Education

What Did Jesus Do?
Perhaps you remember the wristbands what were so popular a few years back. Bright yellow, with the letters WWJD emblazoned across them. That stood for “What Would Jesus Do?” to remind the folks wearing those wristbands to try to conform their lives to Jesus’ example. Many of your Mount Olivet pastors remember those wristbands too, though few if any wore them. Why? Because we are convinced that a far more important question is “What Did Jesus Do?” That is, the Christian faith is less about ethics and morality than God’s grace and love, which in turn shapes both who we are and what we do.

For this reason, multiple Mount Olivet pastors are teaming up to teach this year’s Living the Message class, each choosing stories from the Gospels that they feel illustrate what Jesus actually did that reveals the heart of God for us and all the world and, in turn, shapes how we live with each other. Join us as it promises to be a fun, surprising, and faith-enriching experience.

• October 6: Exorcisms, Sermons, and Weddings, Oh My: Jesus Introduces Himself with Pastor Lose
• November 10*: On Swords and Divided Families: Jesus Reveals Who We Are with Pastor Dixon (at WEST)
• December 1: More Than Meets Our Eyes: Jesus Frustrates People with Pastor Cieslik
• January 5: Bad Friends and Poor Choices: Jesus Isn’t Fair with Pastor Lose
• February 2: Going to the Dogs: Jesus Learns a Lesson with Pastor Grangaard
• March 2: The New Commandment: Jesus Loves Others and Asks Us to Love Also with Pastor Olson Popp
• April 6: Breakfast on the Beach: Jesus Recommissions Failed Disciples with Rev. Dr. Theresa Latini (at WEST)
• May 4: The Ending No One Wanted: Jesus Dies for Us, Now What? with Pastor Lose

In-Person Presentations
6:30-7:30pm on the first Tuesday of the month, except November 2026 which will be the second Tuesday of the month (November 10)
Held at the Mpls Campus, except for November 2026 and April 2027 which are at the West Campus
Mpls: 5025 Knox Ave South, Mpls, MN 55419 – Room 207
West: 7150 Rolling Acres Road, Victoria, MN 55386 – Rehearsal Hall

Video Presentations
Each class will be recorded live at the in-person presentation and the video will be emailed by the second Monday of the month.

All are welcome at any time!

Register Here

Questions? Contact Katie Stevenson, Coordinator of Adult Education by email or at 612.767.2232.

God With Us: A Leviticus Story
A Word with Your Pastors Class – Fall 2026
What does it mean to start over? How do we begin again? How do we live with God and with other people? What does a good life look like? We will turn to the story of God’s people starting over again—of all places, in the book of Leviticus.
At the end of the book of Exodus, the Israelites have escaped the brutal enslavement of Pharoah in Egypt. They are journeying through the wilderness to the land that God has promised them.
In the wilderness, on the move, God instructs Moses: “build a tabernacle—a sanctuary, a tent of meeting—so that I can dwell with and among my people on this journey.” So that’s what they do. They build a ‘house’ for the Lord, and in the final verses of Exodus, “the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” There, in the middle of the wilderness, God was present. God was with God’s people.
This is where Leviticus picks up.
You may have never thought much about this book and its 27 chapters of instructions and commands, but in it lies a handbook of how to live well with God and one another. In it lies a blueprint for how to be holy people, new people, after starting over. Through the ordinary rituals found in this story, we come to know a God who is just, merciful, forgiving, and near to us. Join Pastor Olson Popp and Pastor Grangaard for a deep dive into this surprisingly beautiful book of the Bible, the story of a God who desires to be close to God’s people and who calls us to be priests—to be holy people—in the world.

October 21/22: Sacrifice: How to Worship God with Pastor Olson Popp
October 28/29: Manual: How to be a Priest with Pastor Grangaard
November 4/5: Ritual: How to Live Together with Pastor Olson Popp
November 11/12: Code: How to be Holy with Pastor Grangaard

• In-Person presentations held:
  • Mpls: Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30am in Room 207
  • West: Thursdays, 10:30-11:30am in the Rehearsal Hall
• Filmed live at Mpls. Videos will be sent out one week after each Mpls class date.

Register Here for the Mpls Campus Classes

Register Here for the West Campus Classes

You can register for videos using either link.

Questions? Katie Stevenson, Coordinator of Adult Education at katies@mtolivet.org or 612.767.2232

Evening and Daytime Options

Come and enjoy a lively discussion of a new book every month. The same book will be discussed at the evening and daytime options. New members are always welcome! You can join in for one discussion – or all!

Daytime Discussions: 10-11:30am the second Tuesday of the month; Mpls; Bonnie Morris, facilitator
Evening Discussions: 7-8:30pm the second Wednesday of the month; Mpls; Mary Slinde, facilitator

Register here for Daytime Discussion
Register here for Evening Discussion

Or contact Katie Stevenson at katies@mtolivet.org | 612.767.2232.

Upcoming Books:
2026
June 9/10: The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Jul 14/8 Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen
Aug 11/12 Snow in August by Pete Hamill
Sep 8/9 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Oct 13/14 The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride
Nov 10/11 The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Boatwick
Dec 8/9 Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

2027
Jan 12/13 Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
Feb 9/10 My Antonia by Willa Cather
Mar 9/10 A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst
Apr 13/14 Mona’s Eyes; A Novel by Thomas Schlesser
May 11/12 My Friends by Frederick Bachman
Jun 8/9 Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie