Refuge Church Ojai Valley

God of the Cross- "Do You Want to be Healed?"

This week, we launched a brand new series called "God of the Cross". There isn’t a person who has ever lived who hasn’t been wounded or hurt. Wounds are are a reality in our world, but they aren’t something we talk about in church much. Why? This week we will talk about our reluctance to name our wounds and will look at Jesus and see how he exposes, addresses, and heals our wounds. #healing #sermons 

Start with Prayer: "The Battle Against Temptation and Evil"

Jesus ends his teaching about prayer dealing with tempation and evil. Everyone is tempted and everyone knows there is evil in this world. Jesus agrees with this and in his prayer gives us a way to trust God in our fight against these two powerful enemies. #sermons #ojai

Start with Prayer: "Daily Bread" Part 2

Within the church walls we talk a lot about God’s forgiveness, but we don’t often talk about what that means for our true identity. When Jesus invites us to pray for our daily bread and then immediately follows it with a prayer asking for forgivness he gives us not only the truth that our God forgives but an invitation to live into a completely new identity as a forgiven child of God. #sermons 

Start with Prayer- "Daily Bread"

When we get to this part of the Lord’s prayer it seems pretty simple. Right? But is it just about food? Is there something besides physical food that we need daily and it's something that only God can provide? This week we dig deep into Jesus inviting all of us to pray “Give us today our daily bread". #prayer #sermons #church #sermonpodcast #ojai 

Start with Prayer: "In Ojai as it is in Heaven"

When Jesus teaches us to pray he also teaches us that God’s mission is active and working right now. When we follow Jesus we don’t just kill time on earth and wait for heaven, we join God in his Mission to bring His Kingdom here right now! #sermon #ojai #ojaivalley #church #churchpodcast #mission

Start With Prayer: ”Our Father”

It can be easy to slide right by the first two words that Jesus teaches us to pray with and not give it much thought, but that would be a mistake.  When Jesus says “Our Father,” he is inviting us into a revolutionary way to approach God and to see ourselves. In this message we dive deep into Jesus’ prayer instructions specifcally ask why would he tell us to begin with the words, “Our Father.” #prayer #sermon

Christmas Eve - ”God Does His Best Work in the Dark”

Darkness is a very real thing in our lives. Every day the sun goes down and every night we have to somehow deal with darkness. Outside of literal light and dark we also have to deal with ways evil and sin have hurt us or how we have hurt ourselves and others. At Christmas, God sends us a solution. He sends us his son prophesied as Light and who self proclaims to be the Light of the World. This light isn’t just a metaphor. He is a reality that comes to comfort us with mercy, expose and deal with sin and evil, and invite us towards a new destination where there will never be darkness. #christmaseve #christmassermon #christmasmessage #ojaivalley

The Birth of I Am: ”The Cure for our Sheep Problem”

At one point in Jesus’ ministry he declares, “I am the door of the sheep!” The other times Jesus announces who he is He says things like “I am Light,” or “I am the Bread of Life,” or even “I am the Good Shepherd.” But here he says something that feels disconnected to who we are today. However, even just taking a moment to glance deeper into what he is saying reveals how profound this declaration is. If you are hurt, been hurt, or ever hurt someone this declaration is for you. If you want to be known, be healed, and be part of a family this declaration is for you. And if you are bored, feel aimless, not sure why or what your purpose is, this declaration is for you.  

The Birth of I AM: ”I Am the Vine”

At Christmas Jesus puts on flesh and comes to live life with us. He then spends his entire ministry life inviting us into life with Him!  He is passionate about helping us see exactly what that means. He doesn’t want us to be associates, or buddies or friends rather he wants us to be completely united in knowing his Kingdom and sharing his Kingdom with others.  

The Birth of I AM- ”The Bread of Life”

One of the quickest ways to rob the Christmas story of its power is to remove it from who Jesus proved and announced Himself to be. Christmas is revolutionary because God decided to put on flesh and live among us. Christmas changes everything because the Jesus who is born is the Bread of Life who offers himself for anyone and everyone who is willing to partake.