Date
2-7-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Chair
Douglas W. Munton
Keywords
Old Testament, Covenant, Heritage, Christianity, Relationship, Preaching, Small Group
Disciplines
Christianity
Recommended Citation
Ogurek, David J., "Deepening Relationships with God at Crosspoint Church through Understanding Covenantal Heritage" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6495.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6495
Abstract
This action research project addressed the problem of Crosspoint Church’s members not understanding their heritage as God’s covenantal people, which impeded deep relationships with God. The project designed and delivered a six-week sermon series with small-group discussion guides to help participants deepen their relationships with God through understanding their covenantal heritage. The project utilized a multi-week sermon series that employed a teaching method involving biblical history to show how God’s story continually points toward Christ and is relevant to Christianity. Data were collected using surveys before and after the sermon series and a focus group of small-group leaders. The research indicates that the project’s teaching method was successful in helping improve the church’s members’ knowledge of covenantal history and their relationships with God and one another. The project’s success shows how teaching the Old Testament is relevant to Christianity and critical to improving Christians’ knowledge of God and their relationships with Him. The validation of the project’s teaching method provides pastors with an effective way to teach complex Old Testament topics in relevant and fruitful ways for Christians, allowing pastors to help their congregations grow in their knowledge and relationships with God.
