Para Vista Lutheran Church
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This is the week that changes everything. Without Good Friday we're lost in our guilt and shame,alienated from God, and showing the worst of ourselves to others. Without Easter we have adead Jesus, empty promises, and nothing to pin our hopes on. But through Jesus we have a living hope (1 Peter 1:3). Everything Father God promised, all that he offers, every possible transformation, it all comes true because Jesus is alive. If you don't feel that way, I invite you to investigate the Easter message anyway. After all, those first followers didn't expect him to be alive even though Jesus foretold it. He met them amid their doubts and fears, struggles and loss. Likewise, Jesus meets you right where you are. I invite you to join in celebrating Jesus, our living hope. Pastor Peter Steicke Bible Readings: Luke 22:14-23, Matthew 27:11-26, Luke 23:32-47, Romans 8:9-11, Luke 23:55 -24: 1-12 (NRSVA).
This is the week that changes everything. Without Good Friday we're lost in our guilt and shame,alienated from God, and showing the worst of ourselves to others. Without Easter we have adead Jesus, empty promises, and nothing to pin our hopes on. But through Jesus we have a living hope (1 Peter 1:3). Everything Father God promised, all that he offers, every possible transformation, it all comes true because Jesus is alive. If you don't feel that way, I invite you to investigate the Easter message anyway. After all, those first followers didn't expect him to be alive even though Jesus foretold it. He met them amid their doubts and fears, struggles and loss. Likewise, Jesus meets you right where you are. I invite you to join in celebrating Jesus, our living hope. Pastor Peter Steicke Bible Readings: Luke 22:14-23, Matthew 27:11-26, Luke 23:32-47, Romans 8:9-11, Luke 23:55 -24: 1-12 (NRSVA).
A message from Pastor Peter Steicke. This is the week that changes everything. Without Good Friday we're lost in our guilt and shame, alienated from God, and showing the worst of ourselves to others. Without Easter we have a dead Jesus, empty promises, and nothing to pin our hopes on. But through Jesus we have a living hope (1 Peter 1:3). Everything Father God promised, all that he offers, every possible transformation, it all comes true because Jesus is alive. If you don't feel that way, I invite you to investigate the Easter message anyway. After all, those first followers didn't expect him to be alive even though Jesus foretold it. He met them amid their doubts and fears, struggles and loss. Likewise, Jesus meets you right where you are. I invite you to join in celebrating Jesus, our living hope.
A message from Pastor Peter Steicke. This is the week that changes everything. Without Good Friday we're lost in our guilt and shame, alienated from God, and showing the worst of ourselves to others. Without Easter we have a dead Jesus, empty promises, and nothing to pin our hopes on. But through Jesus we have a living hope (1 Peter 1:3). Everything Father God promised, all that he offers, every possible transformation, it all comes true because Jesus is alive. If you don't feel that way, I invite you to investigate the Easter message anyway. After all, those first followers didn't expect him to be alive even though Jesus foretold it. He met them amid their doubts and fears, struggles and loss. Likewise, Jesus meets you right where you are. I invite you to join in celebrating Jesus, our living hope.
Have you ever been in a conversation with somebody where you felt like you were just “talking past each other”? Do you know what I mean? It’s like you’re saying something … but they’re hearing something else … and they say something, but you don’t understand—it happens a lot when people are trying to give directions. Or have you ever just gotten to the place where you said: “Do you want me to draw you a picture?” I reckon Jesus was at that point when He rode into Jerusalem on a colt of a donkey—I reckon He felt like he had done all he could do. He had healed the sick … He had made the blind see again … He had fed hungry multitudes … He had touched lepers and cast out demons—isn’t that what the Messiah was all about? Healing and restoration and deliverance? And yet the disciples and the crowds had their eyes open for a warrior … a rebel … somebody to lead the revolt against those hated Romans. I reckon Jesus had gotten to the point where he just wanted to say: “Do you want me to draw you a picture of why I’m here?”—and He actually did. And so … dramatically … and visibly … and clearly, Jesus arranged for the words of the prophet Zechariah to be fulfilled Zechariah, who many years before had said: “Rejoice, O daughter of Zion! Shout! Your king comes to you – triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” It was a dramatic message—it was a visible message—it was Jesus drawing a picture of why he had come to the world! Bible Readings: Mark 11:1-11 (NLT)
Have you ever been in a conversation with somebody where you felt like you were just “talking past each other”? Do you know what I mean? It’s like you’re saying something … but they’re hearing something else … and they say something, but you don’t understand—it happens a lot when people are trying to give directions. Or have you ever just gotten to the place where you said: “Do you want me to draw you a picture?” I reckon Jesus was at that point when He rode into Jerusalem on a colt of a donkey—I reckon He felt like he had done all he could do. He had healed the sick … He had made the blind see again … He had fed hungry multitudes … He had touched lepers and cast out demons—isn’t that what the Messiah was all about? Healing and restoration and deliverance? And yet the disciples and the crowds had their eyes open for a warrior … a rebel … somebody to lead the revolt against those hated Romans. I reckon Jesus had gotten to the point where he just wanted to say: “Do you want me to draw you a picture of why I’m here?”—and He actually did. And so … dramatically … and visibly … and clearly, Jesus arranged for the words of the prophet Zechariah to be fulfilled Zechariah, who many years before had said: “Rejoice, O daughter of Zion! Shout! Your king comes to you – triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” It was a dramatic message—it was a visible message—it was Jesus drawing a picture of why he had come to the world! Bible Readings: Mark 11:1-11 (NLT)
Many times, Jesus said if we hoard our life, we would in the end lose it, but if we spent our life, we would gain it. There’s no doubt we may exist longer if we only look after ourselves, but we may not ever actually live. Today’s sermon explores the idea of how to spend our lives. Pastor Paul Fielke Bible Readings: John 12:20-28 (MSG) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A20-28+&version=MSG
Many times, Jesus said if we hoard our life, we would in the end lose it, but if we spent our life, we would gain it. There’s no doubt we may exist longer if we only look after ourselves, but we may not ever actually live. Today’s sermon explores the idea of how to spend our lives. Pastor Paul Fielke Bible Readings: John 12:20-28 (MSG) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A20-28+&version=MSG
“What are you looking at?” I was asked that question recently and I nearly blushed (harder to do at my age!). What we focus on has a lot to do with what we really see, and how we then make our decisions. The Bible has many examples of how things went wrong when people focused on the wrong things. Christians today face the same temptations, and the Bible still gives the same solution: “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2.) Pastor Robert Voigt Bible Readings: John 3:14-16 (NLT) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A+14-16+&version=NLT
“What are you looking at?” I was asked that question recently and I nearly blushed (harder to do at my age!). What we focus on has a lot to do with what we really see, and how we then make our decisions. The Bible has many examples of how things went wrong when people focused on the wrong things. Christians today face the same temptations, and the Bible still gives the same solution: “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2.) Pastor Robert Voigt Bible Readings: John 3:14-16 (NLT) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A+14-16+&version=NLT
An audio message from Pastor Richard Haar. What got Jesus so hot under the collar when he saw what was going on in the temple? Firstly, he was upset that people were open for business but closed to God. Secondly, Jesus was particularly upset that all this was happening in the Court of the Gentiles - the only place in the temple where non-Jews were allowed to go. This broke God’s heart as he was passionate about all peoples coming to know and worship him. God was so upset that he opted for an unthinkable, crazy, totally radical solution – the cross Jesus’ enigmatic statement about rebuilding the temple in three days was a veiled reference to his coming death and resurrection. What about us today? Are we so caught up in the busyness of doing the Lord’s business that we get distracted from the need to prioritize and cultivate our relationship with God? What barriers might we be putting up that effectively exclude those from fully experiencing God and his grace?
A message from Pastor Richard Haar. What got Jesus so hot under the collar when he saw what was going on in the temple? Firstly, he was upset that people were open for business but closed to God. Secondly, Jesus was particularly upset that all this was happening in the Court of the Gentiles - the only place in the temple where non-Jews were allowed to go. This broke God’s heart as he was passionate about all peoples coming to know and worship him. God was so upset that he opted for an unthinkable, crazy, totally radical solution – the cross Jesus’ enigmatic statement about rebuilding the temple in three days was a veiled reference to his coming death and resurrection. What about us today? Are we so caught up in the busyness of doing the Lord’s business that we get distracted from the need to prioritize and cultivate our relationship with God? What barriers might we be putting up that effectively exclude those from fully experiencing God and his grace?
Abraham the man of faith failed to trust God on many occasions, yet God remained faithful to his promise. We also struggle to believe at times, but God still remains faithful to his promises to us. Pastor Steen Olsen Bible Reading: Romans 4:18-25 (NLT)
Abraham the man of faith failed to trust God on many occasions, yet God remained faithful to his promise. We also struggle to believe at times, but God still remains faithful to his promises to us. Pastor Steen Olsen Bible Reading: Romans 4:18-25 (NLT)
An audio message from Pastor Wayne Kerber. If the temptation of Jesus was not real — if the wilderness that Jesus entered was not dangerous — then this story in Mark's Gospel means absolutely nothing for you and me! A problem for many Christians is that they don’t take the temptation of Jesus seriously — they don’t want to believe that it actually happened. However, if sin had not been a possibility then the temptation of Jesus would not mean anything to us — it may have just made for a good story. The temptation of Jesus was Spirit-driven: it was real, it was difficult. Jesus identifies with us in the trials and tests that we face. It was by the power of God’s Spirit he was delivered from temptation. And the same is true for you as well! Our times of testing and temptation will continue, and it will be in those times that we discover that our help can only come from our gracious God.
A video message from Pastor Wayne Kerber. If the temptation of Jesus was not real — if the wilderness that Jesus entered was not dangerous — then this story in Mark's Gospel means absolutely nothing for you and me! A problem for many Christians is that they don’t take the temptation of Jesus seriously — they don’t want to believe that it actually happened. However, if sin had not been a possibility then the temptation of Jesus would not mean anything to us — it may have just made for a good story. The temptation of Jesus was Spirit-driven: it was real, it was difficult. Jesus identifies with us in the trials and tests that we face. It was by the power of God’s Spirit he was delivered from temptation. And the same is true for you as well! Our times of testing and temptation will continue, and it will be in those times that we discover that our help can only come from our gracious God.
The idea is that God has given us great clothes, a “suit of Salvation” and a “robe of Righteousness”. These are beautiful clothes, and God tells us to put these wonderful clothes on each morning, and to wear them with pride. Pastor Paul Fielke Bible Readings: Isaiah 61:10 -11 (NLT, Colossians 3:12-14 (GNT)
The idea is that God has given us great clothes, a “suit of Salvation” and a “robe of Righteousness”. These are beautiful clothes, and God tells us to put these wonderful clothes on each morning, and to wear them with pride. Pastor Paul Fielke Bible Readings: Isaiah 61:10 -11 (NLT, Colossians 3:12-14 (GNT)
A video message from Pastor Stephen Abraham. Ok, so maybe you don’t personally know a “Moses” who has recently passed away, but maybe you’ve lost an important leader, or you are the “newly elected leader” of your “tribe”, or you are on the precipice of some massive life changes and are unsure of what lies ahead for yourself or your family, and the fears/worries/doubts are creeping in!😬 Let’s lean into Joshua 1.1-10 and hear what God might be saying to us as we face the challenges that lie ahead for us in 2024.
An audio message from Pastor Stephen Abraham. Ok, so maybe you don’t personally know a “Moses” who has recently passed away, but maybe you’ve lost an important leader, or you are the “newly elected leader” of your “tribe”, or you are on the precipice of some massive life changes and are unsure of what lies ahead for yourself or your family, and the fears/worries/doubts are creeping in!😬 Let’s lean into Joshua 1.1-10 and hear what God might be saying to us as we face the challenges that lie ahead for us in 2024.
Mark 1:21-28 “Dealing with hecklers: How to respond to people who react negatively to your Christian witness and lifestyle.” Do people sometimes have a go at you for your faith in Jesus? In today’s Gospel we see Jesus responding to a demonic heckler with authority and grace. There are lessons from this for us too. It’s helpful to think a little more deeply about what is going on at a spiritual level when people criticize you or put you down for following Jesus. Try to understand what’s prompting the heckling. Often it comes from a fear of being exposed and/or judged. Rather than destroying him (as he feared), Jesus spoke words of liberation and healing over the man with the unclean spirit. We too need to be people of grace and healing, of acceptance and compassion. Sadly, too many Christians have a reputation for being judgmental and rejecting. St Paul in Romans 12 has come helpful advice for us when facing opposition: “Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.” Pastor Richard Haar
Mark 1:21-28 “Dealing with hecklers: How to respond to people who react negatively to your Christian witness and lifestyle.” Do people sometimes have a go at you for your faith in Jesus? In today’s Gospel we see Jesus responding to a demonic heckler with authority and grace. There are lessons from this for us too. It’s helpful to think a little more deeply about what is going on at a spiritual level when people criticize you or put you down for following Jesus. Try to understand what’s prompting the heckling. Often it comes from a fear of being exposed and/or judged. Rather than destroying him (as he feared), Jesus spoke words of liberation and healing over the man with the unclean spirit. We too need to be people of grace and healing, of acceptance and compassion. Sadly, too many Christians have a reputation for being judgmental and rejecting. St Paul in Romans 12 has come helpful advice for us when facing opposition: “Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.” Pastor Richard Haar
Today we’re looking at “Life in God’s Kingdom”. It’s so expansive. Every parable Jesus taught, every challenge he issued, every invitation he gave, every rebuke he uttered, every touch he delivered, every miracle he effected, every law he reinterpreted, every outcast he welcomed, every community he transformed, every blessing he conveyed, every life he changed, every tradition he revoked, every demon he rebuked, every broken-heart he restored, every suffering he endured, every sin he carried, every infirmity he bore, every temptation he endured, every teaching he communicated, every part of his Father’s heart he imparted, all of this, and more, comes under the covering of the Kingdom of God. Discovering God’s kingdom could just change you for good. Pastor Peter Steicke Bible Readings: Romans 14:13-17, Mark 1:14-20 (NRSVA)
Today we’re looking at “Life in God’s Kingdom”. It’s so expansive. Every parable Jesus taught, every challenge he issued, every invitation he gave, every rebuke he uttered, every touch he delivered, every miracle he effected, every law he reinterpreted, every outcast he welcomed, every community he transformed, every blessing he conveyed, every life he changed, every tradition he revoked, every demon he rebuked, every broken-heart he restored, every suffering he endured, every sin he carried, every infirmity he bore, every temptation he endured, every teaching he communicated, every part of his Father’s heart he imparted, all of this, and more, comes under the covering of the Kingdom of God. Discovering God’s kingdom could just change you for good. Pastor Peter Steicke Bible Readings: Romans 14:13-17, Mark 1:14-20 (NRSVA)
In the Gospel of John, there is a wonderful story about one man’s spiritual journey — he went from making a sarcastic comment about Jesus being a “nowhere man” from a “nowhere town” to having an encounter with Jesus that changed his life. The man’s name is Nathanael. When he met Jesus, he met his own deepest and true self — it’s as though Nathanael never saw himself clearly until he saw himself in the stain glassed window of Jesus’ love. Nathanael discovers something that can only be called and transformed from within by Jesus — the man from Nazareth who has the power to invite you to “be all that you can be!” The story of Nathanael contains some powerful spiritual concepts that can bring new meaning and renewal to your life. The apostle Paul has an interesting way of expressing this in 2 Corinthians 5:16: “From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.” What Paul is speaking about is the transformation that occurs when one comes to know Jesus as their Redeemer and Lord — the meaning of this verse is that there are two kinds of “knowing” when it comes to Jesus — there is knowing “about” Jesus, and there is “knowing” Jesus. Do you “Know” Jesus?
In the Gospel of John, there is a wonderful story about one man’s spiritual journey — he went from making a sarcastic comment about Jesus being a “nowhere man” from a “nowhere town” to having an encounter with Jesus that changed his life. The man’s name is Nathanael. When he met Jesus, he met his own deepest and true self — it’s as though Nathanael never saw himself clearly until he saw himself in the stain glassed window of Jesus’ love. Nathanael discovers something that can only be called and transformed from within by Jesus — the man from Nazareth who has the power to invite you to “be all that you can be!” The story of Nathanael contains some powerful spiritual concepts that can bring new meaning and renewal to your life. The apostle Paul has an interesting way of expressing this in 2 Corinthians 5:16: “From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.” What Paul is speaking about is the transformation that occurs when one comes to know Jesus as their Redeemer and Lord — the meaning of this verse is that there are two kinds of “knowing” when it comes to Jesus — there is knowing “about” Jesus, and there is “knowing” Jesus. Do you “Know” Jesus?
The theme for today is "One more Powerful than John the Baptist" and today's Bible Reading comes from Luke 3:7-22 (NLT). The message is brought to you by Pastor Steen Olsen.
The theme for today is "One more Powerful than John the Baptist" and today's Bible Reading comes from Luke 3:7-22 (NLT). The message is brought to you by Pastor Steen Olsen.
