Para Vista Lutheran Church

A series of questions. 

How busy is your life at the moment? So many people complain about how busy life is. Even people who retire tell me they can’t keep up with their new lifestyle!! Why are we so busy? Is there anything we can do about it or do we just get dragged along by life and we… 

Pastor Paul Fielke

King Herod heard about (the work of Jesus) because Jesus’s name had become well known. Some said, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘He’s Elijah.’ Still others said, ‘He’s a prophet, lone of the prophets from long ago’ (Mark 6:14,15).

It’s easy for our contemporary culture to look back two thousand years ago and label the ancients as superstitious, or ignorant, or any number of derogatory things. How could they think Jesus was a beheaded wilderness preacher? Or someone that had been dead hundreds of years? Just plain silly, weren’t they?

Yet the words of the people reflected a desire to understand who Jesus was and what he was on about. If they could label him, then they could control him. If he was just a prophet, they could treat him as such – with awe and reverence, yes – but not as the Son of God.

This questioning of Jesus’s identity has never stopped. On the night he was betrayed, Pilate asks the same identifying question: Are you a king? We ask questions of him today, If you are God, can you heal me today?

Certainly, Jesus is a puzzle. This week, we look at the question, “Who is Jesus?” And not only will we seek some clarification, we’ll talk about what it means for us as the Body of Christ moving forward.

Read Mark 6:14-29 and come prepared with questions…

Pr Reid Matthias

King Herod heard about (the work of Jesus) because Jesus’s name had become well known. Some said, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘He’s Elijah.’ Still others said, ‘He’s a prophet, lone of the prophets from long ago’ (Mark 6:14,15).

It’s easy for our contemporary culture to look back two thousand years ago and label the ancients as superstitious, or ignorant, or any number of derogatory things. How could they think Jesus was a beheaded wilderness preacher? Or someone that had been dead hundreds of years? Just plain silly, weren’t they?

Yet the words of the people reflected a desire to understand who Jesus was and what he was on about. If they could label him, then they could control him. If he was just a prophet, they could treat him as such – with awe and reverence, yes – but not as the Son of God.

This questioning of Jesus’s identity has never stopped. On the night he was betrayed, Pilate asks the same identifying question: Are you a king? We ask questions of him today, If you are God, can you heal me today?

Certainly, Jesus is a puzzle. This week, we look at the question, “Who is Jesus?” And not only will we seek some clarification, we’ll talk about what it means for us as the Body of Christ moving forward.

Read Mark 6:14-29 and come prepared with questions…

Pr Reid Matthias

An audio message by Pastor Rolly Stahl on 4 July 2021.

When Jesus returned to his hometown with his disciples – and attended synagogue on the Sabbath – things did not turn out so well.  At first, the people of Nazareth were bowled over by Jesus’ teaching and miracles.  But then things went pear shaped:

“How can Jesus do this?”

“Where did this man get these things?”

“Where did he receive the formal training and authorisation to do this?”

Our faith does not compel Jesus to make a miracle happen, but simply asks and receives whatever Jesus is prepared to give.  What amazing things Jesus still wants to do in us – and through us here at Good Shepherd?  How can we be more open to this?  When we pray: “Your kingdom come. You will be done on earth as in heaven,” are we open to how Jesus might want to do this in our midst?

Chances are it may be different from how we’ve done things in the past!  Yet if Jesus is in the middle of it, people’s lives will be touched and transformed.

A video message by Pastor Rolly Stahl on 4 July 2021.

When Jesus returned to his hometown with his disciples – and attended synagogue on the Sabbath – things did not turn out so well.  At first, the people of Nazareth were bowled over by Jesus’ teaching and miracles.  But then things went pear shaped:

“How can Jesus do this?”

“Where did this man get these things?”

“Where did he receive the formal training and authorisation to do this?”

Our faith does not compel Jesus to make a miracle happen, but simply asks and receives whatever Jesus is prepared to give.  What amazing things Jesus still wants to do in us – and through us here at Good Shepherd?  How can we be more open to this?  When we pray: “Your kingdom come. You will be done on earth as in heaven,” are we open to how Jesus might want to do this in our midst?

Chances are it may be different from how we’ve done things in the past!  Yet if Jesus is in the middle of it, people’s lives will be touched and transformed.

A audio message by Pastor Reid Matthias on 27 June 2021.

Most things about this narrative are confusing from that point onwards. As Rolly described a few weeks ago about Mark sandwiches, there are two involved here, but as we read it with our eyes, it feels like Jesus has been unnecessarily slow in coming to the ruler’s request. ‘Why, Jesus, does it take you so long to respond?’ ‘Jesus, don’t you understand the necessity for haste? My daughter’s life hangs in the balance.’

As do most of us, in the midst of trials and pain, we come to Jesus as a first resort (or last) and push him to hurry. When things turn sour for us, Jesus asks the question, ‘Why are you so sad?’

How is it that you, Lord of the universe, don’t know?

A video message by Pastor Reid Matthias on 27 June 2021.

Most things about this narrative are confusing from that point onwards. As Rolly described a few weeks ago about Mark sandwiches, there are two involved here, but as we read it with our eyes, it feels like Jesus has been unnecessarily slow in coming to the ruler’s request. ‘Why, Jesus, does it take you so long to respond?’ ‘Jesus, don’t you understand the necessity for haste? My daughter’s life hangs in the balance.’

As do most of us, in the midst of trials and pain, we come to Jesus as a first resort (or last) and push him to hurry. When things turn sour for us, Jesus asks the question, ‘Why are you so sad?’

How is it that you, Lord of the universe, don’t know?

A message by Pastor Reid Matthias on 20 June 2021.

For the modern reader, this weekend’s biblical text should be frightening. Unfortunately, most of us are delighted that Jesus can speak to the wind and the sea and calm them, like a master telling his dog to ‘sit.’

In Mark’s description of what most commentators call ‘Jesus calms the storm,’ we miss out on the incredible details if we focus entirely on the miracle alone.  These details are important as we approach this text because it gives us context to why Jesus is unconcerned about both chaos and storm, whereas the disciples’ faith is tested by the elements of their fear.

What is your boat journey like right now?  Do you feel like Jesus is asleep in the stern?  What about your church?  Where is Jesus taking us now?

A video message by Pastor Reid Matthias on 20 June 2021.

For the modern reader, this weekend’s biblical text should be frightening. Unfortunately, most of us are delighted that Jesus can speak to the wind and the sea and calm them, like a master telling his dog to ‘sit.’

In Mark’s description of what most commentators call ‘Jesus calms the storm,’ we miss out on the incredible details if we focus entirely on the miracle alone.  These details are important as we approach this text because it gives us context to why Jesus is unconcerned about both chaos and storm, whereas the disciples’ faith is tested by the elements of their fear.

What is your boat journey like right now?  Do you feel like Jesus is asleep in the stern?  What about your church?  Where is Jesus taking us now?

When my girls were young, they loved listening to stories.  It always amazed me that they wanted to hear the same stories over and over again.  And it wasn’t just a ploy to avoid going to bed!

We loved telling them Bible stories.  And they loved listening.

Why do people of all generations like stories?

Because we are curious.  Stories draw you in.  As you imagine or observe the characters, and the tensions between them, you start wondering how things will work out for them. (By the way, that’s why we sometimes keep watching a dull movie right until the end!)

A really good story or movie gives us something to consider, reflect on, and discuss with others.  As we wrestle with the story, it wrestles with us.  Stories have the capacity to shape and transform us – for better or for worse!

Jesus was a master storyteller. He uses illustrations from everyday life to explain how things are in the kingdom of God.  As we get older, we may have become so familiar with those stories that we no longer listen, reflect, or wonder about its meaning for us today.

When it comes to the stories Jesus’ told, we do well to ponder:

• What is the main point of the story?

• What did this story mean for those who first heard it?

• What might this story mean for us today?

• If we take this story on board, what needs to change in our lives?

What I still love about reading God’s story is that my story is now part of it.  Fact is we all need to live for a greater story than just ourselves.  The joy of doing life with Jesus is getting to play a part in God’s restoration story for his world.  His story is the only one that has a glorious ending.

Come along this Sunday as we talk about stories, and then unpack two stories that Jesus told.  Who knows…?  It just might change your life.

Joy in Jesus!

Pr Rolly Stahl