Tuesday at sundown is the beginning of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. You can read about God’s implementation of the Day of Atonement to Israel in Leviticus 16. One of the things that has stood out to me as I have been praying is the beginning of verse 34, “This is to be a...
Author: City of Refuge
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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: A New Exchange
In II Corinthians 5 Paul wrote “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” In I Corinthians 13 Paul wrote, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I...
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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: Demolished Complaints
Philippians 2:12-30 “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” Most of us have had this verse quoted to us at some point in our lives. This verse is used most often as a reaction to complaints rather than being proactive to prevent them. It has been quoted from parents to children, teachers to students, employers to...
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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: Work it Out
Philippians 2:12-18 The call to unity through humility culminated with Jesus as our example of both mindset and activity. The mind of Christ is the conviction that considers others more significant than ourselves and the fruit of that conviction is obedience to the call of God, it is never thinking too highly of ourselves but...
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September’s Prayer Focus is Now Online
Each week at City of Refuge Fellowship we are given a prayer focus with specific needs to uphold but also with very focused points of prayer, fasting and lifestyle. The most important and productive part of this tool is that with each focus we are given Scriptures to use in prayer and in meditation. These...
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Hebrews Study: 8:7-9:15 “A Better Covenant”
The author of Hebrews says that Jesus is the “Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” At first glance this sounds offensive to the old covenant, as if it was in error or was without effect but that is neither the truth about the covenant or about what the author is...
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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: We Have Been Counted
This week, in Philippians 2:1-11, we continue to see the power and necessity of unity. Paul ties the conflict that the church at Philippi has watched him engage in to their own conflict. He calls this church to engage in the conflict of the gospel, to be affected and even suffer for the kingdom of God....
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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: The Power of We
In Philippians 1:27-30 the Apostle Paul moves from encouraging the Philippian church about his situation to challenging them to live in the fullness of Christ in their own situations. He gives his first command of the letter in verse 27, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ”. While this statement is...
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Hebrews Study: 7:20-8:6 “Once for All”
The explanation of Jesus as our Great High Priest reaches it’s pinnacle in these verses closing out chapter 7 and entering into chapter 8. Jesus’ eternal, unending, unchanging priesthood has given Him the power and authority to “save to the uttermost” through His sacrifice and his constant intercession. Our salvation is described as “all complete and...
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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: A Life and Death Situation
Still in the beginning of his letter from prison, Paul writes a bold declaration to the church in Philippi, “I know that this will turn out for my deliverance . . .” Earlier Paul had declared that his imprisonment was leading to the furthering of the gospel, now he declares that he knows that his...