Para Vista Lutheran Church

Where is the Spirit leading you - and why? (Audio)

A message from Pastor Stephen Schultz.

We hear lots of stories in the Bible of how God’s people were led by the Spirit to do some amazing things – the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles. We can be thankful for them and leave it at that. But maybe God’s Spirit is leading us to be engaged in his unfolding plan of bringing his good news to the world – especially to our corner of the world. The Spirit blows like a gust of wind through our lives, releasing us to bring new life to others.

Where is the Spirit leading you - and why? (Video)

A message from Pastor Stephen Schultz.

We hear lots of stories in the Bible of how God’s people were led by the Spirit to do some amazing things – the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles. We can be thankful for them and leave it at that. But maybe God’s Spirit is leading us to be engaged in his unfolding plan of bringing his good news to the world – especially to our corner of the world. The Spirit blows like a gust of wind through our lives, releasing us to bring new life to others.

Memories: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly... and The Trivial (Audio)

Memories: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly… and The Trivial

Memories... good, bad, ugly, trivial affect our thinking, our lives more than we realise perhaps. By definition memories happen in the past so in one sense the only power they can have over us is that which we give them. Of course, Jesus has saved us from our sins but also wants to save us from the bad and ugly memories which threaten to diminish our joy and cripple our relationships. The thief on the cross had enough bad memories in his life to be executed. BUT Jesus said to him; Today you will be with me in paradise ... where all the bad memories totally vanish. Jesus says: remember ME! Not lies of the past, not regrets of things done and not done. Remember ME! Then nothing else matters because we are children of God, sons and daughters, heirs to the kingdom of God. Nothing else matters.
Peter Weckert

Bible Readings: Luke 23:40-43 (NLT)

Song: What if I gave everything - Casting Crowns

Memories: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly... and The Trivial (Video)

Memories: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly… and The Trivial

Memories... good, bad, ugly, trivial affect our thinking, our lives more than we realise perhaps. By definition memories happen in the past so in one sense the only power they can have over us is that which we give them. Of course, Jesus has saved us from our sins but also wants to save us from the bad and ugly memories which threaten to diminish our joy and cripple our relationships. The thief on the cross had enough bad memories in his life to be executed. BUT Jesus said to him; Today you will be with me in paradise ... where all the bad memories totally vanish. Jesus says: remember ME! Not lies of the past, not regrets of things done and not done. Remember ME! Then nothing else matters because we are children of God, sons and daughters, heirs to the kingdom of God. Nothing else matters.
Peter Weckert

Bible Readings: Luke 23:40-43 (NLT)

Song: What if I gave everything - Casting Crowns

You make a Difference!! (Audio)

We are God’s children – that’s what he calls us. God’s Spirit lives in us – that is true. So why do we sometimes doubt this - and allow the world to plague us with uncertainty? The truth is that we find our identity, our purpose, our reason for living (and dying) in Jesus the Christ. We matter. We are valuable. We are loved and accepted. We make a difference because we are children of God.

Pastor Robert Voigt

Bible Readings: 1 John 3:1-3 and Luke 24: 36-48 (NLT)

You make a Difference!! (Video)

We are God’s children – that’s what he calls us. God’s Spirit lives in us – that is true. So why do we sometimes doubt this - and allow the world to plague us with uncertainty? The truth is that we find our identity, our purpose, our reason for living (and dying) in Jesus the Christ. We matter. We are valuable. We are loved and accepted. We make a difference because we are children of God.

Pastor Robert Voigt

Bible Readings: 1 John 3:1-3 and Luke 24: 36-48 (NLT)

Growing in Resurrection Intimacy (Audio)

Most Christians are familiar with John 3:16, about God loving the world and sending Jesus so we can have eternal life in him. Not all Christ-ones are as acquainted with John 17:3, where Jesus expands on what this 'eternal life' is: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Knowing God is not merely knowing about him; it's knowing his heart, how he feels about you, that he loves you despite the worst of you, and that he lets you into his plans. It’s a relationship of connection and trust, of vulnerability and growth. We call it intimacy.

And it’s all possible because of Jesus’ resurrection.

As we unpack all of this on Sunday, I invite you to place yourself in the accounts and stories that will be shared and see how you can grow in resurrection intimacy with the God who loves you.

Pastor Peter Steicke

Bible Readings: Acts 4:32-35, John 20:19-31 (NRSVA)

Growing in Resurrection Intimacy (Video)

Most Christians are familiar with John 3:16, about God loving the world and sending Jesus so we can have eternal life in him. Not all Christ-ones are as acquainted with John 17:3, where Jesus expands on what this 'eternal life' is: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Knowing God is not merely knowing about him; it's knowing his heart, how he feels about you, that he loves you despite the worst of you, and that he lets you into his plans. It’s a relationship of connection and trust, of vulnerability and growth. We call it intimacy.

And it’s all possible because of Jesus’ resurrection.

As we unpack all of this on Sunday, I invite you to place yourself in the accounts and stories that will be shared and see how you can grow in resurrection intimacy with the God who loves you.

Pastor Peter Steicke

Bible Readings: Acts 4:32-35, John 20:19-31 (NRSVA)

Living Your Easter Reality (Video)

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).

Living Your Easter Reality (Audio)

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).