Para Vista Lutheran Church

A message from guest preacher Paul Fielke.

Doubt almost seems like a bad word in Christian circles.  All too often it is equated with falling away — with losing your faith.  Christians fight against doubt and are often encouraged to just have faith.  But doubts are a normal part of our lives.  So rather than run from it, use it to your advantage.  Bring your doubts to God.  Seek answers to your doubts.  When you do that, doubts can lead to growth.

There may be times when your doubts are really hard to answer.  When they are,  remember even though you might at times doubt God, God never doubts you.  And always tell yourself that you can rely on his love for you and his promises to you.

A message from guest preacher Paul Fielke.

Doubt almost seems like a bad word in Christian circles.  All too often it is equated with falling away — with losing your faith.  Christians fight against doubt and are often encouraged to just have faith.  But doubts are a normal part of our lives.  So rather than run from it, use it to your advantage.  Bring your doubts to God.  Seek answers to your doubts.  When you do that, doubts can lead to growth.

There may be times when your doubts are really hard to answer.  When they are,  remember even though you might at times doubt God, God never doubts you.  And always tell yourself that you can rely on his love for you and his promises to you.

Mary Magdalene – Devotion

Mary Magdalene is arguably Jesus’ most devoted follower.
She was one of the women who followed him in Galilee and supported his ministry.  She is present at the cross and at his burial. So, surprise, as soon as Sabbath is over, she is back at the tomb – only to find that the stone has been rolled away and the tomb is open!  Shock!
Who would do such a thing?
Not long afterwards her grief is turned to joy!

Praise the Lord, we’ve received lots of positive comments about this series. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to open ears, eyes, hearts, and minds to Jesus – so many will encounter him personally.

Peace and Joy in Jesus!
Pr Rolly

Mary Magdalene – Devotion

Mary Magdalene is arguably Jesus’ most devoted follower.
She was one of the women who followed him in Galilee and supported his ministry.  She is present at the cross and at his burial. So, surprise, as soon as Sabbath is over, she is back at the tomb – only to find that the stone has been rolled away and the tomb is open!  Shock!
Who would do such a thing?
Not long afterwards her grief is turned to joy!

Praise the Lord, we’ve received lots of positive comments about this series. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to open ears, eyes, hearts, and minds to Jesus – so many will encounter him personally.

Peace and Joy in Jesus!
Pr Rolly

Mary the mother of Jesus – Traumatised

As Mary witnesses the trauma of her firstborn son’s execution,
she questions what the Father of Jesus is doing.
How can he allow this travesty of justice to happen?

Joseph of Arimathea & Nicodemus the Pharisee – Emboldened

Both were members of Jewish Ruling Council: The Sanhedrin.
Since most of the Sanhedrin were hostile to Jesus,
Joe and Nic were discreet about their connections with him.
This changes after Jesus’ death.
What inspired their boldness to ask for Jesus’ body and carry out his burial?

Mary the mother of Jesus – Traumatised

As Mary witnesses the trauma of her firstborn son’s execution,
she questions what the Father of Jesus is doing.
How can he allow this travesty of justice to happen?

Joseph of Arimathea & Nicodemus the Pharisee – Emboldened

Both were members of Jewish Ruling Council: The Sanhedrin.
Since most of the Sanhedrin were hostile to Jesus,
Joe and Nic were discreet about their connections with him.
This changes after Jesus’ death.
What inspired their boldness to ask for Jesus’ body and carry out his burial?

We wonder, “What motivated Judas to betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders?”
Was it just greed or something deeper?
It seems Judas failed to understand Jesus’ plan and purpose.
Perhaps Judas wanted to impose his own agenda on Jesus.

We wonder, “What motivated Judas to betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders?”
Was it just greed or something deeper?
It seems Judas failed to understand Jesus’ plan and purpose.
Perhaps Judas wanted to impose his own agenda on Jesus.

In our Lent-Easter worship series, Encounters with Jesus, we’re following Jesus from his raising of Lazarus to his resurrection (based on John 11-20).

This Sunday we’ll hear the story of Joanna, the wife of Chuza.  After being healed by Jesus, she and some other women followed him and financially supported his ministry.  It is likely that they accompanied Jesus and the disciples to Jerusalem for Passover and were in the crowd on Palm Sunday, giving him a welcome fit for a king - the promised Messiah-King of Israel.

What were the expectations of those who sang Jesus’ praises that day.  Of the women who followed Jesus during his ministry in Galilee, and then to Jerusalem for the Passover festival?  And the children who came along as well?  What might their expectations have been of Jesus as Messiah-King?

In our Lent-Easter worship series, Encounters with Jesus, we’re following Jesus from his raising of Lazarus to his resurrection (based on John 11-20).

This Sunday we’ll hear the story of Joanna, the wife of Chuza.  After being healed by Jesus, she and some other women followed him and financially supported his ministry.  It is likely that they accompanied Jesus and the disciples to Jerusalem for Passover and were in the crowd on Palm Sunday, giving him a welcome fit for a king - the promised Messiah-King of Israel.

What were the expectations of those who sang Jesus’ praises that day.  Of the women who followed Jesus during his ministry in Galilee, and then to Jerusalem for the Passover festival?  And the children who came along as well?  What might their expectations have been of Jesus as Messiah-King?