at www.wingfootchurch.com/practice.

The Bible is a story about God creating and then recreating the world through Jesus. As you read the story, the Bible invites you to participate in the story it tells, both about the world and about yourself.

This teaching is part of a series on the practice of reading Scripture, one of the six practices in our community rule of life. Learn more, download a practice guide, and check out recommended resources to go deeper at www.wingfootchurch.com/practice.