Refuge Audio Podcast
574 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 13 ratingsIt's our desire at Refuge to equip the saints for the work of the ministry as we study God's word together. Join Pastor Dominic Dinger of Refuge in St. Cloud, Minnesota, for a weekly in-depth study of the Bible, chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse. For more information about Refuge, visit www.refuge.mn
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
The Gospel of Mark 6:45-52
July 18, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBNothing is too difficult for God. Jesus makes this clear through His life and ministry. But like the disciples, we can forget this eternal truth and are surprised when He does something that He promised He would do. Jesus doesn’t condemn us for this doubt, but continually calls us to Himself in order to make us into His disciples.
The Gospel of Mark 6:30-44
July 11, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBJesus is gracious when others are gruff. But He’s also serious at making disciples who would make disciples. The closer Jesus gets to the cross, the more serious He is about making disciples. So Jesus stretches the apostles and challenges their capacity to be His servants.
The Gospel of Mark 6:14-29
July 04, 2021 10:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MBWe’re living in a society that not only questions the existence of objective truth, but punishes those who proclaim it. There will be significant consequences for retaining loyalty to God and what His word says—especially concerning sin. To endure the coming difficulty, you’ll need a thorough, working understanding of God through a thorough, working understanding of His word. With this understanding, you’ll be able to know what’s coming, but more importantly the God who is able to see you thr...
Matthew 11:1-11
June 27, 2021 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBJohn the Baptist was faithful to his calling & faithful to the One who called him. But at the end of his ministry, he was in Roman prison wondering if he got things right. Could it be that Jesus wasn’t who John was hoping He would be? Like John, we can ask God honest and difficult questions when things just don’t make sense.
God Finishes What He Starts
June 20, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBThere’s a certain satisfaction that comes with completion. “The end of a thing is better than its beginning…” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). God enjoys finishing what He starts, too. But unlike us, He is always faithful to finish what He begins. Since God always finishes what He starts, we know that there is intentionality in everything He does. We aren’t some project drawn up with haphazard plans and then quickly abandoned when some more pressing task or exciting endeavor presents itself. That’s not ho...
The Gospel of Mark 6:7-13
June 13, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBJesus has a unique way of training, developing, and maturing those who freely choose to follow Him. Consider the disciples. Initially, they simply watched Jesus serve. Then Jesus invited them to serve with Him. They were able to see up close how Jesus served. Before they knew it, Jesus was helping them serve—and soon He was watching them serve. Now it was time for them to serve without Him present. But before sending them out, Jesus gave them practical and applicable principles—principles we ...
The Gospel of Mark 6:1-6
June 06, 2021 10:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBIn John 1:46, Nathaniel asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” He wasn’t alone. Nazareth was looked down on as an insignificant backwoods community. But it’s where Jesus grew up and worked and lived for a majority of His life on Earth. So when He returns home 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 Jesus because of their odd and un...
The Gospel of Mark 5:21-43
May 30, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBHave you ever been in a situation where you’ve tried every option until there is nothing left but to cry out to Jesus? We all encounter experiences that exhaust our strength and resources until there is nothing left to do but cry out to Jesus. Thankfully, He is willing to be our last resort. In Mark 5:21-43, we encounter two daughters and a father who were desperate for Jesus to help them. Through their experiences, we learn how Jesus’ character should cause us to call out to Him as our first...
The Gospel of Mark 4:21-5:20
May 23, 2021 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBIn Mark 4 and 5, Jesus encounters two different storms. They were different from one another (one was an external storm, and the other was internal), and different from the typical storm clouds and thunderclaps. These two storms were satanic. The first was a storm that directly threatened Jesus and His disciples. The second was a tempest that had tormented a man to the point of unimaginable suffering. Jesus confronts the dark force behind each storm to bring peace.
The Gospel of Mark 4:1-34
May 16, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBNot everyone who follows after Jesus follows Him for the right reasons. Some look for His miracles—their interest isn’t in Him, His teaching, or the Word of God, but in what He could do for them. When they hear the Word of God clearly, they are accountable to it. That’s why Jesus said to “Take heed what you hear.” It’s great when people are attracted to Jesus—but if their focus is on what He can do for them instead of Who He is, they will not follow Him for long.
The Gospel of Mark 3:28-35
May 09, 2021 10:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBJoin us Sundays at 10am as we worship the Lord and continue our study in the Gospel of Mark. We gather in person at 912 W. St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN; online at https://live.refuge.mn; or on the radio at 96.1 FM (St. Cloud) and https://refuge.fm.
The Gospel of Mark 3:20-27
May 02, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBJesus wants to be with us. So much so that He has appointed us to be with Him forever. Everything else is out of the overflow of that fellowship with Jesus—everything else becomes secondary. God didn’t save us so we could just do amazing things for Him. He saved us so that we could enjoy fellowship with Him—forever! Our identity, purpose, and worth in every season of life comes from this fact—Jesus wants to be with us and He has appointed us first and foremost to simply be with Him.
The Gospel of Mark 3:7-19
April 25, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBDuring His ministry on earth, Jesus regularly withdrew from the busyness of life and ministry to ask His Father what He should do. Fellowship with His Father was so essential to Jesus that He prioritized His time so He could just be with His Heavenly Father. If Jesus needed to do this, how much more so us?
The Gospel of Mark 2:18-3:6
April 18, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBThe Herodians, the Scribes, the Pharisees, the Saducees…there were many groups who saw Jesus as their enemy. In Mark 2:18-3:6, we observe three interactions Jesus had with some of these people, who weren’t really enemies from Jesus’ point of view. Although they came at Him in the craziest and pettiest of ways, Jesus didn’t consider them His enemies. To Him, they were hurting people who hadn’t yet found the courage to confront what was really going on in their hearts. Jesus didn’t take it pers...
The Gospel of Mark 2:1-17
April 11, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBJesus once said, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” This statement confounded and upset the religious leaders of His day. They thought they were already righteous and that the Messiah would come for them, not sinners. They failed to see that Jesus really had come for them too—but something needed to happen in their hearts first. They weren’t really righteous—they only thought they were.
Genesis 22:1-19 – The Two of Them Went Together
April 04, 2021 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBWe often look at the week between Palm Sunday and Good Friday from the perspective of the Son and rarely from the perspective of the Father—and almost never from the perspective of both. But don’t forget that the Son and the Father—the two of them—went together. To truly appreciate this perspective, we turned to Genesis 22 to understand what God the Son and God the Father did together.
Luke 19:28-44
March 28, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBPalm Sunday is the day we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. A day foretold by prophets, a day for celebration, and day for weeping. It was a day that Jesus was concerned—not for Himself, but about us. In this study, we considered what Jesus was doing and what was happening one week before His resurrection and a few days before His crucifixion.
Motives for Ministry
March 21, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBIn 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes about the right motives for ministry. He wrote so well about this topic because his motives were often scrutinized. There was a number of ways Paul could have handled this criticism, but he chose the most direct way—by addressing it head on in such a way that helped this church—and us—see the right motives for life and ministry.
The Gospel of Mark 1:40-45
March 14, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBGrace, authority, power. These are the qualities of Jesus we’ve observed so far in the Gospel of Mark. In Nazareth, people marveled at His gracious words. In Capernaum, people were astonished at how Jesus taught with authority. And He demonstrated His power when He healed Peter’s mother-in-law. He is able to do everything with all power and authority. And He is also willing to do it with all grace. Not just for those in Nazareth and Capernaum. He is willing to heal YOU and cleanse YOU of the ...
Life With Jesus
March 07, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBThe life that Jesus invites us into is a life of asking—for anything and everything! Nothing is too small or too big to ask God for. Once we understand that we can (and should) ask Him anything (and to keep asking until something changes), we find joy in a life of asking, obedience and love.
The Gospel of Mark 1:21-39
February 28, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBThere is a stark contrast between someone who is hired to say something and someone who really has something to say. They can use the same words and language, but those who really have something to say speak with authenticity, authority, and simplicity as they serve others with what they have learned. In Mark 1:21-39, the people of Capernaum hear Jesus speak with authority and authenticity as He begins His earthly ministry of teaching and preaching in their synagogue.
The Gospel of Mark 1:16-20
February 21, 2021 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBIn Mark 1:16-20, we read of one of times Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last time Jesus called these fishermen. In fact, we considered at least four different times Jesus called these men to be His disciples. But why would Jesus have to say, "Follow Me," to them so many times? Why would they hesitate? It's a question we asked and considered our own hesitations in following Jesus. And yet, despite their hesitations an...
The Gospel of Mark 1:12-15
February 14, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBThere is often an initial romance after God calls you and sends you. But after the romance of that initial calling, there is the reality of a time of testing. This testing is so severe, it tempts you to question your calling and His love for you. And yet, God is just as much in control in that time of testing as He was when He first called you. You don’t have to thrive during this time of testing—you just have to survive. God does this often throughout the scripture. We even see God do this i...
The Gospel of Mark 1:9-11
February 07, 2021 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBCenturies of significant prophecies are fulfilled in the first eleven verses of the Gospel of Mark. Two of the most influential men cross paths. Two influential ministries come to a crossroads. One man's ministry was ending. The other man's earthly ministry was just beginning. And to truly appreciate all that was happening in these few verses, we went back to the beginning—the time when these two men were just babies in the womb.
The Gospel of Mark 1-1:8
January 31, 2021 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBThe Gospel of Mark begins with one of the most subversive, controversial, influential, and important sentences written: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." (Mark 1:1) It is difficult for us as 21st century Gentiles to fully grasp just how dangerous and revolutionary it would be to write these words. It's only when we consider the context of the culture that this was written that we can fully appreciate how subversive this sentence truly is. Life for the 1st centu...
The Gospel of Mark - Overview
January 24, 2021 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBThe whole Gospel of Mark revolves around a singular verse: "For even the Son of Man did not come to serve, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45). This Gospel shows us how Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve and to lay down His life to set people free. As we study this book and look closely and carefully at Jesus, we will hopefully become more like Him. Not that we would die on a cross for anyone's sin, but that we would be willing to lay down our prefe...
The Gospel of Mark - Introduction
January 17, 2021 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBThe Gospel according to Mark was written in a time of incredible political and societal upheaval. A time when people were concerned about their children’s future. A time when quitting and running away was a tempting prospect. Mark wrote this book for a specific purpose. He didn’t just want people to know about Jesus—he wanted them to know the grace of Jesus. How the grace of Jesus is sufficient to sustain anyone though any difficulty. How this amazing grace floods a heart with the love of G...
Habakkuk
January 10, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBLife for the prophet Habakkuk was confounding. His homeland—Judah—was filled violence and injustice. He was troubled at what he saw and God’s apparent lack of intervention. So he let God know what he thought. And God answered by telling him judgment was on the way—but at the hands of the Babylonians, who were even more wicked than the people of Judah. The book of Habakkuk captures the dialogue between an honest man and a sovereign God. Through this short book of three chapters, we see what i...
Vision Sunday 2021
January 03, 2021 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBOn 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 answ...
Vision Sunday
January 03, 2021 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBOn 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 answ...
Hebrews 13
December 27, 2020 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBThe final chapters of the books in the New Testament are interesting to study—since they are so rarely read. Many of these books were originally letters written to a specific person or group of people. We naturally start reading letters at the beginning—but even with the best of intentions, the end of the letters are not as often read as the beginning. Like any letter, many of these final remarks are personal in nature. Some may seem unrelated or disjointed from one another, like a rapid-fir...
Hebrews 13 – “Strengthened by Grace…”
December 27, 2020 00:00 - 31 minutes - 29.4 MBThe final chapters of the books in the New Testament are interesting to study—since they are so rarely read. Many of these books were originally letters written to a specific person or group of people. We naturally start reading letters at the beginning—but even with the best of intentions, the end of the letters are not as often read as the beginning. Like any letter, many of these final remarks are personal in nature. Some may seem unrelated or disjointed from one another, like a rapid-fire...
Luke 2
December 24, 2020 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB“And it came to pass in those days…” So begins the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. It's interesting to observe the simplicity that Luke uses to describe the most amazing miracle that would ever take place—God becoming man. And it's interesting to consider the world at the time when Jesus was about to be born. In fact, if you listen closely to the second chapter of Luke, you'll hear the narrative of a young woman observe and consider, preserve and ponder what was happening—not only to h...
Hebrews 12:14-29
December 20, 2020 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBWhen we give in to discouragement, we tend to get sloppy with our relationships—horizontally as well as vertically. We care less about peace with one another and less about holiness with the Lord. Which is why He encourages us to strengthen our weak knees and renew our grip with our tired hands (Hebrews 12:12-13) before He gives us a new direction: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord…” (Hebrews 12:14). In this verse, the Lord boils things down ...
Hebrews 12:14-29 - "Renew Your Grip…”
December 20, 2020 00:00 - 22 minutes - 34.6 MBWhen we give in to discouragement, we tend to get sloppy with our relationships—horizontally as well as vertically. We care less about peace with one another and less about holiness with the Lord. Which is why He encourages us to strengthen our weak knees and renew our grip with our tired hands (Hebrews 12:12-13) before He gives us a new direction: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord…” (Hebrews 12:14). In this verse, the Lord boils things down ...
Hebrews 12:4-13
December 13, 2020 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MB“No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does this for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11) At times, running the race that is set before us is wearisome and discouraging. The difficulties we experience along the way may tempt us to slow down, to draw back, or maybe even turn our backs against any forward progression. But as we’ve learned in previous studies, turning back isn’t an option...
Hebrews 12:4-13 - “Discipline”
December 12, 2020 00:00 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MB“No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does this for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11) At times, running the race that is set before us is wearisome and discouraging. The difficulties we experience along the way may tempt us to slow down, to draw back, or maybe even turn our backs against any forward progression. But as we’ve learned in previous studies, turning back isn’t an option...
Hebrews 12:1-3
December 06, 2020 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBJoin us online at Refuge.mn at 9:45am (CST) on Sunday, December 13th as we worship the Lord through prayer, the singing of songs, the study of His Word, the giving of our tithes and offerings, and fellowship with one another. Our service begins at 10am—have your Bible ready as we continue our study in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 12:1-3 – “Running. Looking. Considering.”
December 06, 2020 00:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBWe hope you’re encouraged by this edition of Strengthened by Grace with Pastor Dominic Dinger of Refuge. Learn more and find additional messages at www.Refuge.mn
Hebrews 11
November 29, 2020 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBWhat does it look like to live by faith? The answer to that question will help us understand what the writer of Hebrews meant when he wrote, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Understanding this question begins just before and just after Hebrews 11. When we consider the context of this chapter (often referred to as the Hall of Faith), we gain a better understanding of what it means for the just to walk by faith. What we find ju...
Hebrews 11 - “The Just Shall Live by Faith”
November 28, 2020 00:00 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBWhat does it look like to live by faith? The answer to that question will help us understand what the writer of Hebrews meant when he wrote, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Understanding this question begins just before and just after Hebrews 11. When we consider the context of this chapter (often referred to as the Hall of Faith), we gain a better understanding of what it means for the just to walk by faith. What we find ju...
Hebrews 10:26-39
November 22, 2020 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBWhen we began our study in Hebrews, we said this book would be full of worship and warnings. Worship that encourages us to behold the glory of God in the face of Christ. Worship that results in us being transformed by His Holy Spirit. This book has certainly encouraged us to view Jesus and the glory of God in Jesus in a way that we aren’t used to. But it is also a book of warnings. We need those warnings because there is no middle ground in following God–there is either hot or cold. Througho...
Hebrews 10:26-39 – "Warning! Warning!! Warning!!!"
November 21, 2020 00:00 - 31 minutes - 29.5 MBWhen we began our study in Hebrews, we said this book would be full of worship and warnings. Worship that encourages us to behold the glory of God in the face of Christ. Worship that results in us being transformed by His Holy Spirit. This book has certainly encouraged us to view Jesus and the glory of God in Jesus in a way that we aren’t used to. But it is also a book of warnings. We need those warnings because there is no middle ground in following God–there is either hot or cold. Througho...
Hebrews 10:1-25
November 15, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBAs we continue our study in the book of Hebrews, we need to remember that this text was a letter to the Hebrews. The writer, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was writing to Hebrew Christians—those who grew up under the rules and rituals of the Old Covenant. At some point, these individuals were born again—saved by grace through faith. But when the ropes of religion were removed, only grace was left. This was scary for some of them, who chose to retreat back into the ritual of religi...
Hebrews 10:1-25 - “Boldness to Enter…”
November 14, 2020 00:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBAs we continue our study in the book of Hebrews, we need to remember that this text was a letter to the Hebrews. The writer, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was writing to Hebrew Christians—those who grew up under the rules and rituals of the Old Covenant. At some point, these individuals were born again—saved by grace through faith. But when the ropes of religion were removed, only grace was left. This was scary for some of them, who chose to retreat back into the ritual of religi...
Hebrews 9
November 08, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBThe value of a model, no matter how detailed or how intricate, can ever reach the value of the genuine article. That is the point the writer of Hebrews makes in chapter 9. The Old Covenant—specifically the tabernacle—was merely a model of the real tabernacle of the New Covenant. The Old Covenant tabernacle was meaningful and valuable because it was given by God in incredible detail. But its purpose was to point to the real tabernacle that God was going to give one day. So now that we have th...
Hebrews 9 – “God’s…Will”
November 07, 2020 00:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBThe value of a model, no matter how detailed or how intricate, can ever reach the value of the genuine article. That is the point the writer of Hebrews makes in chapter 9. The Old Covenant—specifically the tabernacle—was merely a model of the real tabernacle of the New Covenant. The Old Covenant tabernacle was meaningful and valuable because it was given by God in incredible detail. But its purpose was to point to the real tabernacle that God was going to give one day. So now that we have th...
Hebrews 8
November 01, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBUnder the Old Covenant, over 300 High Priests serve in succession, offering millions of sacrifices over and over and over—the same sacrifices again and again and again which could never cleanse the sinner, but only cover their sin. Until…one High Priest under a New Covenant offered one sacrifice—Himself. This sacrifice was unlike any other before—perfect, sufficient, and substitutionary. And then…He sat down, because it was finished. And now, this High Priest sits and serves as High Priest ...
Hebrews 8 – “We HAVE Such a High Priest!”
October 31, 2020 00:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBUnder the Old Covenant, over 300 High Priests serve in succession, offering millions of sacrifices over and over and over—the same sacrifices again and again and again which could never cleanse the sinner, but only cover their sin. Until…one High Priest under a New Covenant offered one sacrifice—Himself. This sacrifice was unlike any other before—perfect, sufficient, and substitutionary. And then…He sat down, because it was finished. And now, this High Priest sits and serves as High Priest ...
Hebrews 7:4-28
October 25, 2020 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBIn our previous study in the book of Hebrews, we considered the man Melchizedek. First introduced in Genesis 14, the writer of Hebrews references him as he points to Jesus. But why? What comparisons exist between this mysterious man and the Messiah? Plenty! We know that this mystery man is named Melchizedek and called the King of Salem. His name means “King of Righteousness” and his title means “King of Peace”. Jesus is the King of Righteousness and the King of Peace. In the cross of Jesus C...