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Knowing Our Story

Knowing Our Story

Word From Wiese

Opening Doors Lenten Journey, 2026

Discussion Guide #3

Writer: Pastor Fritz

11 March 2026

This Lenten season, our WFW emails are a bit different. Instead of a reflection, they are discussion guides about Opening Doors.

As we celebrate Jesus going to Holy Week to break open the doors of death, sin, and despair, we want to explore how as Christians and a congregation, we can do the best job we can of opening doors of faith for our family and neighbors.

So, check out the questions below and see what you think. If you want, you can go our COS YouTube channel to check out Sunday’s sermon which launches the conversation. Thanks for being a part of the door-opening God’s leading this Lent!

In Christ’s hope,

P Fritz

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FOR THE GROUP

God’s blessings on the THIRD week of our Lenten journey. We stand at the mid-point of our 5 session journey. Please use the following as a personal devotional or a small group discussion guide. Typical groups will meet for 30 minutes. But if your group members mutually agree to talk longer, go for it. Figure out what works best for your group: having one person answer each question in turn, or everyone chiming in. You’ll figure it out!

Leader note: please designate someone a note taker. We’ll gladly receive any summary notes and points you want to pass on to us at [email protected].

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“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20

Let’s Get Started! Let’s warm up quickly. Share your name and what service at COS you attend most frequently.

Opening prayer: Thanks God for gathering us together for these fun and holy 30 minutes.  It’s no fun when we experience dead ends or locked doors. We praise you, therefore, for Jesus opening the doors of life, joy, and meaning for us. Send your Holy Spirit upon us as we discuss how all of us at COS, in grateful response, can play our parts in opening doors of hope and grace for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Discuss these questions from this Sunday’s preacher, Pastor Fritz:

  1. What’s one blessing God has given you today? How is your answer a short “faith story”? If you count your God-given blessings each day, each month, and each year, do you think your faith story will come into greater clarity?
  2. The Invitational Christian author, Dave Daubert writes on p. 32, “People do not come to hear that Jesus did something centuries ago, they come to encounter the living Christ today. They do not come to hear that Jesus saved, healed, or taught someone else a long time ago. They come to be saved, healed, and taught by Jesus now.” Comments?
  3. In his video faith story, Pastor Fritz shared his opinion that many Christians tell very dramatic faith stories. They accepted Jesus’ love after an accident or bout with addiction. Saul’s “road to Damascus” conversion into Paul is a biblical example of this kind of immediate before-after faith story. But Pastor Fritz shared that his story is more a steady one of life-long growth. Yes, it surges at moments, such as summers at camp, retreats, or hikes, but even more it is steady growth within a community, like a maturing tree in a forest. Biblically, maybe the disciples’ three-year journeys with Jesus or David’s life-long relationship with God speak to this long-term faith story model. Do you think your faith story is more a steady and evolving one or more of a dramatic one where you can point to one key moment in your life? Is one better than the other or just different?

  4. On page 35 Pastor Daubert suggests, “in all traditions are discovering that teaching people, faith practices, and how to put them to use is a vital.”

    1. At COS, we use the acronym CONNECT to capture basic Christian practices: C—caring for others as Christ cares for us. O—opening through prayer and worship. N—navigating life with God’s Word. N—nurturing in small groups. E—encouraging growth. C—celebrating generosity. T—Trusting in all Jesus is Lord.” Which practice is your favorite? Which practice needs a bit of extra attention from you? Is determining and then sharing your faith story with others part of “E–encouraging growth” spiritual practice?
  5. What’s one thing that you connect directly with God‘s involvement in your life? How would you describe it as something God was involved in – – what did God do?
  6. Do you feel COS does an adequate job in having folks share their faith stories in worship and in general? Would you like more support in determining and sharing your faith story? What would you hope that support looks like?
  7. As you read the chapter or listened to the sermon, what grabbed your attention, and why do you think it hit home?
  8. Bonus question: What hasn’t been explored in this discussion that you would like to share?

Action please:

Group leader, what are 2-3 key points that emerged from your conversation? Please send them to [email protected]. We want to listen to what the Holy Spirit might be telling us this Lent as we make future plans for opening doors the best we can.

Future Topics:

Please know we’ve got more important upcoming conversations to discuss. (Next week: Addressing Our Fears & Offering Tools. Then: The Power of With) So keep engaged. Keep reading along in The Invitational Christian. YOUR participation adds richly to our overall experience.

Closing Prayer (as offered by Dave Daubert): God of new life, you are moving in the world around us, and you are involved in our lives. Help us to see your fingerprints on the patterns of our lives. Give us eyes to see you working in the world around us. Give us alert, minds and thankful hearts that allow us to be filled with insights and gratitude for your work in our lives. Help us to find ways to be more open to you and closer to you each day. And help us to share the life we receive from you with others. We lift this to you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thanks everyone! See you next week!