View this email in your browser

On the first Sunday of every year, we review the history, vision, purpose, and practice of Refuge so that we can confidently answer these questions:

What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What does it look like?

Year after year, this study hasn’t really changed—but we sure have! As we behold the glory of God in the face of Christ, the Spirit of God transforms us from the inside out. That’s a promise God makes and fulfills through His Word.

And so we turn again to His Word to find the answers to those important questions—what are we doing? Why are we doing it? And what does it look like?

Watch our study from Sunday as we reviewed God’s vision for God’s church.

Join us for worship this Sunday morning at 10am!

Read ahead as we continue our study in Romans 11.

New Features to the Refuge App

Introducing the Bible tab

We’ve updated the Refuge app with some great new features!

First, is the Bible tab (second icon from the left on the bottom of the screen). Tapping on the Bible icon (1 in the graphic above) will bring the word of God to the palm of your hand! You can select different translations—some translations have an audio feature so you can hear the passage narrated!

We’ve added a link to the Three and One episode to the respective chapter in the Bible portion (2 in the graphic above). Tapping on this element will bring you directly to the Three and One episode for that chapter.

Speaking of Three and One, we’ve added the daily readings to the Plan portion (3 in the graphic above). Tapping on Plan will bring you to a list of the readings for Three and One. Selecting the day’s reading will bring you to the scripture for that day’s Three and One portion to read or listen to (if available in the selected translation).

Don’t have the Refuge app? Download it today—just click the button below on your mobile device or tablet to download the app in your device’s app store.

Don’t forget to 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.

Be Encouraged

The book of Acts chronicles the birth of the church—believers coming together being the body of Christ. In Acts 2:42, we read specifically what they did when they came together—a model we strive to follow to this day:

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

They studied what the apostles taught. They shared life together. They broke bread with each other—during meals and in communion. And they prayed. Studying God’s Word, fellowship, communion, and prayer—these are not a holy to-do list that we check off every week. These are things we strive to do out of hearts overflowing with love and appreciation for our Lord. It might not seem like much, but it’s all we really need.

Now notice the key phrase at the beginning of this short list…“they continued steadfastly.” These believers were resolutely firm and unwavering in these things. Should we be any less?

This year, it would be good for us to be steadfastly committed to developing daily Godly disciplines. Read your Bible. Talk to God. Tell someone honestly how you are doing when asked. Have communion. And continue steadfastly as you follow Jesus.