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“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” That’s a question Nathaniel asked in John 1:46 when Philip told him about Jesus. Nathaniel didn’t get excited about the Messiah. He got hung up on Nazareth.

He wasn’t alone. Nazareth was looked down on by people in the region as an insignificant backwoods community. But this was Jesus’ hometown—it’s where He grew up, where He worked, and where He lived for a majority of His life on Earth.

So when He returns home (with a following of disciples) after performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God, you might think that this carpenter-turned-rabbi would be welcomed with enthusiasm.

But sadly, many in Nazareth were offended at Him. Why? Watch or listen to our study of Mark 6:1-6 and learn about the hazard of having an odd and unhealthy familiarity with Jesus.

Read ahead (starting in Mark 6:7) and join us this Sunday at 10am.

Our worship service starts at 10am. We meet in-person; online at live.refuge.mn; and on 96.1 FM (https://refuge.fm)

Read Ahead!

Our ministry is very simple ministry. Every Sunday morning, we go through the Bible chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. We pick up where we left off from the week before (Lord willing).

We work though the word this way so that you can study ahead. It gives you an opportunity to read and study the portion during the week that we’ll be going though on a Sunday. Then on Sundays, you’ll get that much more out of our time together.

We encourage everyone to have some sort of intentional effort to read through the entirety of the scriptures on your own (Three and One is a great way to do this). Read through the Bible. Talk to Jesus before (and after) you study. Look at what the text says, consider what it means, and find ways to apply what you’ve read to your life. Then ask God to help you walk it out by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Then join us on Sundays to study a small portion of the Scriptures.

Check out our Bible study resource page with links to some wonderful Bible teachers, free online resources to help study, and a short & simple break-down of the inductive Bible study method.

Changes to Parking Downtown

The city of St. Cloud is enforcing metered parking in downtown 24/7. You will need to feed the meter (or pay for parking on the city parking app) after June 1st to park on the street.

There are other free parking options available close to The Regency:

1. The Regency Parking Lot – right behind the building on 1st Street South.

2. St. Mary’s Parking Lot – just across the street from The Regency on 1st Street South.

3. Paramount Parking Ramp – free to park after 5pm on weekdays and free all weekend. Entry to the ramp is on 1st Street North.

Refuge FM

Refuge FM (96.1 FM and Refuge.fm) features a great mix of quality music with a Gospel message. We also carry some wonderful Bible-teaching programs every day and throughout the week. Tune in & check out our line-up:

MONDAY - FRIDAY

7am - The Word for Today with Chuck Smith

12pm - Searchlight with Jon Courson

4pm - Connect with Skip Heitzig

SATURDAY

11pm - The Ryan Ries Show

SUNDAY

2pm - Straight from the Heart with Joe Focht

7pm - Lamplighter Theater

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
–Mark 6:3

Many people in Nazareth had an odd and unhealthy familiarity with Jesus. This made it difficult for them to receive from Him. They assumed that since they knew a little about Him, they knew all about Him.

But they didn’t know all about Jesus. He is so much more than all of our knowledge of Him put together. We will forever be learning about Jesus and His grace and love towards us.

Sadly, a majority of those in Nazareth became offended at Jesus—their odd and unhealthy familiarity caused a stumbling block in them that led to a contempt for Him and unbelief of who He is.

This should make you pause and consider. Do you have an odd and unhealthy familiarity with Jesus? Do you assume that since you know something about Jesus that you know everything about Him? Be careful! This kind of familiarity can lead to contempt and unbelief as it did for many in Nazareth.

If an odd and unhealthy familiarity with Jesus has influenced you, it’s time to approach Jesus afresh. Not with the familiarity of history, heritage, and culture. Simply come to Jesus—approach Him like a little child and believe.