February 11, 2024

A God-Sized Problem

Mike Giesenhagen

February 11, 2024

Romans 5

1.  __________ is a God-Sized ________________.

a.  _______ is __________ and _______________.

b.  We’re All ___________ of ___________.

c.  _______ _____________ Our ______________.

2.  ___________ is the God-Sized ________________.

3.  Only ____________ Can __________ the ________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. When you hear the word “sin”, what comes to mind?  What does a sinner look like?  How serious is sin?

2. How does the bible describe the affects of sin?  What does it do to the sinner?  How does it affect others?  How does it affect our relationship with God?

3. Who does the bible say is guilty of sin?

4. How does sin distort good things?  How should a Christian respond to sin in their own life?

5. Can we conquer sin on our own?  What is God’s solution to sin in the Scripture?

6. Additional Study: Read Matthew 23 and 1 Timothy 1:1-17.  How are the mindsets of Paul and the Pharisees similar?  How are they different?

7. How should our understanding of sin affect the way we interact with people outside of the church?

February 4, 2024: The Shift: Living in a "Post-Christian" Nation

The Shift

Mike Giesenhagen

February 4, 2024

Luke 10:1-24

1.  Jesus _________ His People __________.

2.  ____________ the ______________ Isn’t _________.

3.  __________ for People of ______________.

4.  Expect _____________________.

5.  Keep __________ at the ______________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. How does the Bible show Christians sharing the Gospel?  Where do they share about Jesus?  And with whom?

2. How is the Gospel received in the New Testament?  Are there any places or audiences that are more receptive?  Who might be less receptive?

3. How can we know who to share the Gospel with?  Who needs it?  How do we discern if God is calling us, or if we have chosen them on our own?

4. Additional Study: Are there examples in the New Testament where people reject the Gospel? Why do they reject it?  Who is the one who proclaimed the message to them?

5. What was your most recent experience with evangelism?  How did it go?

6. Prayer Project: How do you feel about evangelism?  What is most exciting about it?  What is most nerve-wracking about it?

7. Who is the determining factor in whether someone is saved?  How should this affect our approach to evangelism?

January 28, 2024: What’s Your Story

John 21

What’s Your Story?

Mike Giesenhagen

January 28, 2024

John 21

1.  Remember What ___________ Has __________.

2.  Jesus ___________ Our ______________.

3.  Jesus _______________ Our __________________.

4.  Jesus’s ____________ is _____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Icebreaker: When did you start to become curious about Jesus?  When did you start to believe in him?

2. Additional Study: What bible stories are examples of God demonstrating his faithfulness to biblical characters?

3. How does God address our doubts?  How have you worked through doubts in your own faith?

4. How has God helped you through seasons of difficulty?

5. Prayer project: How has God helped you deal with sin and its consequences in your life?  How can this testimony encourage others to trust in Christ?

6. What does Jesus mean when he says, “if I want him to remain alive until I return, what is it to you?”  Where should our focus lie?

January 21, 2024: Heroes of the Faith

Ron Peterson

Heroes of the Faith

Ron Pederson

January 21, 2024

Hebrews 11

1.  Heroes ______________ God’s ____________.

2.  Heroes are _________________ to God’s _______.

3.  Heroes are _________________ to God’s _______.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Icebreaker: Who was your childhood hero?  Why did you look up to them?

2. Who are your current heroes?  Why?

3. What makes someone a hero?

4. Would you want to be a hero?

5. What would make someone a Christian hero?

6. Do you need to be a pastor to be a Christian hero?

January 14, 2024: Help People Love God

Matthew 9:35-38

Help People Love God.

Mike Giesenhagen

January 14, 2024

Matthew 9:35-10:1

1.  Jesus ____________________ ___________________.

2.  Jesus Meets ________________ _____________.

A.  _____________ in their synagogues…

B.  __________________ the good news…

C. ______________ every disease and sickness…

3.  Jesus ___________ ___________ to ________ _____.

4.  Jesus ____________ ___________ in _____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Icebreaker: How did you personally begin to follow God?  Who was an instrumental part of that process?

2. Additional Reading: Matthew 8-10.  What kinds of people does Jesus interact with?  What kinds of things does he do?

3. What does compassion look like in the ministry of Christ?  Who receives compassion in this passage?

4. What tangible needs does Jesus meet?  What is the purpose of his meeting these needs?  How can we apply this in our lives today?

5. Who invited you to take an active part in the Christian faith?  How did they invite you?  And how did you respond?

6. When have you been invited to take a step of faith outside your comfort zone?  What were you asked to do?  What was the result?

January 7, 2024: Love People

Luke 10:25-37

Love People.

Mike Giesenhagen

January 7, 2024

Luke 10:25-37

1.  Loving ______ and _________ are ______________.

2.  Love _____________ with the ________ of _______.

A.  Love ________ _____________.

B.  Love _____________.

C. Love __________ __________________.

3.  Love is _____________________.

4.  Love is _____________________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Icebreaker: How have you experienced God’s love for you in 2023?  How do you hope to experience his love in 2024?

2. How are love for God and love for people connected?  How do these work with each other?

3. Who does Jesus call us to love?

4. What are some of the ways we are called to love other Christians in the New Testament?  (e.g. “One Another” passages)

5. How does Jesus teach people to treat their “enemies”?  How did Jesus treat us when we were his enemies?

6. Additional Study: 1 Corinthians 13:1-7.  What does this chapter teach us about the importance of love?  What does it teach us about the characteristics of love?

7. What are some of the obstacles that make it difficult to love others?  What do you think is your greatest obstacle to loving people well?

December 31, 2023: Love God

Mark 12: 28-34

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Love God.

Mike Giesenhagen

December 31, 2023

Mark 12:28-34

1.  ____________ Comes From ____________.

2.  With All Your ____________.

3.  With All Your ____________.

4.  With All Your ____________.

5.  With All Your ____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Icebreaker: How have you experienced God’s love for you in 2023?  How do you hope to experience his love in 2024?

2. What does it mean to love God with all your heart?  What does that look like?

3. What does it mean to love God with all your soul?  What does that look like?

4. What does it mean to love God with all your mind?  What does that look like?

5. What does it mean to love God with all your strength?  What does that look like?

6. Additional Study: How are these passages about loving God the same?  How are they different? Read Deut 6:1-9, Matt 22:34-39, Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10:25-28

7. Why do you think God repeats this four times in the Scripture?  Why do you think that love is broken apart each time (heart, soul, mind, strength)

8. Which way is easiest for you to love God?  Which one is most difficult?  Why?

December 24, 2023: Light Up the Dark

John 3:16-21

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Light Up the Dark

Mike Giesenhagen

December 24, 2023

John 3:16-21

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Icebreaker: What is your favorite Christmas tradition?  How do you remember Christ in your Christmas traditions?

2. What does it mean that God loves us?  What words would you use to describe his love for us?

3. How easy is it for you to receive God’s love?  What thoughts or ideas might make it difficult to think that God loves you?

4. When you think of light against darkness, what does that look like?  What does the bible teach us about who the light is?

5. How does God determine who should be saved?  What is the difference between the light and darkness?

6. How does Christmas demonstrate his plan for salvation?  How does it bring us hope in this world?

December 17, 2023: God with Us

Philippians 2

God with Us

Mike Giesenhagen

December 17, 2023

Philippians 2:1-11

Step 1:  ___________ the _________ of _____________

A.  He _________________________ _______________.

B.  He _____________________ ___________________.

C. He ____________ _________________ ___________.

Step 2: ___________ the ___________ of _____________.

Step 3: ___________ in the ___________ of ___________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Icebreaker: Who is someone you know that is great with children?  What behaviors do you see that help them with kids?

2. How are you encouraged by Christ this Christmas season?

3. What does humility look like when we interact with others?  How can we live humbly?

4. How does Jesus demonstrate his care for others in the incarnation?  What is it that he has given up to dwell among us?  What is unique about the birth of our king of kings?

5. How does Jesus’s life demonstrate his love for his people? 

6. How can we love others like Jesus did this Christmas season?  What would that look like?  Who might you be able to love and encourage in your sphere of influence?

7. What is your favorite way to celebrate the birth of Christ?

December 10, 2023: Our Reason for Joy

Daniel 11

Our Reason for Joy

Mike Giesenhagen

December 10, 2023

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1.  ______________  __________________.

2.  __________ ________________________.

3.  __________ __________ in Every _______________.

4.  For This is the ___________ of _____________...

5.  ________ You ________ Christ Jesus.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Icebreaker: What is your favorite thing about the Christmas season?

2. Contextual Study: Acts 17:1-10.  How long did Paul, Silas, and Timothy stay in Thessalonica?  What type of ministry did they do?  Why did they leave?

3. How can joy be an active verb?  What does it mean to “rejoice”?  What does it mean to “enjoy”?  What does it mean to “be joyful”? How are they the same?  How are they different?

4. What would unceasing prayer look like?  How would this be possible?

5. What drives an attitude of thankfulness?  What can stand in the way of us being thankful?

6. How does the phrase “For this is the will of God” strike you?  What type of action does it prompt in you?  What feelings emerge when you hear that?

7. How does Jesus free us to rejoice, pray, and give thanks?  How does the birth of Christ remind us of these things?  What does it tell us about who God is?

December 3, 2023: Our Source of Strength

Daniel 10

Our Source of Strength

Mike Giesenhagen

December 3, 2023

Daniel 10-12

1.  The World Can ____________________ __________

2.  ____________  is the _________________.

a.  Jesus Is ___________________________

b.  Jesus is ___________________________

c.  Jesus ____________ your ___________

d.  Jesus ______________ for _________

e.  Jesus is ___________________________

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Icebreaker: Have you ever felt overwhelmed in a season of life?  How did you respond?  How effective was that response?

2. Contextual Study: Ezra 1-4.  What was happening in Israel at the time of Daniel’s vision in Daniel 10?

3. How did Daniel seek the LORD in his time of distress?

4. How was Daniel challenged by his experience in Daniel 10?

5. How was Daniel encouraged during his experience in Daniel 10?

6. What can Daniel 10 teach us about how to seek Jesus in times of trouble?

November 26, 2023: A Humble Prayer

A Humble Prayer

Mike Giesenhagen

November 26, 2023

Daniel 9

1.  God Wants __________ ___________ ____________.

2.  ________________ is _______________ to _________

3.  Our ________________ Brings ___________________

4.  God’s ______________ > Our _______________

5.  God _____________ Our _________________

6.  God _______________ His __________________

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Daniel was moved by the plight of Jerusalem and the 70 years of desolation from Jeremiah 25:11-12.  What part of God’s will in the Scripture motivates your heart?

2. What does confession look like in your prayer life? How does your prayer life look like Daniel 9?  How is it different?

3. According to Daniel’s prayer, who/what is responsible for the scorn and shame God’s people are experiencing during the Exile?

4. How does Daniel’s prayer reflect his prioritization of God’s goodness?  What does the prayer teach about who God is?  What does it reveal about God’s people?

5. How does God respond to Daniel’s prayer?  How can this be an encouragement to us?

6. What hope can we cling to from the vision given to Daniel in 9:24-27?

November 19, 2023: Thanksgiving Sharing Service

This service was not recorded but we would like to provide the scripture used as we began our testimony time and questions that can be used for personal reflection or in a small group setting.

His Love Endures Forever

Mike Giesenhagen

November 19, 2023

Psalm 136

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. How can you give praise to God as we move into the Christmas season?

2. How has God delivered you from and through difficult circumstances this year?

3. How has God guided you as you make difficult decisions this year?

4. How has the LORD provided for you in unexpected ways?

5. How has the LORD given you opportunities to share him with others this year?  Who would you like to pray for opportunities for?

6. What are you thankful for?

November 12, 2023: The GOAT

Daniel 8

The GOAT

Mike Giesenhagen

November 5, 2023

Daniel 8

1.  The Ram:

2.  The Goat with the Big Horn:

3.  The Little Horn:

4.  The Point:

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. Where does Daniel receive this vision?  Who is Belshazzar (see Daniel 5)?

2. Where is Susa?  And how is it different from Babylon?  What empire is Susa a part of?

3. What’s the implied Good News of Daniel 8:9-12?  What has to happen before the “little horn” can persecute God’s people in the “Beautiful Land”?

4. What makes this vision difficult to stomach?  What might lead to Daniel’s exhaustion in 8:29?

5. Additional Study: Antiochus Epiphanes.  1 Maccabees 1-6 (Look it up on biblegateway.  While 1 Maccabees is not authoritative as Scripture, it can be helpful as a historical text) How does the story of Antiochus Epiphanes reflect what we see in Daniel 8?

November 5, 2023: Bad News - Good News

Daniel 7

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Bad News, Good News

Mike Giesenhagen

November 5, 2023

Daniel 7

1.  The Beasts are __________ _______________.

2.  God is the ________________ of ___________.

3.  God’s ________________ is ________________.

4.  ____________ is the ___________ of ___________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. How did the imagery of the beasts and the horn affect Daniel?  How does it make you feel?  Why do you feel that way?

2. What is discomforting about considering the beasts as a Christian today?  What are some of the telltale signs of the “little horn” in Daniel 7?

3. What are some of the attributes of God demonstrated in Daniel 7?  How can these attributes be an encouragement to us today?

4. What is the outcome of Daniel’s vision?  Who is victorious?  How was victory achieved?  What is the role of the Church in the victory?

5. What is the end result for the holy people of the Most High?

6. Additional Study: Son of Man.  Jesus gives himself the title “Son of Man” throughout the Gospels (especially Matthew).  How do Daniel 7 and the Son of Man passages demonstrate who Jesus is?  (e.g. Matt 9:6, 12:8, 16:27, 28:18)

October 29, 2023: Faithfulness to God

Daniel 6

The Lions’ Den

Mike Giesenhagen

October 29, 2023

Daniel 6

1.  ________________ _________________.

2.  ____________ is _______________.

a.  ____________ is ____________________.

b.  ____________ is ____________________.

3.  Courage _______________ on _______________.

4.  _______________ Belongs to _____________.

5.  _______________ Belongs to _____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1. What does integrity look like in today’s world?  How did Daniel demonstrate integrity in Daniel 6?

2. What lengths do people go to in order to sin?  How might they rationalize their behavior?  How have you seen people cover it up?

3. Have you ever regretted a sinful decision in your life?  How did you recognize the sin?  How did you respond?

4. How does Daniel rely on God in Daniel 6?  How do we see God provide for him?

5. How does God demonstrate his justice in this chapter?  Who benefits?  Who is punished?

6. How does the decree reflect God’s character?  What other attributes of God should we praise?

7. Additional Study: Darius makes a vow to uphold his decree.  What do the Scriptures tell us about making vows?  (Deut 23:21-21, Matt 5:33-37)  What other examples of foolish vows do we see in the Scripture? (1 Sam 14:24-28, Judges 11:29-39)  How would Darius have benefited from this understanding of making similar vows?

October 22, 2023: Remembering Zion

Psalm 137 by Herb Bloomquist

Remembering Zion

Herb Bloomquist

October 22, 2023

Psalm 137

1.  By the rivers of Where? ______________________.

2.  Those people at that church really aren’t ____________________________________________.

3.  Zion originally was ___________________________.

a.  The city of _____________________ became known as Zion.

b.  The ________________ was nicknamed Zion.

c.  Jesus is the ______________________ of Zion.

d.  Our new Zion is ________________________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

Ice breaker: When was the last time you looked at your situation and wondered how you got there?

1. In what areas as a believer do you sometimes not live up to what you had hoped you would?

2. How often do you reflect on your ultimate home, heaven (Zion)? How would keeping focused on heaven help you in the areas you struggle with in question 1?

3. Additional study: Read and reflect on Hebrews 12 (yep, the whole chapter!).

October 15, 2023: Honor God

Daniel 5

Holy Reverence

Mike Giesenhagen

October 15, 2023

Daniel 5

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. -Proverbs 9:10

1.  God’s __________________ is ________________

2.  Human _______________ ___________ __________

3.  Perfect ____________ ≠ Perfect ________________

4.  Be ___________ or Be ________________. 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   What does it mean to “fear God”?  What would be some good examples of this today?  What are some ways that people do not show reverence for God?

2.   If you were to encounter God face to face, how do you think you would respond?  How do others respond in the Scriptures when they encounter God?  (e.g. Exod 3, Isa 6, Ezek 1)

3.   When confronted with troubles in Daniel the kings often turn to the wise men of the kingdom.  How do people deal with stress and uncertainty today?

4.   What are some examples of people who knew the right answer, but it did not lead to the right response?  When do we see this in Scripture?  When do we see this in our lives today?

5.   What can we learn from the example of Belshazzar?  How does God respond to humanity’s lack of reverence? How should we respond instead?

October 8, 2023: Be Humble or Be Humbled

Daniel 4

Be Humble or Be Humbled

Mike Giesenhagen

October 8, 2023

Daniel 4

1.  This is ___________________’s __________________.

2.  Our ______________ is ________-____________.

3.  Our _______________ is _________________.

4.  Be ___________ or Be ________________.

5.  The _____________ _________________ Us.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   When was the last time you shared your testimony?  How is God’s saving power evident in your story?

2.   Prayer Project: What circumstances in your life are you thankful for?  What circumstances are more difficult to thank God for? 

3.   How have you tried to make yourself righteous?  How has God helped you in your discipline and obedience toward Him?

4.   What can we learn from Nebuchadnezzar’s fall from power?  What was the issue that led to his fall?

5.   Who is responsible for Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration?  How can that be an encouragement to us today?

6.   What are some ways that we might be tempted toward pride, instead of humility, before God?

October 1, 2023: Through the Fire

Daniel 3

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Through the Fire

Mike Giesenhagen

October 1, 2023

Daniel 3

1.  ___________ ____________ for ______________.

a.  Be __________ of _________ ______________.

b.  _____________ the __________________.

2.  ___________ ___________ in the _____________.

3.  We’re Delivered ____________ the Fire

a.  God is __________ in our _____________.

b.  It __________________ our ____________.

c.  _________ is ___________________.

d.  _____________ Come Through __________ __________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

1.   How can we identify idols in our lives?  What idols do we see in our society?  What idols are common among Christians?

2.   How do we guard against idolatry in our own hearts?

3.   How do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respond to the king’s questions

4.   How does God respond to the king’s idolatry?  What happens to the golden image?

5.   How does God deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the hands of Nebuchadnezzar?  How would you feel if you went through this process?

6.   Which part of God’s deliverance is most encouraging to you?  Which part is most challenging for you?

7.   What other examples of God’s deliverance through difficult circumstances do we see in the Bible? What does this teach us about how God works?