Para Vista Lutheran Church

The Repentance of God (part 1) – From Guilt to Grace (Audio)

How many Lutherans does it take to change a lightbulb?  Does this riddle apply to you?  So, here’s the Good News – it’s not about you.  It’s about God, and it’s about how change and transformation were part of his story long before it was part of ours.  From Guilt to Grace – From Law to Love – From Lost to Life – The Repentance of God.  See you there!

Pr. Albert Gast

(Please note that a video of this message is not available due to circumstances beyond our control)

A Surprising God (Audio)

This week’s service is titled “A Surprising God”.  When we look back over our lives, we might find that God has prepared the way or guided us in surprising ways.

This is the second in a series of interviews with people who will share their faith journey and how God has guided and shaped their lives through people, events, and prayer.

Sometimes God is prompting us to “put a toe in the water” without us knowing what He has planned.  Are we in tune with God’s promptings and do we trust Him enough to step out in faith? Read Joshua 3: 14-17.

Bible Readings:  Exodus 4:10-12 (NLT) and Matthew 14:22-33 (NLT)

A Surprising God (Video)

This week’s service is titled “A Surprising God”.  When we look back over our lives, we might find that God has prepared the way or guided us in surprising ways.

This is the second in a series of interviews with people who will share their faith journey and how God has guided and shaped their lives through people, events, and prayer.

Sometimes God is prompting us to “put a toe in the water” without us knowing what He has planned.  Are we in tune with God’s promptings and do we trust Him enough to step out in faith? Read Joshua 3: 14-17.

Bible Readings:  Exodus 4:10-12 (NLT) and Matthew 14:22-33 (NLT)

Questions That Lead to Wonder (Video)

Children are renowned for asking questions. While an incessant “why?” may grate, questions are how they discover and mature. We can learn from them.

Jesus engaged people through questions, giving them time to reflect, process, and take ownership of the discovery process. It was an empowering aspect of their discipleship journey. It led to wonder.

“Who do you people say that I am?” Jesus asked his disciples. This was quickly followed by, “Who do you say I am?”

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked the once-blind Bartimaeus. This question invited Bartimaeus to trust Jesus, and at the same time, it invited him to participate in (not contribute to) his own healing.

You get to grow through asking your heavenly Father questions. Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock.

Some of my favourite questions, all addressed to God, assist me in growing in Father’s love and be a conveyor of this love to others:

“What is it about you and your heart and character I’m missing that has me responding this way?”

“What is it about you and your heart that, if I knew, would have me responding differently?”

“Father, I know you’re with me; what is blocking me from seeing your presence?”

“Father, where am I living out of what I’ve heard in the past rather than what you’re showing me in the present? And what would you like to show me today?”

“Father, how can my joy in you return?”

You can ask your heavenly Father about absolutely anything: relationships, sex, finances, work, emotions, uncertainties, faith, and motives; nothing is off limits.

Ask, be still, wait, listen, he will answer.

Pr. Peter Steicke

Questions That Lead to Wonder (Audio)

Children are renowned for asking questions. While an incessant “why?” may grate, questions are how they discover and mature. We can learn from them.

Jesus engaged people through questions, giving them time to reflect, process, and take ownership of the discovery process. It was an empowering aspect of their discipleship journey. It led to wonder.

“Who do you people say that I am?” Jesus asked his disciples. This was quickly followed by, “Who do you say I am?”

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked the once-blind Bartimaeus. This question invited Bartimaeus to trust Jesus, and at the same time, it invited him to participate in (not contribute to) his own healing.

You get to grow through asking your heavenly Father questions. Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock.

Some of my favourite questions, all addressed to God, assist me in growing in Father’s love and be a conveyor of this love to others:

“What is it about you and your heart and character I’m missing that has me responding this way?”

“What is it about you and your heart that, if I knew, would have me responding differently?”

“Father, I know you’re with me; what is blocking me from seeing your presence?”

“Father, where am I living out of what I’ve heard in the past rather than what you’re showing me in the present? And what would you like to show me today?”

“Father, how can my joy in you return?”

You can ask your heavenly Father about absolutely anything: relationships, sex, finances, work, emotions, uncertainties, faith, and motives; nothing is off limits.

Ask, be still, wait, listen, he will answer.

Pr. Peter Steicke

How Acceptance Changes Everything (Audio)

A message from Pastor Peter Steicke.

The good news, the gospel, is all about acceptance.  This is the message Jesus brings and it’s the reality he lives out.  He embodies the heart of his Father and the security of his identity as a son by accepting those who were deemed unclean, misfits, and outcast.

The good news is that you too are accepted.  You’re included - despite your sin, failings, insecurities, and lack of spiritual disciplines.  You’re loved because God is a loving Father who calls you beloved and relates to you as his daughter, his son.

The good news is, when you live in your identity as an accepted son or daughter of Father God, you become attractive to be around.  You accept others, relate to them, include them, and give them a sense of belonging.

The good news is, people are crying out for this, and it’s as simple as you are living loved, living loving.

 

How Acceptance Changes Everything (Video)

A video message from Pastor Peter Steicke.

The good news, the gospel, is all about acceptance.  This is the message Jesus brings and it’s the reality he lives out.  He embodies the heart of his Father and the security of his identity as a son by accepting those who were deemed unclean, misfits, and outcast.

The good news is that you too are accepted.  You’re included - despite your sin, failings, insecurities, and lack of spiritual disciplines.  You’re loved because God is a loving Father who calls you beloved and relates to you as his daughter, his son.

The good news is, when you live in your identity as an accepted son or daughter of Father God, you become attractive to be around.  You accept others, relate to them, include them, and give them a sense of belonging.

The good news is, people are crying out for this, and it’s as simple as you are living loved, living loving.

 

Where To Put Worried Eyes (Audio)

So where do you look when you worry? Where do you place your attention? Where do you put worried eyes?

The problem with anxiety and worry is that they take our focus and we see nothing else.

Jesus is the great God who became small for you.

Jesus is the One who put each star in place.

Jesus, for a time is unseen, is close as your breath.

Jesus has you!

Pastor Matt Thiele

Where To Put Worried Eyes (Video)

So where do you look when you worry? Where do you place your attention? Where do you put worried eyes?

The problem with anxiety and worry is that they take our focus and we see nothing else.

Jesus is the great God who became small for you.

Jesus is the One who put each star in place.

Jesus, for a time is unseen, is close as your breath.

Jesus has you!

Pastor Matt Thiele

Prayer: What a Privilege! (Audio)

Prayer grows out of hearing God’s Word.  It is about speaking with God – asking, seeking, sharing, in fact it is about bringing my whole life to God and letting him walk along with me as I live out my life.

Can I talk with God? Can I bother God with my little problems?

Yes, you can.  You are God’s child.  You are part of his family, the body of Christ.  God wants to speak to you.  And he wants to hear from you as well. And most importantly he has promised to listen!