17.1K
Downloads
841
Episodes
Weekly messages from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Para Vista Inc
Episodes
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
The alarm blared at 5 am. It was a cold, foggy autumn morning. I wasn’t overseas on a ministry trip heading out early, there were no appointments in my diary, and I only planned to start writing at 8.30. Why the early start?
There was no hesitation, however. I leapt out of bed, dressed appropriately, switched on my headlamp, and went to meet the four other morning joggers waiting at the local pub.
Halfway home, I huffed to the guy running next to me, “I wouldn’t have done this if it wasn’t for you lot. Not only did your presence motivate me, but you also made it enjoyable.”
“Same,” he gasped.
That’s the power of presence.
“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
Christmas is about the power and possibilities of presence.
Presence changes everything. In Jesus, God is with you, despite the worst of you, outside of your circumstances, and regardless of what others think of you. You have his very presence living within you through the Holy Spirit.
You now begin to see yourself as incredibly loved, one in whom the Father delights. Even when you feel abandoned, you can declare out loud that you are chosen and loved.
This is the message of Christmas. Jesus enters this world and your world. He dies in your place and is raised to life to be present with you always.
How different would life be if you knew that you were never alone, that your problems don’t cut you off from God but instead move his heart toward you? That’s the power and possibility of presence. It releases you to think in a new way—about God as your Father, about yourself, and about others.
Pr. Peter Steicke
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
The alarm blared at 5 am. It was a cold, foggy autumn morning. I wasn’t overseas on a ministry trip heading out early, there were no appointments in my diary, and I only planned to start writing at 8.30. Why the early start?
There was no hesitation, however. I leapt out of bed, dressed appropriately, switched on my headlamp, and went to meet the four other morning joggers waiting at the local pub.
Halfway home, I huffed to the guy running next to me, “I wouldn’t have done this if it wasn’t for you lot. Not only did your presence motivate me, but you also made it enjoyable.”
“Same,” he gasped.
That’s the power of presence.
“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
Christmas is about the power and possibilities of presence.
Presence changes everything. In Jesus, God is with you, despite the worst of you, outside of your circumstances, and regardless of what others think of you. You have his very presence living within you through the Holy Spirit.
You now begin to see yourself as incredibly loved, one in whom the Father delights. Even when you feel abandoned, you can declare out loud that you are chosen and loved.
This is the message of Christmas. Jesus enters this world and your world. He dies in your place and is raised to life to be present with you always.
How different would life be if you knew that you were never alone, that your problems don’t cut you off from God but instead move his heart toward you? That’s the power and possibility of presence. It releases you to think in a new way—about God as your Father, about yourself, and about others.
Pr. Peter Steicke
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
A message from Pastor Steen Olsen.
All Christians experience doubts at times. John the Baptist shows us what to do when the devil whispers such thoughts into our ears. He points us to Jesus.
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
A video message from Pastor Steen Olsen.
All Christians experience doubts at times. John the Baptist shows us what to do when the devil whispers such thoughts into our ears. He points us to Jesus.
Sunday Dec 04, 2022
Sunday Dec 04, 2022
An audio recording of Pastor Albert Gast's message on 4 Dec 2022. This is part three of the three part series "The Repentance of God".
How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb? 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.
(Please note that a video of this message is not available due to circumstances beyond our control)
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
An audio recording of Pastor Albert Gast's message on 27 Nov 2022. This is part two of the three part series "The Repentance of God".
How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb? 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.
(Please note that a video of this message is not available due to circumstances beyond our control)
Sunday Nov 20, 2022
Sunday Nov 20, 2022
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)
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
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)
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
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)
Sunday Nov 06, 2022
Sunday Nov 06, 2022
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