September 7, 2025: Coming Together

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Galatians 5:22 - 6:10

Coming Together

Mike Giesenhagen

September 7, 2025

Galatians 5:22-6:10 

Context:

1.   _____________________ is _____________________.

 Things to Develop: Things to Avoid:

(6:1) (5:26)

(6:2) (5:26)

(6:2, 5) (5:26)

(6:6) (6:3)

(6:6) (6:4)

2.   We Should _____________ _____________ _________.

HEFC Points of Connection 

1.   Attend Sunday Services

2.   ______________ to __________ __________

3.   _______________ on __________ ______________

4.   Leadership, Discipleship, Other Service

Discussion Questions

1.   Search the Scripture: What are the benefits of community listed in Galatians 5:22-6:6? What are the things we need to avoid? What other examples of “one another” commands do we see in the New Testament? (e.g. “bear one another’s burdens…)

2.   Who do you have in your life (outside of your family) that knows you well enough to speak truth into your circumstances?

3.   Which aspect of Galatians 6:1-6 is most difficult to apply to your own life?

4.   How does service relate to the “doing good” mentioned in Galatians 6:9-10?

5.   Prayer Project: When you read “Each one should test their own actions…” in 6:4, have you recently considered how you connect to and serve the community of the church? What has God revealed to you?

6.   Are you more prone to overserve or underserve? This may change over time. If you lean one way or the other, is there a specific circumstance that led to this position?

7.   How might God be calling you to get involved at HEFC?

August 31, 2025: Sabbatical: Now What?

Guest Preacher: Kelly Johnson NCD

Matthew 11:28-30

Sabbatical: Now What?

Kelley Johnson NCD

August 31, 2025

Matthew 11:28-30:

Matthew 11:28-30: The Message:

Resilient Ministry Themes:

*  Spiritual Formation:

*  Self-Care:

*  Emotional and Cultural Intelligence:

*  Marriage and Family:

*  Leadership and Management:

Navigators Sabbatical Phases: Page 4

Phase I - Release and Relinquish:

Phase II - Rest and Recovery

Phase III - Reflect and Refocus

Phase IV - Realignment and/or Reassignment

Phase V – Re-Entry and Re-Engagement

Expectations Grid:

* Conscious:

* Realistic:

* Communicated:

* Agreed Upon:

Return Slowly:

“Normal” might get Redefined or Reshaped:

Gifts for the Returning Pastor:

Time:

Grace:

Reconnections:

Application:

August 10, 2025: God Is Not Like Us

Preacher: Dave Lahr

Isaiah 46:9-11, Jeremiah 9:23-24

God Is Not Like Us

Seeing God Rightly

August 10, 2025

Dave Lahr

Isaiah 46:9-11, Jeremiah 9:23-24 

Our Problem

·         Human ____________________

·         Human ___________

·         Human ____________________

·         Human _____________

God is not like us. He is…

·         ______________ (Job 9:32-33)

·         ______________ (2 Pet 3:8; Exodus 3:14; John 8:58)

·         ___________  _________________ (Ps 89:6: Is. 40:18; Is. 46:5)

·         _________ (Deut 6:4)

·          __________________ (Job 37:16)

·         ___________________ (Jer 32:17; Matt 19:26; Eph 3:20-21)

·         _____________,  or _____________ (Ps 102:25-27; Micah 3:6)

·         _______________ (Ex 34:6; 1 John 1:9)

Our Response

·         Worship with _________________  _______

·         Pray with ____________________

·         Walk with ___________

Reflection/Discussion Question

  1. What insight, principle or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye opening or difficult?  Explain.

July 20, 2025: Made Worthy by the Lord

Guest Preacher: Cody Speh

Colossians 1:9-14

Made Worthy by the Lord

Cody Speh

July 20, 2025

Colossians 1:9-14 

  • We are...

o   Qualified

o   And Filled

o   To Walk

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1.   How does God qualify us? What are we qualified for?

2.   What is the difference between the domain of darkness and the kingdom of his beloved Son (Jesus)?

3.   What is the will of God?

4.   How can we be filled with knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding?

5.   Why do we need to be strengthened?

6.   What can we give thanks to God for?

July 13, 2025: The Christian Life Is Out of This World

Guest Preacher: Frank Lanier

Hebrews 13

The Christian Life Is Out of This World

Frank Lanier

July 13, 2025

Hebrews 13 

1.   Examples that are out of this world (13:7 – 8)

2.   Worship that is out of the world (13:9 – 16)

3.   A life that is out of this world (13:16 – 19)

Reflection/Discussion Question

1.       What insight, principle or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye opening or difficult?  Explain.

June 29, 2025: The Making of a Resilient Pastor

Guest Preacher: Kelley Johnson

Leviticus 25:1-7; Matthew 11:28-30

The Making of a Resilient Pastor

Kelley Johnson

June 29, 2025

Leviticus 25:1-7; Matthew 11:28-30 

Introduction:

Resilient Ministry Themes:

Leviticus 25:1-4:

Matthew 11:28-30:

Sabbatical Benefits: Pastor:

Sabbatical Benefits: Church:

My Part in the Sabbatical:

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1.   Read Matthew 11:28-30.

2.   What are some of the action verbs we see in this passage?

3.   What do they call us to do? Which apply to the Lord?

4.   Discuss your reaction to this statement: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

5.   What does the phrase “…you will find rest for your souls.” mean and how do we get there?

6.   What does it mean to be “yoked” with Jesus? What would that look like?

7.   What are some things you can do to support your pastor’s Sabbatical? Who do you need to talk to about it?

8.   What’s your biggest takeaway from Matthew 11:28-30

June 22, 2025: Christ the Unshakeable

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Hebrews 12:18-29

Christ the Unshakeable

Mike Giesenhagen

June 22, 2025

Hebrews 12:18-29 

The Comparison: 2 Mountains

1.   The _________________ Mountain

2.   The _________________ Mountain

3.   Our Current Reality:

4.   _______________ in __________________.

Discussion Questions

1.   Additional Study: Read Exodus 19-20. What similarities do you see in these chapters that are also present in Hebrews 12:18-21? What is the context of this flaming, physical mountain?

2.   Describe the relationship between God and his people at the first mountain (Hebrews 12:18-21).

3.   What things are different about the second mountain in Hebrews 12:22-24? What things remain the same?

4.   Who is the author referring to when he says “do not refuse him who speaks”? (12:25)

5.   What is the difference between the shakeable things and the unshakeable things? What would you put in each category?

6.   If we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken, what are the benefits of that for us?

7.   What does it mean that God is a “consuming fire”?

June 15, 2025 Divine Discipline

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Hebrews 12:3-17

Divine Discipline

Mike Giesenhagen

June 15, 2025

Hebrews 12:3-17 

Big Idea:

Divine Discipline…

1.   _______________ Us to ___________________.

2.   ________________ Our ___________________.

3.   Gives a ______________ for Our _________________.

4.   Has a _________________.

5.   __________________ a __________________.

Discussion Questions

1.   Ice Breaker: When you hear the word “discipline”, what comes to mind? What are examples of discipline?

2.   How does Christ model God’s discipline to us?  How can that encourage us?

3.   What does the author mean in 12:5-8 when he connects fatherly discipline to God’s love for us?

4.   How does God’s discipline affect our understanding of suffering and hardship?

5.   What is the difference between discipline and punishment? What is the purpose of God’s discipline?

6.   What are the benefits of enduring discipline? What are other examples of discipline leading to benefits?

7.   Prayer Project: What part of discipline is most difficult for you?

June 8, 2025: Eyes on the Prize

Hebrews 12:1-3

Eyes on the Prize

Mike Giesenhagen

June 8, 2025

Hebrews 12:1-3 

Context:

1.   We Are __________________ of _________________.

2.   __________ ____________ All ___________________.

3.   ____________  ________________.

4.   Follow ___________ _____________.

5.   _____________ on _______________.

Discussion Questions

1.   What is the context of Hebrews? Who was it written to? What were their circumstances?

2.   Who are the witnesses in Hebrews 12:1? What are they witnesses of? How does this encourage us?

3.   Prayer Project: What are the possible hindrances in your life that could distract you from pursuing God? What are the sins that are prone to entangle you?

4.   What is the importance of endurance and perseverance in a race? How does this apply to the Christian faith?

5.   What is the path set before us by God? What are the key points in the journey? How has God made your testimony unique?

6.   What has Jesus accomplished for us on the cross?

7.   How is Jesus an example of Christian endurance?

June 1, 2025: Faithful in Every Season

Hebrews 11:17-

Pastor Mike Giesenhagen

Faith in Every Season

Mike Giesenhagen

June 1, 2025

Hebrews 11:17-40 

Key Verses: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. -Hebrews 11:1-2

God is Faithful…

1.   … In _________________ His __________________.

2.   … In _________________ _____________________.

3.   … in __________________ __________________.

4.   … to _____________________ a ______________.

5.   … in ___________ ________________________.

6.   … Through ____________ _________________.

Discussion Questions

1.   How have you seen God refine you through difficult circumstances? How has he been refining you in recent years?

2.   How does the eternal nature of God affect the way we see our circumstances? How has your love for Christ affected your behavior across generations?

3.   How does God help us through difficult and troublesome times in this life?

4.   How has God provided a way for his people to escape a difficult situation? What examples can you remember in the Bible? How has he helped you in similar ways?

5.   What happens when things don’t go our way? What does that say about God’s faithfulness? What about our faithfulness? What does Hebrews 11:32-38 teach us about the connection between faithfulness and circumstance?

6.   What is the “something better” that the author refers to in Hebrews 11:40?

May 25, 2025: Faith in God's Promises

Hebrews 11:7-16

Faith in God’s Promises

Mike Giesenhagen

May 25,2025

Hebrews 11:7-16 

Key Verses: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. -Hebrews 11:1-2

Faith Believes in God’s Promises…

1.   … Because of __________ _______________________.

2.   … in the Midst of __________________________.

3.   … in the Midst of __________________________.

4.   … When Things __________ _____________________.

5.   … By Knowing _____________ to ______________.

Discussion Questions

1.   Ice Breaker: What are the attributes of God that have stood out to you in the past week? How has his character been relevant in your every day life?

2.   Additional Study: Genesis 6-9. The Story of Noah. What were some parts of Noah’s story that would have been particularly challenging?

3.   What does God call Noah to do? Why is he asked to do this?

4.   How is Noah able to accomplish the task set before him?

5.   What attributes of God are apparent in the story of Noah and the flood? What examples do you see?

6.   How does Noah know that he can trust in God’s promises for the rest of his life?

7.   How do we know that we can trust in God’s promises in the midst of our present circumstances?

May 18, 2025: Faith in God's Character

Hebrews 11:1-6

Faith in God’s Character

Mike Giesenhagen

May 18,2025

Hebrews 11:1-6

Key Verses: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. -Hebrews 11:1-2

1.   Faith ________ in ___________ _____________________.

2.   Faith ____________ God __________________________.

3.   Faith _____________ God ________________________.

4.   Faith ______________ in God’s ___________________.

5.   Faith ______________ in God’s ___________________.

Discussion Questions

1.   Ice Breaker: How would you define “faith”? How would you describe it to a child? How is it described in Hebrews 11:1?

2.   What do we learn about God’s character through the story of creation in Genesis 1-2? What are some attributes that are on discplay?

3.   Additional Study: Genesis 4:1-16. What does the story of Cain and Abel teach us about faithfulness to God? What does it teach us about God’s faithfulness to us?

4.   Enoch was described as “walking faithfully with God”. What examples of this do you see in the Scripture?

5.   What does it mean to “believe in God’s existence”?

6.   What does it mean to believe that God “rewards those who earnestly seek him”?

May 11, 2025: Unswerving Faith

Hebrews 10:19-39

Unswerving Faith

Mike Giesenhagen

May 11,2025

Hebrews 10:19-39 

1.   _________ is Our ____________ ____________________.

2.   We Need ________________________________.

3.   ________ is a Serious __________________...

4.   … That _____________ Must ________________.

5.   ____________ ______________ in ________________.

Discussion Questions

1.   Additional Study: What have we learned about Christ in Hebrews 7:1-9:18. What does this tell us about our identity in Christ?

2.   How does our Christian community help us in our faith? How do we encourage and “spur on” one another?

3.   What is the significance of sin in the Christian faith? How does it affect us?

4.   Prayer Project: How might we underestimate the significance of sin in our lives? What are some ways we might undermine the Gospel or the “Spirit of grace”?

5.   What are the verbs applied to the audience in verses 32-39? What behaviors is the author encouraging among the Christian community?

May 4, 2025: Called to be a Disiple - Maker

Matthew 28:16-20

Dan Moose

Called to be a Disciple – maker

Dan Moose

May 4, 2025

Matthew 28:16-20

Thoughts to Ponder

1.   Are you in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ?

2.   Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?

3.   How intentional are you regarding Christ’s call on your life to be a disciple-maker? Scale 1-5.

4.   What step will you take in the power of the Holy Spirit to become a more effective disciple-maker?