Refuge Church Ojai Valley

The hardest part of following Jesus for a lot of people is letting Him lead. Jesus as our Shepherd sounds like a good idea, but then that actually means that we are sheep and we must follow. In today’s message, we dive into just how good of a shepherd he is and how it changes everything for us when we do surrender to Him. 
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Psalm 23 isn’t just a poem — it’s a prayer. A place to bring your silence, your struggle, your need. Who’s shaping what you say to yourself? Is it God? Or… the noise of the world, the lies of the enemy, the pull of your flesh? Today, we’re learning to pray when words feel far away. To practice giving everyone and everything to God. To linger long enough to actually receive His love. It starts now. Let’s shut out the noise. Let’s silence the enemy. Let’s give Him everything. 
 
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What does it mean to truly fear God—and why does Scripture say it's the beginning of wisdom? In this message by our guest speaker, Derry Brooks, we explore the powerful theme of the fear of the Lord throughout the Bible, from trembling at Mount Sinai to the blazing glory of Jesus in Revelation. You’ll discover how holy fear leads to life, obedience, blessing, and awe—not anxiety or shame. Join us as we reclaim a vision of God's holiness that humbles, empowers, and transforms. #feargod #fear #wisdom #knowledge #sermon #sermons

In this message, Derry Brooks shares how the fear of man—often subtle and disguised—can rob us of calling, courage, and authentic love. Drawing from Scripture, we explore how even bold leaders like Peter and Pilate caved to the pressure of people, and how this same fear distorts our identity today. Learn how the fear of man leads to shame, self-deception, and missed purpose—and how the fear of God is the only cure. This is a message for anyone who's ever hidden, hesitated, or held back because of what others might think.
 
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If you see or experience something that changes your life, you probably tell a whole lot of people about it. That is what a witness is; people who experience something life changing or important and must tell others about it. What does your life witness to? How does Jesus play into that? This week we see that every Christian is called to be a witness and every Christian can only do that if the Holy Spirit is active and alive in leading them. #RCOV #ojai #god #holyspirit #prophesy #faith #truth #Jesus #faith

During Jesus’s life one of the things that attracted people to His message and mission was His willingness to heal people. After His ascension, the early church has story after story of miraculous healing.  What about today? Are healings still happening? Is God still moving this way? This week we dive deep into God’s gift of healing and what it is supposed to look like in the life of His people. 

A church service can be a pretty tame and predictable place. We know we are going to sing, hear a message, some prayers, and say hello to a few people. But what if a tame place is nothing what God had in mind when his people gathered.  What if he wanted it to be a place where His Spirit made people come alive, where heaven touched earth, and things changed that were never the same again. This week we look at prophecy and how its essential for a church to thrive. 

Are you good at spotting fakes? Can you see when someone or something or some advice that might look or sound good actually isn’t? When it comes to God it can be tough. We can think he is leading one way, but in the back of our minds we can be second guessing. Thankfully the gift of Discernment is there to lead us in this.  Discernment is not just a big word, but a must have for anyone seeking to know and follow Jesus well. 

The Holy Spirit might be the most misunderstood person in all of Christianity. What do you think of when you think of the Holy Spirit? If someone asked you to describe Him what you would say? Do you feel like He is a part of your life? Do you want Him to be a part of your life? During this message and this series we jump into a study of the Holy Spirit so that we can misunderstand Him no more! 

What does it look like to produce the harvest that Jesus calls us to in Matthew 9? Dive into that question this week with our Associate Pastor, Zack Totten.