Para Vista Lutheran Church

When Is Faith The Problem (Audio)

After His transfiguration, Jesus knew that His return to heaven was near. It was entirely human for Him to express frustration with those who failed to listen and follow Him, including His closest followers. Jesus had a message for a church in Revelation 3:1-2. "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” God wants our faith to be alive, growing and thriving, not dormant or shrinking!

Chris McAleer

Bible Reading: Luke 9:28-43a (NLT)

When Is Faith The Problem (Video)

After His transfiguration, Jesus knew that His return to heaven was near. It was entirely human for Him to express frustration with those who failed to listen and follow Him, including His closest followers. Jesus had a message for a church in Revelation 3:1-2. "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” God wants our faith to be alive, growing and thriving, not dormant or shrinking!

Chris McAleer

Bible Reading: Luke 9:28-43a (NLT)

Listen, Hearing To Grow (Video)

A video message by Pastor Noel Kluge.

“The parable of the Sower” in Mark 4 is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. The parable and explanation are so well known that we can be tempted to pass over it with very little thought.  Interestingly, Jesus warns us to do the exact opposite.  “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (4:9) “Consider carefully what you hear.” (4:24)

This week we will take a fresh look at this parable and consider carefully what Jesus is saying here.  What did this parable mean for those who heard it for the first time?  Why did Jesus only explain the parable to the disciples and a few around him and not the whole crowd?  What did Jesus mean when he quoted Isaiah 6 saying, “they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding”?  Who are the outsiders?  Who are the insiders?  What does this parable mean for us  today? 

All these questions and more will be tackled as we dig into this well-known parable.

Listen, Hearing To Grow (Audio)

A message by Pastor Noel Kluge.

“The parable of the Sower” in Mark 4 is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. The parable and explanation are so well known that we can be tempted to pass over it with very little thought.  Interestingly, Jesus warns us to do the exact opposite.  “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (4:9) “Consider carefully what you hear.” (4:24)

This week we will take a fresh look at this parable and consider carefully what Jesus is saying here.  What did this parable mean for those who heard it for the first time?  Why did Jesus only explain the parable to the disciples and a few around him and not the whole crowd?  What did Jesus mean when he quoted Isaiah 6 saying, “they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding”?  Who are the outsiders?  Who are the insiders?  What does this parable mean for us  today? 

All these questions and more will be tackled as we dig into this well-known parable.

Jesus Shares A Story Of Opposites That Bring Freedom For Life (Audio)

Luke has Jesus delivering a message about “principles of eternity,” which are not beyond the capacity of human beings to put into practice—practical principles—not just ideals—when Jesus speaks like this, He can be dismissed as a mere spiritual guru. Yet, Jesus is more than a spiritual guru—for He did not withdraw from the world, except to go on “retreat” occasionally—but He entered into this world and embraced human life in all aspects of it—and speaking from His own experience, He spoke from a vision of eternity and a vision of reality.
Having the perspective and the experience of both worlds, we can trust Jesus’ vision and version of reality a whole lot more than we trust our own or anybody else’s version of reality.
Jesus has given us the story of life—a story of opposites—a story of eternity principles—a story of freedom.

Pastor Wayne Kerber

Bible Reading: Luke 6:17-26 (NLT)

Jesus Shares A Story Of Opposites That Bring Freedom For Life (Video)

Luke has Jesus delivering a message about “principles of eternity,” which are not beyond the capacity of human beings to put into practice—practical principles—not just ideals—when Jesus speaks like this, He can be dismissed as a mere spiritual guru. Yet, Jesus is more than a spiritual guru—for He did not withdraw from the world, except to go on “retreat” occasionally—but He entered into this world and embraced human life in all aspects of it—and speaking from His own experience, He spoke from a vision of eternity and a vision of reality.
Having the perspective and the experience of both worlds, we can trust Jesus’ vision and version of reality a whole lot more than we trust our own or anybody else’s version of reality.
Jesus has given us the story of life—a story of opposites—a story of eternity principles—a story of freedom.

Pastor Wayne Kerber

Bible Reading: Luke 6:17-26 (NLT)

Love that breaks down barriers (Audio)

Does God love the unlovable - and if so, in what ways are we loving them too?

Pastor Montaz Ali (Prison Fellowship Mission)

Bible Reading: Jonah 4 (NIV)

Love that breaks down barriers (Video)

Does God love the unlovable - and if so, in what ways are we loving them too?

Pastor Montaz Ali (Prison Fellowship Mission)

Bible Reading: Jonah 4 (NIV)

Survive or Thrive: Dealing with Change (Audio)

Change is all around us; changing cultural and societal expectations, social cues and language that is now deemed offensive, technological changes that leave us baffled.

What does God's Word tell us in the 21st Century as we deal with all these changes.

Pastor Stephen Abraham

Bible Readings: Isaiah 43:18-19 and Ecclesiastes 3.1-7 (NLT)

Survive or Thrive: Dealing with Change Video)

Change is all around us; changing cultural and societal expectations, social cues and language that is now deemed offensive, technological changes that leave us baffled.

What does God's Word tell us in the 21st Century as we deal with all these changes.

Pastor Stephen Abraham

Bible Readings: Isaiah 43:18-19 and Ecclesiastes 3.1-7 (NLT)