We Believe

A Strike of Disbelief - Numbers 20:1-13

November 10, 2024

How to get ready for the Lord's Table - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

November 3, 2024

A Stone of Provision - Exodus 17:1-7, Numbers 20:1-13

October 27, 2024

A Generous Heart - 2 Corinthians 9:6-12

October 20, 2024

Where You Belong - Embracing Affirmation - Proverbs 27:6

October 13, 2024

Gospel Conversations

June 23, 2024 • Doug Thuen • Romans 9:1–3, 1 Peter 3:15

We Believe - Christ's Return (Matthew 25:1-13)

May 5, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Matthew 25:1–13

We Believe / Living Wisely in the End Times May 5, 2024 Matthew 25:1-13 Study Questions   1.    Read Statement #9 from the Evangelical Free Church of America’s Statement of Faith; what key statements stand out to you? “We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.”   2.    Read Matthew 25:1-13. What does 25:1 refer to? How this passage connect with the previous chapter?   3.    Who do the virgins/bridesmaids represent? Describe and compare the two groups.   4.    What were the bridesmaids waiting for? How does this compare with what Jesus was teaching about the kingdom of heaven?   5.    What did the virgins do while they were waiting? Is there any significance to all ten bridesmaids sleeping? What does this mean? What does this not mean?   6.    What is Jesus comparing the foolish bridesmaids to? What is the significance of them not having enough oil?   7.    What can we learn from the fact those who were not ready were not allowed in to the wedding feast? What does this teach us about God’s character and salvation?   8.    Read verse 13. Describe the difference between ‘idle watching’ and ‘being on the alert’?    9.    What are things that rob you from desiring Christ’s return more?   10. In light of this parable, what can you do to prepare yourself for Christ’s return? What does that look like in daily living? (See also 1 Thessalonians 4:18; Matthew 24:46; 1 Peter 4:7-11; 2 Peter 3:10-18.)

We Believe - Christian Living (Micah 6:8)

April 7, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Micah 6:8

We Believe / Christian Living April 7, 2024 Study Questions Micah 6:8   1.    Read the EFCA Statement of Faith – Article 8: Christian Living. Identify key words that stand out to you:   “We believe that God's justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.”   2.    Read Micah 6:8. How does this verse help define the EFCA statement?   3.    Read Ecclesiastes 4:1. How does this verse change or refine your perspective on injustice in the world? Where do you see injustices in our culture today?    4.    What is the problem when people are left to their own standard of justice? (See Judges 17:6.)    5.    Can you think of specific ways that the body of Christ can turn social justice into gospel justice?   6.    For the Christian, where do God’s grace and His justice meet? (See John 1:14.) How do we see the effects of this in relation to Christ’s accomplished work on the cross?   7.    Describe mercy in your own words. Why does the passage say ‘love mercy’ rather than ‘be merciful’?   8.    Read Matthew 23:23-26. Compare Jesus’ condemnation of the religious leaders’ hypocrisy with Micah’s calling out of the people of Judah. In what ways are Jesus’ and Micah’s messages similar? How are they different?    9.    In 1 Peter 5:5, why does God oppose the proud so strongly? Why is there no room for pride in the Christian’s life?    10. What are some ways we “go through the motions” in our daily walk with God? At church?    11. In what ways could you or your life group participate in an activity or ministry that fights for justice and mercy for underprivileged groups? What are some new ways we as a church can reach out to those less fortunate in your community?

We Believe - The Church (Ephesians 4:1-16)

March 3, 2024

We Believe / We The Church March 3, 2024 Ephesians 4:1-16 Study Questions   1.    Read the EFCA Statement of Faith, Article 7.    We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.   2.    Who makes up the true church? What does it mean to be justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone? (See Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:1.) Why is it important to emphasize the “alone” in these two phrases? (See John 14:6.)   3.    Read Ephesians 4:1-6. Give an example of what it means to ‘walk in a manner worthy of the calling’ in Christ Jesus. What is being emphasized by the ‘oneness’ of the church? Is there such a thing as a ‘churchless Christian’?   4.    Read Ephesians 4:7–12. What did Christ Jesus give His church and how is that manifested in the local church? Have you found or do you struggle with finding your unique purpose in the local church? Why/why not?    5.    Why does Paul intentionally reference Psalm 68:18? What does it mean that Christ descended and ascended? From where to where? What did our Lord Jesus give to His church? (See also Acts 2:33.)   6.    What are some tangible ways you can build up those who serve with their gifts in your local church? (See 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.)   7.    According to our Statement of Faith, what are the two ordinances that the Lord Jesus mandated? How do they visibly and tangibly express the gospel? The ordinances are clearly not the means of salvation. How are they the means of spiritual growth and/or sanctification? What is the important connection between genuine faith and the fact that the ordinances confirm and nourish the believer?    8.    Read Ephesians 4:12–16. What is the purpose and goal of the church? How does this express the gospel to the lost around us? (See also Matthew 5:16, John 13:35, Colossians 4:6.) In what ways have you been challenged from this study regarding the local church? In what ways are you thankful for your local church family?

We Believe - The Holy Spirit (John 16:5-15)

February 4, 2024 • John 16:5–15

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit February 4, 2024 John 16:5-15 Study Questions   1.    Read and review the EFCA Statement of Faith/ Article 6: We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.   2.    Read John 16:5-15. According to this passage, what is the Holy Spirit’s role in relationship to the Son?   3.    Look up the following short list of passages: Genesis 1:2; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19. In each passage what is the affirmation that the Holy Spirit is a person of the Godhead (the Trinity)?    4.    How does the Holy Spirit’s ministry of conviction occur in the lives of unbelievers? See John 16:8-11.   5.    What is the primary role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer in Jesus? See John 16:13.   6.    When is a person sealed in the Holy Spirit? See Ephesians 1:13-14.    7.    What is the Holy Spirit’s role in the work of salvation and adoption as saints? See John 14:16-18; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:5-7; Ephesians 1:5-6: Titus 3:5-7.   8.    According to the following passages, identify the significance of the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of a believer in Jesus: a.    Illuminates – John 14:26; Ephesians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 4:5 b.    Guides – John 16:13; Romans 8:14 c.     Equips – 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Galatians 5:22-23 d.    Empowers – Acts 1:7-8; Romans 15:13; 1 Corinthians 12:11   9.    Why is it important to see the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of individual believers and also in the Body of Christ (the Church) as a whole?   10.   What is significance of Jesus describing the Holy Spirit as our ‘Helper’? See John 16:7; 14:16,26; Psalm 23; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.   11.   What is your takeaway in light of the Holy Spirit’s work in your heart as you follow Jesus daily? See Romans 8:11-17; Ephesians 4:30-32; 5:18-21; Galatians 5:16-17.

We Believe - The Work of Christ

January 14, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen

We Believe / The Accomplished Work of Christ January 7, 2024 Various Scriptures Study Questions   EFCA Statement of Faith #5: We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed his blood on the cross as the perfect, all sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only grounds for salvation.   1.    How do you see­–through the accomplished work of Christ–one glorious act demonstrating the wrath, justice, sovereignty, truth, love, mercy, and power of God all at once?   2.    What is the significance of Jesus being our representative and substitute? Why did we need a representative? What is substitutionary atonement? Why did we need a substitute? (See Romans 5:12; Hebrews 7:23-28.)   3.    Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. Identify which phrase describes the work of propitiation, and which phrase describes the work of expiation. What does this mean to you?   4.    Why is the shedding of blood important for atonement to be made? Could Jesus have made atonement without bloodshed? (See Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:18-22; Colossians 1:19-20.)   5.    Some today would claim that the Father ordaining Jesus Christ to be the atoning sacrifice for sin was ‘cosmic child abuse’. How would you answer that person? (See John 10:10-18; Hebrews 7:26-28.)   6.    Read 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 and John 11:23-26. The statement of faith we studied this week affirms that we believe in Christ’s “atoning death and victorious resurrection”. Why are both the death and resurrection of Christ necessary for your salvation?   

We Believe - Jesus Christ (John 1:1-14)

December 10, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • John 1:1–14

We Believe / The Incarnation of Jesus Christ December 10, 2023 John 1:1-5 Study Questions     1.    Describe in your own words the significance of the Incarnation of Christ. What does it mean that Jesus is ‘fully God and fully man’ (hypostatic union)? (See Philippians 2:5-11; John 17:1-5.)   2.    What is unique about Jesus’ conception? What is the difference between the ‘immaculate conception’ and the ‘miraculous conception’? How do we know that Mary was a sinner in need of a Savior? (See Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Luke 1:46-47.)   3.    How was Jesus able to live a sinless life on earth? Were His temptations real? (See Hebrews 4:15-16; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5.)   4.    How was Jesus obedient to the will of the Father in His life and in His death? Take a minute to share why you are thankful for this.   5.    What is the significance of the bodily resurrection of Christ? Was it a material or immaterial body? (See Luke 24:36-43; John 20:26.) What will our resurrected bodies be like in eternity? (See Philippians 3:21; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:38-43, 49 and 1 John 3:2.)    6.    Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, but He also ascended into heaven and ‘sits’ at the right hand of the Father. What is the significance of the posture of sitting? (See Ephesians 1:20-23.)   7.    Jesus now carries on the ministry of High Priest and Advocate. Give an example of when someone advocated for you. What did they do? How did they help you? Read Hebrews 7:25-27. What does it mean that Jesus Christ is your advocate? How does this affect your daily faith walk in Christ?  

We Believe - The Human Condition (Colossians 1:13-14)

November 5, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 1:13–14

“Rescued, Reconciled and Renewed” EFCA Article 3: The Human Condition November 5, 2023 Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8; Colossians 1:13-14 Study Questions   1.    Read over Article 3 of the EFC, a statement of faith: “We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.”   2.    Why is it important to state that God created Adam and Eve?   3.    Read Genesis 1:26-27. What does it mean that they were created in God’s image? What does that mean for all humanity? (See Psalm 8.)   4.    Read Job 14:4; Psalm 51:5; John 3:5-6; Romans 3:12; 5:17-21. What is the significance of the reference to ‘in union with Adam’? Who does that include? What are the implications? How do they affect us?    5.    Read Colossians 1:13–14. What promise is found in this passage? From where and to where are believers transferred?   6.    How has God rescued you? Give examples of how your transfer into the kingdom of Jesus Christ is evidenced by your life.   7.    According to Colossians 1:14, what has Jesus Christ accomplished for believers? Can you confidently claim this promise? Why?   8.    How has this study impacted the way you trust in and follow Jesus this week?

We Believe - The Bible (2 Peter 1:21)

October 1, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • 2 Peter 1:21

We Believe / What We Believe About the Bible October 1, 2023 2 Peter 1:20-21 Study Questions     1.    Read through the EFCA Statement of Faith Article #2, below. This article focuses on the Bible:   “We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.”   2.    What does it mean that the Bible is verbally inspired? (See 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 1:1-2.)   3.    What does it mean that we believe the Bible is without error in the original writings? (See Proverbs 30:5.)   4.    What defense can you give supporting the authenticity of Scripture? How do you explain this to a friend who is critical of the Bible? (See 1 Peter 3:13-16.)   5.    What is meant by the statement, “... [the Bible is] the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged”? (See Psalm 12:6; 119:160; Matthew 24:35; 1 Timothy 3:14-17.)   6.    What is meant by the phrase, “… it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises”? (See Psalm 119:40-45; Hebrews 10:23; 2 Peter 1:2-4; 2 Peter 3:13-18.) How has the power of God’s Word changed your life? Give examples.     Further resources if you would like to learn more about this: Taking God at His Word by Kevin DeYoung // God-Breathed by Josh McDowell // Reasons We Believe by Nathan Busenitz

We Believe - God

September 10, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen

We Believe / The Doctrine of God Sparta EFC September 10, 2023 Study Questions 1. Read Isaiah 40:9-31. What does this passage teach us about God? How are some attributes of God different from man's characteristics? How are others similar? Why? 2. How can you argue God’s existence with someone who is critical or doubts God? 3. Review the Evangelical Free Church of America’s Statement of Faith: Article 1. “We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.” 4. What does it mean that God exists eternally? See: Psalm 33:11;102:25-27; John 5:26; Acts 17:24-25. What does it mean that God is a loving unity? See: John 3:3-5; 17:24; 1 John 4:8,16. 5. How does God exist in three equally divine Persons? See: John 17:11; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2. 6. What does it mean that God is sovereign? See: Jeremiah 2:7; Romans 8:28-29; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 3:20; Revelation 1:8. 7. What does it mean that God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself? See: Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20, Revelation 13:8. What does that mean to you?