Mt. Olive Lutheran Church | Bible Study + Worship

Bible Studies

“Let the word of Christ dwell within you richly….” – Colossians 3:16

Bible Studies & Missional Communities

Sunday Classes

Connections – 9:30 am @ Church in the Great Room – Leaders: Multiple Members of our congregation

Connections is Christian Education for the whole congregation! Any and all households are welcome to join this "faith family" as we study familiar accounts from scripture, applying God's truth to our lives. We begin and end our time each week with brief intergenerational components. Unpacking and discussing the lesson happens in appropriate age groups for students and adults. Let's take time to CONNECT - with one another and with the Word!

Monday Classes

“The Gospel of Mark” – 9:30 am, @ the Church (Great Room), leader Bill Cullen

Come explore the fast-paced, action-packed Gospel of Mark. Mark’s vivid storytelling draws us into the life, ministry, and sacrificial love of Jesus, challenging us to respond with faith, urgency, and discipleship. Whether you're new to Scripture or a seasoned reader, this study offers fresh insights into the heart of the gospel and what it means to follow Christ today. Join us as we journey through Mark’s powerful message of hope, healing, and transformation—week by week, verse by verse.

Tuesday Classes

Ladies Bible Study – “Experiencing Contagious Joy” 2^nd & 4^th Tuesdays – 10:00 am in variety of members home (contact Sue Kolb for details – 815-708-1802

St Paul encourages us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Join us as we discover how.

Wednesday Classes

Bible Study with Pastor Steve

Wednesday evening Bible Study at Mt. Olive at 7pm. We will be studying the Bible & Luther's Small Catechism as a guide.

If you can't make Wednesday evening, Pastor Steve is also leading the same bible study @ Concordia Wednesdays at 10 am in the South Narthex.

"Flowing from the Cross- Dr. Daniel Paavola" – 10:00 am @ Church, Downstairs, Rm #2 in the Education Wing – Leader: Jeannie Newton –

Each week we will discuss a chapter from the book, “Flowing from the Cross”, where Dr. Daniel Paavola guides readers to come to a deeper understanding of forgiveness and, therefore, the cross, through six clear images and biblical examples. Please contact Jeannie Newton for the specific dates this semester: jnewton@mtolivelutheran.com

Thursday Classes

Luther and Scripture for Today- 9:30 am via ZOOM - Leader: Bill Cullen

Most Lutheran adults are familiar with Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, but few have read any of Luther’s other writings. In this class participants will have the opportunity to read a number of Luther’s writings including his Treatise on Christian Liberty, his article on Two Kinds of Righteousness, his Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nations, and his Smalcald Articles. As we read these works of Luther and a few works of others, we will examine and discuss them through the lens of Holy Scripture and discover their very relevant significance for our lives today.

The link to join the Zoom study is:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85032245031?pwd=aUERA3Rr3yFdlCmptWZOiswT89oAbS.1

Luther and Scripture for Today – 6:30 pm via ZOOM – Leader: Bill Cullen

The link to join the Zoom study is:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87170983075?pwd=9b4Q6NgMhogJCvWFF5obuD5eLW3YJK.1

Saturday Class

Luther and Scripture for Today -9:00 am (1^st3^rd & 5th Saturday) @ Mt Olive in the Great Room, led by Bill Cullen (Breakfast included)

Deuteronomy- In Case You Didn't Get It the First Time – 2^nd& 4^th Saturdays, 9:00 @ Church, Downstairs, Rm #2 in the Education Wing – Leader: Bill Cullen

In Deuteronomy Moses reminds and reviews with his fellow Israelites the covenant they have made with Yahweh, their God. In the class we will review not only the covenant that Yahweh made with Israel, but the covenant that He makes with us and we with Him.

Missional Communities

Missional Community – 6:30 pm, 2^nd Monday @ Bill Cullen’s home, 4509 Linder Pl., Rockford 61107

1^st, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th Mondays via zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88202528746?pwd=fk0lb6xeJt90xizQbfEwI3Mdar4a28.1

Come once a month, twice a month, three times a month every week, or just whenever you can. A missional community is a group of Christians who meet regularly to support and encourage one another to live missionally in their everyday lives—where they live, work, and play. On the 2^nd Monday of the month this group meets at Bill Cullen’s home around pizza, on the 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th Mondays of the month the group meets via Zoom. Whether in-person or via zoom the focus of their sharing is Greg Finke’s five missional questions.

Thursday

6:00 pm (2^nd & 4^th Thursdays) – Missional Community led by Karen Freudenberg

Discipling Handbook

When the Holy Spirit brings a person to saving faith in Jesus Christ (be it through infant baptism, reading Scripture, someone sharing with him or her God’s message, or some other means) the person has been “born again” and is a Christian. Jesus, through His Spirit now indwells him or her. Jesus lives in that person.

Just as a human infant is fully human at birth (really at conception), so a person is fully Christian when s/he is “born again.” However, just as a human infant, although fully human, is not yet fully developed or mature, so a Christian, although fully Christian when s/he is “born again” (comes to faith), is not yet fully developed or mature. Jesus lives in him/her, but Jesus is not yet fully “formed” in him or her. Developing and maturing as a Christian is a lifelong process. Although we do not become “more Christian” through this developing and maturing, through this developing and maturing Jesus does become more fully formed in us.

As Jesus becomes more fully developed and formed in us, we become increasingly transformed into His image, His likeness. We do not become more Christian, but we do become more Christ-like. As Jesus increasingly is formed in us, His presence and character are increasingly demonstrated and experienced in and through us in the fruit of His indwelling presence: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

To be a disciple is more than being a “believer” who knows salvation through Jesus’ cleansing blood, and it is more than living by a certain “moral code.” While being a disciple of Christ most certainly includes knowing salvation and living by a moral code, it is much more than that. To be a disciple is to be a “follower,” and to be a follower of Jesus is to be a person of mission and in mission, for Jesus is a missionary God. He is a God of mission in mission. This means we are to be “fishers of men [+ women and children]”, to love as Jesus loves, and to bear fruit. Jesus tells us: "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.""A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.""This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

Public worship, Bible study, and Christian fellowship are important activities meant to feed and nurture discipleship, but they are not the primary evidence of discipleship. The primary evidence of discipleship is seen in and through the missional lives we live in our daily environments – our regular and natural spheres of influence. It is in loving (agape) all those we encounter. Discipleship (being a disciple and discipling others) is the process of Jesus increasingly becoming formed in us and of our becoming more and more Christ-like (doing what Jesus did and does). This handbook has been developed and put together to aid in that process.

Think of this handbook as a toolbox in which you have a variety of tools. A carpenter picks and chooses the tool(s) s/he will use depending both upon the job needing to be done, and, also upon his or her skill level. Individuals and groups using this handbook need to pick and choose the tools in it that best fits the occasion in which they are using it and the particular participants involved. There is no “one” way to use the handbook or tools, nor even a “best” way. Pray for guidance and get creative in your use of the various sections and tools herein – make them work for you! My prayer is that users of these materials might grow not merely in knowledge, but in discipleship – in their personal relationship with Jesus and in their following Jesus in missional living as they grow in Christlikeness. May God guide and bless you. - Bill Cullen

Find the Discipling Handbook here.

Find the Discipling Handbook Companion here. Grow your Christian faith with these Bible study resources.

Worship Resources

Join us for online worship with our live stream each Sunday at 8am. This week's service can be viewed here.

You can also see previous services here at our YouTube channel.

Personal Study Resources

Dr. Bill Cullen has prepared a variety of resources on a variety of subjects to aid your personal and/or group study. Click on the red titles to download. We hope these bless and strengthen your Christian walk!

Bible Study Resources

By Grace Through Faith: Dr. Cullen study resource.

Love Is Not Cheap Grace: Preaching love is preaching grace, but it is not preaching "Cheap Grace"

The Church's Mission: The Church Mission and the reason the church is here on earth is not to make Christians comfortable and to “fatten them up” on Jesus. The mission of the church is the same as that of Christ’s Jesus—“to seek and to save the lost”

The Great Christian Paradox: “Simul Justus et Peccator" Simultaneously Saint & Sinner – Martin Luther

Aides for Personal & Group Bible Study: Dr. Cullen's resource for anyone interested in digging deeper into personal and devotional Bible study.

Genesis Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Genesis

Exodus Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Exodus

Leviticus Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Leviticus

Numbers Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Numbers

Deuteronomy Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Deuteronomy

Joshua Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Joshua.

Judges Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Judges.

Ruth Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Ruth.

1 Samuel Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of 1 Samuel.

2 Samuel Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of 2 Samuel.

1 Kings Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of 1 Kings.

2 Kings Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of 2 Kings.

1 Chronicles Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of 1 Chronicles.

2 Chronicles Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of 2 Chronicles.

Ezra Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Ezra.

Nehemiah Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Nehemiah.

Esther Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Esther.

Job Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Job.

Psalms Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Psalms.

Proverbs Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Proverbs.

Ecclesiastes Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Ecclesiastes.

Song of Songs Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Song of Songs.

Isaiah Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Isaiah.

Jeremiah Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Jeremiah.

Ezekiel Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Ezekiel.

Daniel Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Daniel.

Micah Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Micah.

Habakkuk Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Habakkuk.

Post-Exilic Prophets Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study on Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, and Malachi.

The Minor Prophets Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study on the Minor Prophets.

The Gospels: Their Parallels and Uniqueness: This tool helps the Bible student get a quick grasp of the similarities of the Gospel, particularly the Synoptics, along with the unique features of each. There is a special emphasis on the Gospel of John.

Following Jesus in the Gospels: This bible study guide will assist you for learning to do and doing what Jesus does with the same heart, mind, and demeanor of Jesus as you study the Four Gospels. It uses the Gospels as Jesus' Discipling Course.

Gospel of Matthew Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Matthew.

Gospel of Mark Participant's Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Mark.

Gospel of Mark Devotional: to accompany personal or group study of Mark.

Gospel of Luke Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Luke.

Gospel of John study guide -to accompany personal or group study of John.

Acts Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Acts.

Romans Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Romans.

1st Corinthians study guide - to accompany personal or group study of 1st Corinthians.

2nd Corinthians study guide - to accompany personal or group study of 2nd Corinthians.

Galatians Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Galatians.

Ephesians Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Ephesians.

Philippians Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Philippians.

Colossians Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Colossians.

1st & 2nd Thessalonians Study Guide: to accompany personal group study of Thessalonians.

Bible Study Resources cont.

Pastoral Epistles: to accompany personal or group study of Timothy, Titus and more.

Hebrews Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Hebrews.

James Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of James.

1st & 2nd Peter Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Peter.

1st Epistle of John Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of 1st John.

One Chapter Epistles Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, Jude.

Revelation Study Guide: to accompany personal or group study of Revelation.

Heilsgeschichte: a comprehensive study on the unfolding of God's covenant promises

For Us, In Us, Through Us: a study on our relationship with Jesus and our living missionally in the world.

The Core of Jesus Teachings: An examination what the Bible actually says and then actually being guided by it.

The Jesus Way: Comparing and Contrasting what Jesus and the Bible says to contemporary world views.

Discipleship Resources

Each One Reach One Journal: We Call You Our Members to Each One Reach One in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Missional Communities Manual: Greg Finke founder of Dwelling 1:14 talks about two missional environments, five missional practices, and five missional questions.

Support and Guidance Guidelines: Biblical guidelines for providing meaningful support and guidance for persons in leadership.

A Life Journey with Jesus: A basic assessment and planning tool to assess where one is in and on her/his spiritual journey and to plan for the next step(s) to be taken.

Discipleship Is Not Optional: Jesus doesn’t ask those who receive Him as Savior if they would like to grow in a faith relationship with Him and follow Him in mission. It is an expectation and calling in being Christian.

Personal Beliefs Inventory: A survey to identify a person’s basic beliefs and world view as they relate to God, themselves, and some of our pressing contemporary issues.

Planning Guide

Missional Communities & Neighborhoods: Good news in the neighborhood. A resource to better understand the outreach opportunities at Mt. Olive.

Discipling for Missional Living: An 8 hour discipling seminar. Discipling In & Through Small Group Discipling Communities.

Disciple, Discipling, Discipleship: An article on....you guessed, it, what it means to be a Disciple!

“The Priesthood of All Believers” – Love: the Vocation of All Christians: A tool to help groups and individual better understand how their role and how they fit into God’s plan of the redemption and restoration of His creation.

Activating the Church : A resource for honing vision in mission. This can be applied to our daily lives, as well as our church lives.

Jesus did not Come to Set Up a Program: A tool to get us to think about how we "do" church, and what assumptions we bring to church work.

Cutting to Grow: Who do we want to be? Who does God want us to be? What gets in the way and needs to be pruned?

Mission/Outreach Resources

Called To

Christians Wakeup: Evangelism Is Not Optional: Israel was to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, so are we. Jesus said the mark of a Christian is to love as He loves. At His ascension with the GREAT COMMISSION Jesus give us our marching orders. St. Paul says as Jesus’ new creations we are Jesus’ ambassadors and His ministers of reconciliation. Our calling is not merely to a personal faith and/or moral piety. It is to and for salvific mission.

“Come, Follow Me” Discipleship/Apprenticeship = Outreach Ministries - Bible study on Outreach

Neighboring Seminar handout- What does it mean to be a neighbor, and how can this be part of our Christian mission?

Five Point Friend - advice on intentional friendship

Proclaiming the Gospel Vs Defending the Gospel: What is the difference and why is it important?

Education Resources

Being Strategic in Christian Education: A resource to get us thinking about missional thinking in discipleship and education.

Christian Education Using the Social Sciences: Using educational theory and methodologies to enrich the teaching-learning experience

Teaching With Humility: Education Vs Indoctrination: A guide on this nuanced distinction and how it comes to bear on the effectiveness of our teaching.

Word Study--Kingdom: A detailed guide on how to do a Biblical word study and teach concepts surrounding the Bible's references to the Kingdom

Word Study--Love: A detailed guide on how to do a Biblical word study and teach concepts surrounding the Bible's various love languages

Theology Resources

Luther's Theology: an introductory guide to some of Luther's theology

Luther's Treatise on Christian Liberty: a guide for the study and application of this core text on Lutheran discipleship

Law and Gospel: This is a phrase we hear a lot, but how do we understand it?

Justification and Sanctification: Two integral concepts with a lot to unpack. A guide for doing so.

One Way to Measure Spiritual Maturity: What does it mean to have spiritual maturity?

The Ethic of Love: Scripture and Luther: A modified and simplified rendering of Dr. Bill Cullen’s doctoral work written for small group study and discussion.

Confession with Conviction: notes on understanding confession, conviction and forgiveness

The Book of Revelation

Led by Pastor David Yarrington.

Of all the Books of the Bible perhaps none speaks more to our time in history than St. John's Revelation. For example: Revelation speaks of the tension between living as a disciple of Christ in a secular and godless society and government. SOUND FAMILIAR? In the pages of Revelation, God speaks his judgment on humanity, His promise of what is to come and we hear God’s warning to prepare for the end of time. Above all, Revelation reminds us of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world. Click here for the bible study.

Christ For Us, Christ In Us, Christ Through Us

Join Pastor Alex and Dr. Bill Cullen as they lead us through Galatians for the Lenten season.

Each part of the study will look through the lens of Christ For Us, Christ In Us, and Christ Through Us. Click on the links below for the bible study and discussion questions.

Christ For Us-Part One - Discussion Questions

Christ For Us-Part Two - Discussion Questions

Christ In Us-Part One -

Christ In Us-Part Two - Discussion Questions

Christ Through Us-Part One - Discussion Questions

Christ Through Us-Part Two

High Deep and Wide-

Summer Sermon Series Bible Studies

This July we explore our mission identity at Mt. Olive: loving people to Jesus by being

High in Worship,

Deep in the Word, and

Wide in Witness.

Are these just fun slogans for our church or are Worship, Word, Witness a more central aspect of God’s plan for his Church?

As we focus on this aspects of our mission in our sermon series, our prayer is that we grow more into the full biblical story as we “Love People to Jesus".

Below are the links to the bible studies written by Dr. Bill Cullen to accompany the sermon series.

High Deep and Wide- Loving People to Jesus - Bible Study

HIGH-Worship With Variety- Bible Study

DEEP-Going Deep With Jesus Through His Word- Bible Study

WIDE-Witness Through Word and Deed-Bible Study

Following Jesus With James - Bible Study

The book of James is a challenge for Christians of all times and places as the half brother of our Lord bids the Church to live out its confession of faith. In his relevant call to embody our discipleship, James provides wisdom for how to be Christians in the world in difficult times. He addresses the hard topics of temptation, prayer, where we find wisdom, how we use our words for teaching others, the stress caused in communities of faith by attending the needs of the rich and ignoring the poor, among others. Throughout all these topics we hear in James' words the echo of Jesus' own teaching found in the gospels, freshly applied to the needs of contemporary Christian living. This makes this a book worth exploring as we listen to the living voice of our Savior.

We are excited to invite you all to join us, this lententide, in "Following Jesus with James.", produced by Pastor Alex, Pastor Krause, and Dr. Bill Cullen.

Week 1: James 1:1-18 Maturing Through Trials- Pastor Alex video