Para Vista Lutheran Church

Knowing Our Father’s Love (Audio)

This Fathers’ Day, I’m going to talk to you about God being our heavenly Father, specifically unpacking on what basis it is, that we can call him “Father.”

What is often missed in the discussion of the fatherhood of God is the way it is grounded biblically in Christ the Son.  The point is that we don’t independently call God “Father” and Jesus didn’t come simply to say that God is our Father.  Rather, Jesus came to reconcile us to God the Father, and this only happens through Jesus himself.  Jesus is the embodiment of the Father’s love, and we are reconciled to God our Father in him – in Jesus.

John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No-one comes to the Father except through me.”  It is by faith in Jesus that we become the children of God and can call him “Father” and it is by faith in Jesus that we know God’s great love for us as our heavenly Father.

God’s an amazing, loving, caring heavenly Father and we fathers are called to be loving, kind, caring, compassionate, protective, patient, accepting, forgiving, and understanding fathers to our children, just like our heavenly Father is to us.  That’s a big ask, isn’t it?!

Please note that our union with Christ is crucial here.  On our own, we will fail at being the kind of fathers that we ought to be (and hopefully the kind of fathers that we want to be).  It is only through our faith in Jesus and the renewal that he brings – one that is grounded in Jesus’ love, grace, and forgiveness – that we can begin to become the kind of fathers that God calls us to be.

And it is only through daily relying on Jesus’ love and forgiveness – by the power of the Holy Spirit – that we can persevere with this.  For we constantly fall short and fail in our parenting of our children and grandchildren.  And I don’t think that’s just me!!

But in Jesus there is hope!  Always!  In Jesus there is indeed forgiveness for all our failings – including forgiveness for how poorly we do at being fathers.  In Jesus there is power to change.  And in Jesus, we belong to a community of faith (his Body the Church) that can support us and cheer us on as we take up the vitally important task of parenting our children (and grandchildren).

In all this, as always, we look to Jesus for his help and comfort, knowing that in him we ourselves have the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of our loving heavenly Father.

Pastor Richard Haar

Knowing Our Father’s Love (Video)

This Fathers’ Day, I’m going to talk to you about God being our heavenly Father, specifically unpacking on what basis it is, that we can call him “Father.”

What is often missed in the discussion of the fatherhood of God is the way it is grounded biblically in Christ the Son.  The point is that we don’t independently call God “Father” and Jesus didn’t come simply to say that God is our Father.  Rather, Jesus came to reconcile us to God the Father, and this only happens through Jesus himself.  Jesus is the embodiment of the Father’s love, and we are reconciled to God our Father in him – in Jesus.

John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No-one comes to the Father except through me.”  It is by faith in Jesus that we become the children of God and can call him “Father” and it is by faith in Jesus that we know God’s great love for us as our heavenly Father.

God’s an amazing, loving, caring heavenly Father and we fathers are called to be loving, kind, caring, compassionate, protective, patient, accepting, forgiving, and understanding fathers to our children, just like our heavenly Father is to us.  That’s a big ask, isn’t it?!

Please note that our union with Christ is crucial here.  On our own, we will fail at being the kind of fathers that we ought to be (and hopefully the kind of fathers that we want to be).  It is only through our faith in Jesus and the renewal that he brings – one that is grounded in Jesus’ love, grace, and forgiveness – that we can begin to become the kind of fathers that God calls us to be.

And it is only through daily relying on Jesus’ love and forgiveness – by the power of the Holy Spirit – that we can persevere with this.  For we constantly fall short and fail in our parenting of our children and grandchildren.  And I don’t think that’s just me!!

But in Jesus there is hope!  Always!  In Jesus there is indeed forgiveness for all our failings – including forgiveness for how poorly we do at being fathers.  In Jesus there is power to change.  And in Jesus, we belong to a community of faith (his Body the Church) that can support us and cheer us on as we take up the vitally important task of parenting our children (and grandchildren).

In all this, as always, we look to Jesus for his help and comfort, knowing that in him we ourselves have the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of our loving heavenly Father.

Pastor Richard Haar

Jesus Doesn’t Play That Game! (Audio)

We have the command from Jesus to treat our neighbours with love.  But  the Christian response never begins with a command.  Instead, it begins with first being given something - God’s love, shown in the suffering, death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ.  It is this love that Christ tells us to pass on to others.

Jesus Doesn’t Play That Game! (Video)

We have the command from Jesus to treat our neighbours with love.  But  the Christian response never begins with a command.  Instead, it begins with first being given something - God’s love, shown in the suffering, death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ.  It is this love that Christ tells us to pass on to others.

 

Grace

Grace is a free gift of God and means you are beloved, whether you deserve it or not. In Grace the focus is on Jesus. Join Pastor Matt Thiele via video as he explores what it means to be ‘beloved’ as he opens up 1 John.

Bible Reading for this Week: 1 John 2:7

Please also read: 1 John 3:2, 1 John 2:21, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:11

Finding Hope in Hard Times (Audio)

Pastor Stephen Abraham will share his personal journey through chronic pain and disability, and how he has found hope in hard times.  Retired due to spinal injury, Stephen nonetheless has a vocation to convey the love of God through music and contemplative practices that bring hope and healing to others. You can find some of Pastor Stephen’s work, including music, devotions and Christian meditations, at https://www.youtube.com/stephenabrahammusic

His latest song may be viewed here: https://bit.ly/3pb3GkH

Finding Hope in Hard Times (Video)

Pastor Stephen Abraham will share his personal journey through chronic pain and disability, and how he has found hope in hard times.  Retired due to spinal injury, Stephen nonetheless has a vocation to convey the love of God through music and contemplative practices that bring hope and healing to others. You can find some of Pastor Stephen’s work, including music, devotions and Christian meditations, at https://www.youtube.com/stephenabrahammusic

His latest song may be viewed here: https://bit.ly/3pb3GkH

Calling on the Lord (Audio)

Who would you like to see call on the name of the Lord?

Maybe someone like John:
“My wife of 45 years, who is only 65, has dementia that has rapidly progressed over the last year. Thank you for sharing your story. I am inspired by your story.”

Or someone like Chris:
“Religions are divisive and poisonous. They keep people in ignorance and fear.”

Or someone like James:
“My wife and I are super excited. I’ve been scratching my head for this info for years and I will be sure to tell my friends to swing on by.”

There can be great joy when someone calls on the name of the Lord and they have hope in Jesus Christ. How is God calling and equipping you to share his good news with people you meet?

Thanks, and God bless you all.
Pr Richard Fox

Calling on the Lord (Video)

Who would you like to see call on the name of the Lord?

Maybe someone like John:
“My wife of 45 years, who is only 65, has dementia that has rapidly progressed over the last year. Thank you for sharing your story. I am inspired by your story.”

Or someone like Chris:
“Religions are divisive and poisonous. They keep people in ignorance and fear.”

Or someone like James:
“My wife and I are super excited. I’ve been scratching my head for this info for years and I will be sure to tell my friends to swing on by.”

There can be great joy when someone calls on the name of the Lord and they have hope in Jesus Christ. How is God calling and equipping you to share his good news with people you meet?

Thanks, and God bless you all.
Pr Richard Fox

A Surprising God, message only (Video)

When we look back over our lives, we might find that God has prepared the way or guided us in surprising ways.  This week is the first in an occasional series of interviews with people who will share their faith journey, exploring 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?