Para Vista Lutheran Church

Ash Wednesday message called Reconciled based on 2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:10.

Jacob Fabich

Ash Wednesday message called Reconciled based on 2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:10.

Jacob Fabich

Jesus modelled a life of service and invites us to follow him in this. How are we modelling a life of service to the next generations?  Do we invite them to join in with us in serving others – and talk about it afterwards?

Serving is faith and love in action. If we are not serving, what does that suggest?

Now we do not serve others to earn God’s favour.

Rather, God’s favour produces a life of good works.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God…  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT).

Safe and secure in Jesus, we don’t have to keep grasping after greatness in the eyes of the world. Instead, we are free from self-promotion to get on with the good things God planned for us.

We don’t sit around just waiting for God to take us home to heaven; but actively participate in God’s restoration plans for his world.  We are saved to serve.

Pr. Rolly

Jesus modelled a life of service and invites us to follow him in this. How are we modelling a life of service to the next generations?  Do we invite them to join in with us in serving others – and talk about it afterwards?

Serving is faith and love in action. If we are not serving, what does that suggest?

Now we do not serve others to earn God’s favour.

Rather, God’s favour produces a life of good works.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God…  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT).

Safe and secure in Jesus, we don’t have to keep grasping after greatness in the eyes of the world. Instead, we are free from self-promotion to get on with the good things God planned for us.

We don’t sit around just waiting for God to take us home to heaven; but actively participate in God’s restoration plans for his world.  We are saved to serve.

Pr. Rolly

When Israel crossed the River Jordan into the Promised Land, it was in flood at the time. The priests carried the wooden Ark of the Covenant in front of the people. What happened when they stepped into the water?

As the nation crossed over, do you remember what they gathered from the riverbed?  (You can read the whole story in Joshua 3:1-4:24)

I wonder, what’s was the significance of the 12 stones?

Joshua called out the twelve men whom he selected from the People of Israel, one man from each tribe. Joshua directed them, “Cross to the middle of the Jordan and take your place in front of the Chest of God, your God. Each of you heft a stone to your shoulder, a stone for each of the tribes of the People of Israel, so you’ll have something later to mark the occasion.

When your children ask you, ‘What are these stones to you?’ you’ll say, ‘The flow of the Jordan was stopped in front of the Chest of the Covenant of God as it crossed the Jordan—stopped in its tracks. These stones are a permanent memorial for the People of Israel.’”

(Joshua 4:4-7 The Message, see also Joshua 4:19-22)

These rocks were “milestones” to help the next generations remember what happened at this place. For as long as that pile of stones remained, the people would remember: “After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, this is where the LORD parted the waters – just like at the Red Sea – and brought us into this land that he promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

This marks the first of 7 memorials made with stones in the Promised Land (see Joshua 7:26, 8:29, 8:31, 10:27, 22:27-28, 24:26-27).

Gathering a pile of stones was a ritual that marked significant events: entry into the land, defeating enemies, taking cities, dealing with sin, memorial altars.  Each time people passed by these stones, they could tell the stories of God’s great works.  It began a tradition of remembering God’s activity in their lives.

What are our signs, symbols, songs, rituals, and traditions that help us remember God’s activity in our lives? This Sunday we’re looking at the third of our 4 keys to doing life at home with Jesus: Family Rituals and Traditions.

Family rituals and traditions help us to remember important things from the past so we can celebrate them in the present – and renew our hope in the Lord for our future. They remind us that we are part of God’s restoration story for his world, and that each one of us has a part to play HIS story.

Joy in Jesus!
Pr. Rolly

When Israel crossed the River Jordan into the Promised Land, it was in flood at the time. The priests carried the wooden Ark of the Covenant in front of the people. What happened when they stepped into the water?

As the nation crossed over, do you remember what they gathered from the riverbed?  (You can read the whole story in Joshua 3:1-4:24)

I wonder, what’s was the significance of the 12 stones?

Joshua called out the twelve men whom he selected from the People of Israel, one man from each tribe. Joshua directed them, “Cross to the middle of the Jordan and take your place in front of the Chest of God, your God. Each of you heft a stone to your shoulder, a stone for each of the tribes of the People of Israel, so you’ll have something later to mark the occasion.

When your children ask you, ‘What are these stones to you?’ you’ll say, ‘The flow of the Jordan was stopped in front of the Chest of the Covenant of God as it crossed the Jordan—stopped in its tracks. These stones are a permanent memorial for the People of Israel.’”

(Joshua 4:4-7 The Message, see also Joshua 4:19-22)

These rocks were “milestones” to help the next generations remember what happened at this place. For as long as that pile of stones remained, the people would remember: “After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, this is where the LORD parted the waters – just like at the Red Sea – and brought us into this land that he promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

This marks the first of 7 memorials made with stones in the Promised Land (see Joshua 7:26, 8:29, 8:31, 10:27, 22:27-28, 24:26-27).

Gathering a pile of stones was a ritual that marked significant events: entry into the land, defeating enemies, taking cities, dealing with sin, memorial altars.  Each time people passed by these stones, they could tell the stories of God’s great works.  It began a tradition of remembering God’s activity in their lives.

What are our signs, symbols, songs, rituals, and traditions that help us remember God’s activity in our lives? This Sunday we’re looking at the third of our 4 keys to doing life at home with Jesus: Family Rituals and Traditions.

Family rituals and traditions help us to remember important things from the past so we can celebrate them in the present – and renew our hope in the Lord for our future. They remind us that we are part of God’s restoration story for his world, and that each one of us has a part to play HIS story.

Joy in Jesus!
Pr. Rolly

A message by Pastor Rolly Stahl on 13 February 2022.

The aim of our February series, "At Home with Jesus – 4 Keys of Faith Formation", is to learn how to share the language of faith, hope and love in our households more naturally.  Four key practices can help us to become more “fluent” in this.  This Sunday we’re looking at the second of our 4 keys to doing life together with Jesus: “God-talk” in all its forms.  Or in other words: “Devotional times without the yawn factor”!

Did you ever pray together as a family?  Were there times when your family discussed characters, or passages or stories from the Bible?  Did “our Heavenly Father”, “Jesus”, or “the Holy Spirit” ever come up in everyday conversations?

If we are going to pass on the faith to the next generations, then we need the Holy Spirit to help us.  I’m praying the Holy Spirit will be creating a passion for us to get better at God-talk in all its forms – in all of life!

A message by Pastor Rolly Stahl on 13 February 2022.

The aim of our February series, "At Home with Jesus – 4 Keys of Faith Formation", is to learn how to share the language of faith, hope and love in our households more naturally.  Four key practices can help us to become more “fluent” in this.  This Sunday we’re looking at the second of our 4 keys to doing life together with Jesus: “God-talk” in all its forms.  Or in other words: “Devotional times without the yawn factor”!

Did you ever pray together as a family?  Were there times when your family discussed characters, or passages or stories from the Bible?  Did “our Heavenly Father”, “Jesus”, or “the Holy Spirit” ever come up in everyday conversations?

If we are going to pass on the faith to the next generations, then we need the Holy Spirit to help us.  I’m praying the Holy Spirit will be creating a passion for us to get better at God-talk in all its forms – in all of life!

Do you ever wonder about the legacy you are leaving behind?

What do you want to pass on to the next generations?

What important things do you want your loved ones to ‘get’ from your life?  How are you modelling, encouraging, or helping that to happen?

Many of us lament over children, grandchildren, or ‘once close friends’ who are no longer walking with Jesus or connecting with his Church. We may have feelings of deep sorrow, personal failure about that. We may find ourselves worrying over how things are in their lives now, and anxious about their eternal destiny.

As Pr. Peter mentioned last Sunday, there’s no point reading them the riot act! If we want to influence them positively for Jesus, then they need to experience the kindness and favour of Jesus through us. And we need to keep praying for them!

In our households and networks of relationships, how can share the fullness of life in Jesus across the generations? How can the Holy Spirit help us to nurture our precious young persons in the faith, so they have a better chance of doing life with Jesus as adults?

Acknowledging that we ALL need God’s help to pass on the faith to the next generations, our February worship series at Good Shepherd will be:

At Home with Jesus – 4 Keys of Faith Formation.

Each Sunday, we will explore one of four ‘faith practices’ for our households:

1. Caring Conversations
2. “God-talk” in All its Forms
3. Family Rituals and Traditions
4. Family Acts of Service

Faith is passed on and nurtured through trusted personal relationships.  This Sunday we will talk about ‘learning the language of faith, hope and love’ by regularly practicing it in our households. And we will look at the first key to building relationships: Caring Conversations.

In Jesus’ name, I ask our Heavenly Father to fill us with his Holy Spirit: that each of us will be so secure in the Father’s love that the next generations will experience Jesus through us – and do life with him forever!  Please join me in praying this for all the families of our Good Shepherd community.

Joy in Jesus!
Pr Rolly

Do you ever wonder about the legacy you are leaving behind?

What do you want to pass on to the next generations?

What important things do you want your loved ones to ‘get’ from your life?  How are you modelling, encouraging, or helping that to happen?

Many of us lament over children, grandchildren, or ‘once close friends’ who are no longer walking with Jesus or connecting with his Church. We may have feelings of deep sorrow, personal failure about that. We may find ourselves worrying over how things are in their lives now, and anxious about their eternal destiny.

As Pr. Peter mentioned last Sunday, there’s no point reading them the riot act! If we want to influence them positively for Jesus, then they need to experience the kindness and favour of Jesus through us. And we need to keep praying for them!

In our households and networks of relationships, how can share the fullness of life in Jesus across the generations? How can the Holy Spirit help us to nurture our precious young persons in the faith, so they have a better chance of doing life with Jesus as adults?

Acknowledging that we ALL need God’s help to pass on the faith to the next generations, our February worship series at Good Shepherd will be:

At Home with Jesus – 4 Keys of Faith Formation.

Each Sunday, we will explore one of four ‘faith practices’ for our households:

1. Caring Conversations
2. “God-talk” in All its Forms
3. Family Rituals and Traditions
4. Family Acts of Service

Faith is passed on and nurtured through trusted personal relationships.  This Sunday we will talk about ‘learning the language of faith, hope and love’ by regularly practicing it in our households. And we will look at the first key to building relationships: Caring Conversations.

In Jesus’ name, I ask our Heavenly Father to fill us with his Holy Spirit: that each of us will be so secure in the Father’s love that the next generations will experience Jesus through us – and do life with him forever!  Please join me in praying this for all the families of our Good Shepherd community.

Joy in Jesus!
Pr Rolly