June 23, 2024: Darkness and Light

Ephesians 5:1-21

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Darkness and Light

Mike Giesenhagen

June 23, 2024

Ephesians 5:1-21 

Context:  

1.   We Are a _________ ______________ in ____________.

2.   ___________ is a __________________ _______________.

a.  Our ____________ _______________.

b.  ___________ Can Become _______________.

c.  We Can Become ___________ _______ ________

3.   In ___________, We Are ______________ ____ ________

4.   Walk as _____________ _______ ______________.

a.  Examine _____________________.

b.  ___________ from the _________________.

c.  ___________ the __________ of _______________.

d.  ____________ One Another

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What does it mean to be “imitators of God”?  What would that look like, according to Ephesians 5:1-2?

  2. How do our words affect our actions?  How do our words and actions affect the way we see ourselves?  (E.g. Matthew 12:34)

  3. What is the difference between light and darkness?  How do they interact?  What is the significance of Paul saying “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord”?  (Eph 5:8)

  4. How can we discern what is pleasing to the Lord?  What might prevent us from pursuing these things?

  5. Prayer Project: Ephesians 5:12-14.  Are there any “deeds of darkness” in your life that need to be brought to the light of Jesus?  This could include past sins to be forgiven, current struggles to be addressed, or hurt from sins against you to be healed/forgiven.

  6. How are we called to treat one another in the family of God?  (Ephesians 5:18-21)

June 16, 2024: Make Disciples

Matthew 28
Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Make Disciples

Mike Giesenhagen

June 16, 2024

Matthew 28 

Context:  

1.   ________________ Has the ______________________.

2.   We’re Called to ____________ ___________________.

a.  We’re Called to _________________.

b.  We’re Called to _________________.

c.  We’re Called to _________________.

3.   _____________ is _________ ___________ Forever. 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What is the context of Matthew 28?  What has Jesus already accomplished?  What does this show us about who Jesus is?

  2. What does it mean to “Make disciples”?  What is a “disciple”?  Who is the leader of these disciples?

  3. Word Study: Choose a Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and/or John).  As you read through that Gospel, write down the commands Jesus gives.  What are the commands Jesus gives in the Gospels?

  4. Who needs the teaching of Jesus?   What would be some good examples of how this teaching takes place?

  5. What does it mean to “go” in the New Testament?  What are some examples of people who went to make disciples?

  6. What is baptism?  Who should be baptized?  What is the significance of baptism in the Church today?

June 9, 2024: How Should We Live in These Days

Micah 6:8

How Should We Live in These Days?

Dave Lahr

June 9, 2024

Micah 6:8

WHO

Written for ______  _____________.

WHAT

Act _________, ___________, ___________.

Love ___________, __________, and __________.

Walk humbly (stay _____  ______  __________).

WHY

Not ____ ________ _______ ________________.

For ______ _______ _____ God.

Our ___________.

HOW

Not in our own _____________.

Indwelling of _____ ________ __________.

Together ____ ___ ___________ ___ ____________.

Questions for further consideration:

1.       When you are stressed, do you tend to think of your own needs, or others?  How might you become more outward-focused?

2.       Do you sometimes have a double-standard of justice, mercy, or humility—one standard for yourself, and perhaps for your loved ones, and another for strangers, or especially for those not like you?  How can you begin to see others as God sees them?

3.       Which of these directions is most difficult for you:

a.       Do justice

b.       Love mercy

c.       Walk humbly with God

4.       Does Jesus’ yoke feel burdensome to you? Why or why not?

5.       Do you have people with whom you can confide your needs and struggles, whom you trust to pray and stand alongside of you?

June 2, 2024: Our New Life

Ephesians 4:17-32

Our New Life

Mike Giesenhagen

June 2, 2024

Ephesians 4:17-5:2 

Context:  

1.   We are ______________________ without _________.

2.   We are ______________________ without _________.

3.   We are __________ ________ _________ in __________.

4.   We __________ _______________ _________________.

5.   Follow ___________ __________________. 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What does it look like to live without God?  If you did not have Jesus, how would your life be different?

  2. What does Ephesians 4:19 tell us about the desires of our flesh? How does God help with this?

  3. What aspects of the “old life” has God asked you to set aside?  How have you grown in this?

  4. How have you seen your attitude change in Christ over time?

  5. Prayer Project: Ephesians 4:25-31.  Which of Paul’s community instructions are most obvious to you?  Which are the most challenging?

  6. What would it look like to “follow God’s example” in your life today?  What aspects of Christlike behavior would you like to see God grow in you?

May 26, 2024: A Worthy Life

Ephesians 4:1-16

A Worthy Life

Mike Giesenhagen

May 26, 2024

Ephesians 4:1-16 

Context:  

1.   Unity is ____________ ____________  ______________.

2.   God _________________ ___________.

3.   Unity ________________ ______________________.

4.   Unity Helps ________________ _______________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What would a “life worthy of the calling you have received” look like?  How would someone know?

  2. What does it mean to be humble?  What does it mean to be gentle?  Who have you seen as a good example of these things?

  3. What does it mean to be patient with one another and “bear with” one another in love?

  4. What is the purpose of emphasizing the “ones” of this passage (e.g. one hope, one faith, one God, etc.)

  5. God gives each of us gifts to build up the body of Christ.  How has God equipped you to help build up his Church?

  6. How has community helped you in challenging times?  Have you ever had a time when you needed a stronger community in Christ?

  7. In this context, what does it mean to speak the “truth in love” to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?

May 19, 2024: Knowing God's Love

Ephesians 3:14-21

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Knowing God’s Love

Mike Giesenhagen

May 19, 2024

Ephesians 3:14-21 

Context:  

1.   God is __________________ with ____________.

2.   God’s ___________ is a ________ _________________.

3.   God’s _________ is ___________ than Our ___________

4.   God _________ Our _____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What are some of the key points that Paul has made prior to this section of Ephesians?

  2. How does the Spirit strengthen us from within?  What does it mean that Christ dwells in us?

  3. How does the imagery of being “rooted and established” help us when times get tough?  How do we develop a firmer foundation?

  4. Why does Paul pray for the people to have the “power.. to grasp” the magnitude of God’s love?

  5. How has God expanded your understanding of his love?

  6. What does it mean to be “filled with the fullness of God”?

May 12, 2024: A Curious Call

Ephesians 3: 1-13

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

A Challenging Call

Mike Giesenhagen

May 12, 2024

Ephesians 3:1-13 

Context: Jews and Gentiles (2:11-22) 

1.   The Gospel Includes Those _________ __________.

2.   We Are _____________ by __________ _____________.

3.   We Are Called to ____________ ________________.

4.   We Must _____________ the _____________.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What are the benefits that are shared among God’s family in Ephesians 3:6? 

  2. How does God’s grace impact the way we see others in the Gospel?  How does it impact the way we should treat them?

  3. What was Paul’s specific call in the Old Testament?  What other specific calls do we see in the Scripture?

  4. How important does Paul consider his calling?  What does he sacrifice for the Gentiles?

  5. Prayer Project:  Prayerfully Consider

-     How has your life been changed by the Gospel?

-     Are there people who you are prone to consider unsaveable (e.g. Jew/Gentile separation)?

-     Who might God be calling you to share the Gospel with?

What cost might accompany that call?

May 5. 2024: Becoming Once in Christ

Ephesians 2:11-22

Becoming One in Christ

Mike Giesenhagen

May 5, 2024

Ephesians 2:11-22 

Context: Jews and Gentiles (2:11-12) 

1.   Christ Brings ___________ ___________ to God

2.   Christ Brings ____________ to ______ ______________

3.   Christ is  ________________ ____________ __________.

a.  Christ Brings a ____________ _________________

b.  Christ Builds a ____________ _________________ 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What are some of the ways that the Jews and Gentiles were separated in the time of the early church?  How does this help our understanding of Ephesians 2?

  2. What does it mean to be “brought near” to God?  Why does Paul include this image in this passage?

  3. What is the importance of “peace” in this passage?  What is Paul referring to?

  4. What is the significance of “one new humanity” in this passage?  How is this defined, if not by ethnicity?

  5. Additional Study: Read Hebrews 8:6-13.  What does this teach us about the Old Covenant (the Mosaic Law) versus the New Covenant (the Gospel of Christ)?  How does this apply to Ephesians 2:11-22?

  6. How does God build a new community in Christ?  How should this impact the way we treat others in the Church?

April 28, 2024: Death Into Life

Ephesians 2:1-10

Death Into Life

Mike Giesenhagen

April 28, 2024

Ephesians 2:1-10 

1.   Humanity is _______________  __________ _________.

a.  People are ___________ in _________________ and __________.

b.  People are _______________ by ___________.

c.  People are ____________ to _____ ___________.

2.   God Gives Us ____________ _____________.

a.  God Makes Us ____________ in _____________.

b.  God’s Gift Flows from ________ _____________.

c.  God’s ________ is _________, Not ____________.

d.  God Has a _____________ For Our ___________. 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What does Paul mean when he says “you were dead in your transgressions and sins”?

  2. What are the entities that tempt us toward sin?  How are they different?  How are they related?

  3. What is God’s wrath?  How would you explain it to someone?  What does the Gospel teach us about God’s wrath?

  4. What does new life in Christ look like?

  5. Why does God give us new life, according to Ephesians 1:1-2:10?

  6. How do you interpret Ephesians 2:8-9?  What do they mean for us today?

April 21, 2024: Life's Pathways

Craig Kallgren

Life’s Pathways

Craig Kallgren

April 21, 2024

Psalm 1 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. Have you thought lately about God's blessings? Take a few minutes and think about all God is doing in your life. 

  2. How often are you reading and meditating on God's Word? Is it more or less time than last year at this time?

  3. How are you guarding your heart from the evil in this world while still engaging with the lost?

  4. 2 Timothy 3:17 speaks of being equipped. Do you feel equipped for the work God has called you to? If not, how can you be?

  5. Can others around you see the fruit of the Spirit demonstrated in your life? How can that improve?

April 14, 2024: Praying Like Paul

Ephesians 1:15-23

Praying Like Paul

Mike Giesenhagen

April 14, 2024

Ephesians 1:15-23

Question 1:

1.  Test 1:

2.  Test 2:

3.  Test 3:

Question 2:

1.  Blessing 1:

2.  Blessing 2:

3.  Blessing 3:

Question 3:

1.  Power 1:

2.  Power 2:

3.  Power 3:

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What is Paul’s primary response when he hears of the Ephesians faith in Jesus and love for all God’s people?

  2. What obstacles make it difficult to love all God’s people?  Is it easier for you to love God’s local church or the universal Church?

  3. Prayer Project: Is there anyone that God calls you to love more than you currently do?  What is standing in the way?  How can you ask God to help you love them more?

  4. What is the hope that we have been called to?  How were we called to this hope?

  5. What are the riches of God’s inheritance?

  6. How do we see the power of God at work in our lives today?

  7. How does a proper understanding of God’s power affect our lives today?  What benefits can we gain from that understanding?  What would be a misapplication of God’s power?

April 7, 2024: The Will of God

Ephesians 1:1-14

The Will of God

Mike Giesenhagen

April 7, 2024

Ephesians 1:1-14

Notes on Ephesus:

1.  God ___________ Us _____________ ___________...

2.  Through ______________ _______________...

3.  Because _________ __________ _________.

4.  God Has a _______________ ________________.

5.  God Will _________________ _________________. 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What do we know about the city of Ephesus that is the recipient of this letter from Paul?

  2. What “spiritual blessings” does Paul mention in Ephesians 1:1-14?  Who provides these blessings?

  3. How are these spiritual blessings given to the believers in Christ?

  4. What reasons does Paul mention for why God gives these blessings?  What does He get out of it?  What is the purpose?

  5. What is the significance of God’s eternal plan?  What does that teach us about Him?  What does it teach us about ourselves?

  6. What are some example of ways that God has followed through on his plans?  What do we see in the Scripture?  What have you seen and experienced?

March 31, 2024: Easter Sunday

The Power of the Gospel

Mark 16:1-8

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

The Power of the Gospel

Mike Giesenhagen

March 31, 2024

Mark 16:1-8

Notes:  

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What is the significance of Christ’s death on the cross?  Why is this important to the Christian faith?

  2. What has Christ forgiven in you at the cross?

  3. What is the significance of the curtain being torn in two?

  4. What is accomplished through the Resurrection?  What does God demonstrate to be true?

  5. Prayer Project: What is the most difficult thing to understand or receive about the Gospel?  What makes it difficult to claim this reality each day? 

  6. What does it mean that we “join Christ in the Resurrection”? How has Christ made us “alive” in Him?

March 24, 2024: More than Moses

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Exodus 3-4

More Than Moses

Mike Giesenhagen

March 24, 2024

Exodus 3:1-4:17

Context:

Objection 1:

God’s Response:

Objection 2:

God’s Response:

Objection 3:

God’s Response:

Objection 4:

God’s Response:

Objection 5:

God’s Response: 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What’s unexpected about how God plans to set the Israelites free from Egypt? How does this relate to evangelism (Luke 10:2-3)?

  2. How might we feel intimidated about the idea of sharing the Gospel? What makes us feel inadequate to the task?

  3. What can we tell others about the God who sends us into the “harvest field”?  What are the important points of the Gospel?

  4. When someone hears the Gospel, who are they ultimately responding to?  What is our role in the process?

  5. In what ways might we feel ill-equipped to tell others about Jesus?  How can God help us with that?

  6. How does God respond to Moses’s request to be removed from his call?  What does He feel?  What does He do?

March 17, 2024: Pointing to Jesus

2 Timothy 4:1-5

Pointing to Jesus

Mike Giesenhagen

March 17, 2024

2 Timothy 4:1-5

1.  _______________  Your ________________.

2.  _______________ the __________________.

3.  __________________ them __________________.

4.  Provide __________________ for _______________. 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What is the purpose of evangelism?  What is the goal of evangelism conversations?

  2. Additional Study: 2 Timothy 1-4.  What words and phrases show up consistently?  What are the themes? How would you summarize Paul’s letter in one sentence?

  3. How confident are you in telling your testimony?  How clear is it to understand what Jesus has done for you?

  4. What is the Gospel?  How would you explain it to someone who has little to no exposure to religion?

  5. How can Christians invite others to be a part of our faith journey?

  6. How did you receive the Gospel?  When did you realize your faith had become your own?  How was the opportunity to follow Christ presented to you?

March 10, 2024: Starting the Conversation

Acts 17:16-34

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Starting the Conversation

Mike Giesenhagen

March 10, 2024

Acts 17:16-34

1.  We Must ___________ the ____________.

2.  There is ___________ in ____________________.

3.  ________________ the ______________ Things.

4.  Be Clear that You ____________ _____________.

5.  Focus on the ________________.

6.  Trust ___________ for the ________________. 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What is your tendency when you see people who think or behave differently from you?  How does Paul respond in Acts 17?

  2. What is the difference between “dialogue” and “preaching”? 

  3. What are some good and true things that people support in our society?  What godly things do they support, even if they don’t follow God?

  4. What makes Christianity different from other religions of the world?  Where does our hope for salvation come from?

  5. When does the Holy Spirit enter the picture for our convictions? How should this affect our approach in sharing the Gospel?

  6. Prayer Project: How can we trust God with the results of spiritual conversations?  What goal should we strive for?  What should we trust him with?  Who is God leading you to talk to?

February 25, 2024: Created for Community

Genesis 1:26 - 2:25

Created for Community

Mike Giesenhagen

February 25, 2024

Genesis 1-2, Ephesians 2:11-22

1.  Relationship is ___________ for ____________.

2.  Relationship is _________ of ________ _________.

3.  Community is ___________ to ___________ ______

4.  Remember How __________ _____________ ______

5.  There are ____________ of ___________________ 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. Do you think people are more or less connected to each other in today’s society?

  2. Are people “hard-wired” for relationship?  What does the Bible teach us in Genesis 1-2?

  3. What does the Trinity teach us about relationship?

  4. How does the New Testament depict the life of a Christian?  How does it describe our relationships with other people?

  5. How do the person and work of Christ teach us about the importance of community?

  6. Prayer Project: How do our relationships reflect and magnify the Gospel?  How do we convey the Gospel through our relationships both inside and outside of the Church?

  7. What are the benefits of friendship with others?  What are the challenges?

February 18, 2024: Countdown to Conversation

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Countdown to Conversation

Mike Giesenhagen

February 18, 2024

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Context:

1.  We Must Know ___________ to __________ ______.

2.  Adopt a __________________ __________________.

5 _________________________________________________

4 _________________________________________________

3 _________________________________________________

2 _________________________________________________

1 _________________________________________________

3.  The _________________ is ____________________. 

WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  1. What does it mean to have a “missionary mindset”?

  2. How is it difficult to understand the viewpoints of others?  How can we learn to understand them better?

  3. How does the Gospel affect the way we interact with others?

Prayer Project: Who is one person you would like to understand better? How can you seek to understand their point of view?