January 12, 2025: God Speaks by His Son

Hebrews 1:1-4

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

God Speaks By His Son

Mike Giesenhagen

January 12, 2025

Hebrews 1:1-4

1.   _________ ___________ When __________ ___________.

2.   Jesus is _________________ ______________________.

3.   _______________ is Our _________________________.

4.   We Cannot _______________ His __________________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   Ice Breaker: What examples of God speaking do you remember from the Bible? What happened?

2.   What is an “heir”? What is an inheritance? How is this relevant to Jesus in Hebrews 1?

3.   What is the significance of Jesus’s presence at creation? What does this tell us about his character?

4.   What does it mean that Jesus is the “radiance” or the “exact representation” of God?

5.   How does Jesus uphold all things?

6.   How has Christ purified sins? What is the author referencing?

7.   Why is it significant that he “sat down” at the right hand of the Majesty?

January 5, 2025: Our Anchor in the Storm

Hebrews Introduction

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Our Anchor in the Storm

Mike Giesenhagen

January 5, 2025

Intro to Hebrews

1.   Who Wrote Hebrews?

2.   To Whom Is It Written?

3.   When Was It Written?

4.   Why Does It Matter?

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   Ice Breaker: What do you turn to when things become difficult? How do you respond?

2.   What are the circumstances surrounding the universal Church today?

3.   What are some of the benefits we enjoy as members of the universal Church?

4.   What are some of the challenges Christians face today?

5.   How does the Gospel provide a firm foundation for our lives, regardless of circumstance?

December 29, 2024: Living in the Light

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

1 John 1:1-2:2

Living in the Light

Mike Giesenhagen

December 29, 2024

1 John 1-2:2

1.   ___________ is _____________.

2.   God’s ________________ is _____________________.

3.   We Have _____________ with ________ _____________.

4.   ________________ as ______________ __________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   Ice Breaker: How do you remember the birth of Christ at Christmas?

2.   What does the imagery of light and darkness teach us about God’s character?

3.   How do you apply “as he is in the light” from 1 John 1:7?

4.   What is the difference between Christ as a transforming presence in our life vs an example to follow? How does that apply differently?

5.   Why does John emphasize the presence of sin in our lives? How does that affect our fellowship in a positive way?

6.   How do you see Jesus love God in the Gospels?

7.   How do you see Jesus love people in the Gospels?

December 22, 2024: The Light of Love

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

1 John 4:7-15

The Light of Love

Mike Giesenhagen

December 22, 2024

1 John 4:7-16

1.   _____________________ God’s Love

2.   _____________________ God’s Love

3.   _____________________ God’s Love

4.   _____________________ God’s Love

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   Ice Breaker: How would you define love? How did you come to this definition?

2.   What does it suggest if one of God’s primary attributes is love?

3.   What could make it difficult to believe that God is, at His core, loving?

4.   What does it look like to receive love from someone?

5.   What could make it difficult to receive love from God?

6.   How are we called to love others?

7.   What could make it difficult to love others?

8.   How are we instructed to love God in this passage?

9.   Prayer Project: Which of these aspects of love is most challenging for you right now? Who has God called you to love in this season?

December 15, 2024: The Light of Joy

Matthew 5:1-16

The Light of Joy

Mike Giesenhagen

December 15, 2024

Matthew 5:1-16

1.   ___________ is an ___________________ ____________.

2.   ____________ is Our __________________ for ________.

3.   _______________ Completes Our __________________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   Ice Breaker: What is joy? How is it related to happiness? What does it mean to rejoice?

2.   How do you understand the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12? What about them have you found helpful? What is challenging?

3.   Who is the primary actor in the Beatitudes? Who is the recipient of the action?

4.   How do the Beatitudes connect to the rest of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7?

5.   How does Christ influence our joy? What attributes of God affirm our joyfulness?

6.   What does joy look like in the hard seasons of life? How has God helped you “take joy” in times of trouble?

December 8, 2024: The Light of Peace

Mark 5:24-34; Philippians 4:6-9

The Light of Peace

Mike Giesenhagen

December 8, 2024

Genesis 1; Mark 5:24-34; Philippians 4:6-9

1.   God Brings _______________ to _______________.

2.   God Brings _______________ to the _______________.

3.   God Brings ________________ to __________________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   Ice Breaker: What are some of the best parts of the Advent season? What are some of the hardest parts of the Advent season?

2.   How does creation demonstrate God’s peace?

3.   How does God respond to the fullness of his creation? What can we learn from this?

4.   How does the story of the bleeding woman in Mark 5 demonstrate the peace we have in Christ?

5.   What is the connection between the “peace that transcends all understanding” and the list of attributes that immediately follows it in Philippians 4:7-8?

6.   How can we be reminded of God’s peace this Christmas?

7.   What is one thing you can do to cling to God’s perfect peace this December?

December 1, 2024: The Hope of Light

Revelation 22:1-5

The Hope of Light

Mike Giesenhagen

December 1, 2024

Revelation 22:1-5

1.   This __________ ____________ Includes _____________.

2.   ___________ is Better Than __________________.

3.   __________ Exchanges ____________ for ___________.

4.   Our Hope is _____________ by _______________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   How do people normally describe darkness? What pictures or feelings are associated with darkness?

2.   How do people normally describe light? What pictures or feelings are associated with light?

3.   What evidence of “darkness” do we see in the world today?

4.   Additional Study: Read John 8:12 and 12:44-46. According to Jesus, what is the difference between darkness and light? Who or what does Jesus say is the light of the world?

5.   What are some of the descriptions that Christians are given as “children of light” in the New Testament? What is our identity? How are we called to put this into practice?

6.   How would you explain or define Christian hope to a young child?

7.   How does the light of Christ provide eternal hope for those who follow Him?

November 24, 2024: Thanksgiving Service

Each year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, our congregation has a testimony Sunday. We share of the wonderful things that God has been doing in our lives. Due to the sensitive nature of some personal testimonies, we do not stream and broadcast these services on the internet.

Our text this morning is Psalm 105:1-7. We will use this text to frame the testimonies we share, along with the following 3 questions:

  1. What Area Have You Seen God Working in Your Life?

  2. How Has He Been Working?

  3. What Has Been the Result of God’s Work?

Psalm 105

1 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

2 Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

3 Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

4 Look to the LORD and his strength;

seek his face always.

5 Remember the wonders he has done,

his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,

his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.

7 He is the LORD our God;

his judgments are in all the earth.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ps 105:1–7.

November 17, 2024: The Overcomer

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

John 16

The Overcomer

Mike Giesenhagen

November 17, 2024

John 16

1.  Jesus ________________ His _________________.

2.  The ___________ ____________ Is ________ ______.

3.  The ________ is ________ to _____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   What are some of the obstacles the disciples will face in the coming days? Look over John 17-21 and the book of Acts for additional help.

2.   How does Jesus prepare them for the challenges ahead?

3.   What is the role of the Holy Spirit for the disciples? How does he work in their lives?

4.   What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the world? (Consider John 16:8-11)

5.   How does the imagery of a woman giving birth prepare the disciples for a life of following Jesus?

6.   What does Jesus mean when he says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

November 10, 2024: Out of This World

John 15:18-27

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Out of This World

Mike Giesenhagen

November 10, 2024

John 15:18-27

1.  We Will __________________ ___________________.

2.  The World ____________________ ______________.

3.  We’re __________ ___________ of the __________.

a.  What Would ____________ _________?

b.  What are we ___________ ___________?

4.  Jesus _____________ the _____________________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   How likely is it that we will experience opposition to our faith in Jesus? How have you experienced that in your life?

2.   How does the secular world misunderstand Jesus? What does the world cling to instead?

3.   How do the religious leaders misunderstand Jesus in the Bible? How does this continue today?

4.   How does Jesus respond to his opponents and enemies in the Scriptures?

5.   How are Christians expected to face opposition in the New Testament? What does Jesus instruct us to do regarding our enemies?

6.   What does Jesus do to prepare the disciples for the coming opposition?

November 3, 2024: We Are the Branches

John 15:5-17

We Are the Branches

Mike Giesenhagen

November 3, 2024

John 15:5-17

1.  We Must ______________ in _______________.

2.  Christ’s ___________ ____________ in _______.

3.  We Must ___________ in ___________ __________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   What does the imagery of the vine and the branches teach us about our relationship with Christ?

2.   What does it mean to abide/remain in Christ? How has God used this in your life?

3.   Prayer Project: What obstacles or distractions make it difficult to abide/remain in Christ? How can God help you with these things?

4.   What sayings from Jesus help you in times of trouble?

5.   Have you ever been loved by someone sacrificially? What happened? What was the result of their loving actions?

6.   How does the body of Christ help us to remain in Christ’s love?

7.   Prayer Project: Who has God called you to love as Jesus did? What does that look like?

October 27, 2024: I AM the Vine

John 15:1-17

I AM the Vine

Mike Giesenhagen

October 20, 2024

John 15:1-17

1.  We Must ______________ in _______________.

a.  God ______________ the _______________

b.  God ______________ His ________________

2.  We Must ___________ __ in _______________.

3.  ___________ as _____________ _____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   What does it mean that Jesus is the “true vine”?

2.   What does God’s pruning look like? Who does God prune in John 15:2?

3.   What is the purpose/benefit of God’s pruning?

4.   Prayer Project: Are there any areas of your life where God wants to prune you?

5.   What does it mean to remain/abide in Christ? What practices have been helpful in your relationship with Jesus?

6.   Prayer Project: What obstacles or distractions make it difficult to abide/remain in Christ? How can God help you with these things?

7.   Have you ever been loved by someone sacrificially? What happened? What was the result of their loving actions?

8.   Prayer Project: Who has God called you to love as Jesus did? What does that look like?

October 20, 2024: If You Love Me...

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

John 14:15-21

If You Love Me

Mike Giesenhagen

October 20, 2024

John 14:15-31

1.  ____________ __________ Out of ______________.

2.  The _____________ is Here to ____________.

3.  The ________________ _______________ in Us.

4.  Our ____________ is in _________ _____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   What is the difference between the future and imperative tense of “keep” in John 14:15? How would this be different in our lives?

2.   What is the Spirit’s role in our spiritual growth? How does He help us throughout our life in Christ?

3.   Why is it important that Jesus sent the Spirit after Him? What help does the presence of the Spirit provide to those who believe in Christ?

4.   How does it help to know that God is with us through the Holy Spirit? Why does Jesus remind us that He will be with us even after His death, resurrection, and ascension?

5.   Prayer Project: Are there any areas of your life that the Holy Spirit is leading you to change in order to walk more closely with Him?

October 13, 2024: Show us the Father

John 14:8-14

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Show Us the Father

Mike Giesenhagen

October 13, 2024

John 14:8-14

Context:

The Question:

1.  We Want to ___________ ____________.

2.  We Always Want ___________ _____________.

3.  Knowing __________ IS Knowing ____________.

Signs in John:

Water into Wine (2:1-11)

Healing the Official’s Son (4:43-54)

Healing at Bethesda (5:1-15)

Feeding 5,000 (6:1-15)

Healing the Man Born Blind (9:1-12)

Raising Lazarus (11:1-44)

4.  Jesus ____________ in ____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   What evidence have you seen that every soul longs to know the living God?

2.   Why does Philip want to see the Father? What is he hoping for by saying this to Jesus?

3.   What does Jesus mean when he says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father”? What does this tell us about who Jesus is?

4.   What do the signs (works) of Jesus in the book of John tell us about who Jesus is?

5.   Additional Study: There are 7 “I AM” statements found in the book of John (6:35, 8:12, 10:7, 10:11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1). What do these statements of identity teach us about who Jesus is?

6.   Prayer Project: How have you seen Jesus work in you and through you to accomplish is purposes in the world today? How has he impacted the lives of others through you?

October 6, 2024: How Can We Know the Way

John 14:4-7

How Can We Know the Way?

Mike Giesenhagen

October 6, 2024

John 14:4-7

Context:

The Question:

1.  Jesus is the ______________.

2.  Jesus is the ______________.

3.  Jesus is the ______________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   What is the difference between Jesus being the “way, truth, and life” versus being an example of those things?

2.   Read John 10:1-10. What title does Jesus apply to Himself in this passage? How does that relate to John 14:6?

3.   Read John 15:1-4. What title does Jesus apply to Himself in this passage? How does that relate to John 14:6?

4.   Read John 5:36-39 and 11:17-27. How does Jesus describe Himself in these passages? How does that relate to John 14:6?

5.   Additional Study: Utilize a Bible app to do a Word study of the phrase “the law” in the New Testament. What does the New Testament teach us about how to understand and apply the law of the Old Testament in our present day?

6.   Prayer Project: If you had a friend who gave you the opportunity to tell them one thing (one sentence!) about Christianity, what would you tell them? How about 2? Continue adding one sentence at a time until you reach 5 or 10 truths to share with your friend.