Para Vista Lutheran Church

God’s Furious Love For You (Audio)

A little girl was watching her father cut down a tree in their backyard. She sees wood chips flying in all directions. She picks one up and calls to her father, "Look Dad, trees have wood in them." We know that trees don't have wood in them. Trees are wood. Neither does God have love in him. God is love. Love is the stuff God is made of. God can't help but be loving. Everything God does is loving. We see his love best when Jesus dies on the cross for us. Paul wants us to grasp how wide and long, and high and deep the love of God is for us in Christ. Human love is not so deep and often runs out. But the love of the Lord is everlasting, and it has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. And nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Do you know this love? Are you grasping and growing in this love?
Pastor David Christian

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)

God’s Furious Love For You (Video)

A little girl was watching her father cut down a tree in their backyard. She sees wood chips flying in all directions. She picks one up and calls to her father, "Look Dad, trees have wood in them." We know that trees don't have wood in them. Trees are wood. Neither does God have love in him. God is love. Love is the stuff God is made of. God can't help but be loving. Everything God does is loving. We see his love best when Jesus dies on the cross for us. Paul wants us to grasp how wide and long, and high and deep the love of God is for us in Christ. Human love is not so deep and often runs out. But the love of the Lord is everlasting, and it has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. And nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Do you know this love? Are you grasping and growing in this love?
Pastor David Christian

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)

The Sacrificed Lamb (Audio)

An audio message from Pastor Paul Newsham.

Did you ever ask yourself:
• What did Jesus talk about when He walked along the road to Emmaus with two disciples shortly after His resurrection?
• What did John the Baptist mean when He said, “Behold the Lamb of God”?
• What is the significance of the sacrificed lamb in Scripture?
• Does the concept have any relevance to us today?

Join us as we explore these questions in light of today's Bible reading (Luke 24:13-34).

 

The Sacrificed Lamb (Video)

A video message from Pastor Paul Newsham.

Did you ever ask yourself:
• What did Jesus talk about when He walked along the road to Emmaus with two disciples shortly after His resurrection?
• What did John the Baptist mean when He said, “Behold the Lamb of God”?
• What is the significance of the sacrificed lamb in Scripture?
• Does the concept have any relevance to us today?

Join us as we explore these questions in light of today's Bible reading (Luke 24:13-34).

Title image by Kanenori from Pixabay.

 

Christian Fellowship!! What Is It and Why Is It Important? (Audio)

Koinonia is a Greek word that means fellowship or partnership, and in the New Testament it is used to describe the relationship between believers in Christ. Koinonia is an essential concept in the New Testament and is central to the Christian faith. Fellowship (koinonia) provides believers with the opportunity to connect with one another, to encourage and support each other, and to grow in their faith together.
Pastor Paul Fielke

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2: 11-22 (CEV)

Christian Fellowship!! What Is It and Why Is It Important? (Video)

Koinonia is a Greek word that means fellowship or partnership, and in the New Testament it is used to describe the relationship between believers in Christ. Koinonia is an essential concept in the New Testament and is central to the Christian faith. Fellowship (koinonia) provides believers with the opportunity to connect with one another, to encourage and support each other, and to grow in their faith together.
Pastor Paul Fielke

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2: 11-22 (CEV)

Mission in Africa (Video)

What is it we are called to do in our lives?
Matt and Dodie Dutschke, along with some friends, went to Kenya in June to show the heart of Jesus to African communities. They felt a compelling urge to make a difference and have been actively involved in printing Good News Readers. By sharing the Gospel, they felt a need to put their faith into action in practical ways. Matt and Dodie believe that if everyone fulfills their calling through action, our world would be a better place.
Jesus had a heart for the poor, the widows and orphans, and we who have much, can make a difference for those that have nothing.
It does not matter where you feel called, it could be serving at the local church soup kitchen, it could be cleaning the church, it could be visiting the sick, but God has a plan for us all to make a difference for good in our world.
This Sunday, Matt and Dodie will share a snapshot of their trip to Kenya. They had many “God moments”, tears of heart break yet many tears of joy. Come and hear their story.
Matt and Dodie

Bible Readings: 2 Corinthians 4:5 (Message) and Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)

Mission in Africa (Audio)

What is it we are called to do in our lives?
Matt and Dodie Dutschke, along with some friends, went to Kenya in June to show the heart of Jesus to African communities. They felt a compelling urge to make a difference and have been actively involved in printing Good News Readers. By sharing the Gospel, they felt a need to put their faith into action in practical ways. Matt and Dodie believe that if everyone fulfills their calling through action, our world would be a better place.
Jesus had a heart for the poor, the widows and orphans, and we who have much, can make a difference for those that have nothing.
It does not matter where you feel called, it could be serving at the local church soup kitchen, it could be cleaning the church, it could be visiting the sick, but God has a plan for us all to make a difference for good in our world.
This Sunday, Matt and Dodie will share a snapshot of their trip to Kenya. They had many “God moments”, tears of heart break yet many tears of joy. Come and hear their story.
Matt and Dodie

Bible Readings: 2 Corinthians 4:5 (Message) and Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)

Freed from Offence (Audio)

Have you noticed how easily people are offended these days? Or perhaps it’s you who’s quick to take offence. It’s not simply a societal issue but a personally spiritual one.  Offence robs us of joy, perhaps also shutting us off from growth and freedom. In our bible reading from Mark 6 we’re told that the crowd took offence at Jesus, and he could do no mighty work there (Mark 6:3-6). As we unpack this Scripture, we’ll not only explore how we can live free from offence, but how we can also bring freedom to others.

Pastor Peter Steicke

Bible Readings: Mark 6:1-6 (NRSVA)

Freed from Offence (Video)

Have you noticed how easily people are offended these days? Or perhaps it’s you who’s quick to take offence. It’s not simply a societal issue but a personally spiritual one.  Offence robs us of joy, perhaps also shutting us off from growth and freedom. In our bible reading from Mark 6 we’re told that the crowd took offence at Jesus, and he could do no mighty work there (Mark 6:3-6). As we unpack this Scripture, we’ll not only explore how we can live free from offence, but how we can also bring freedom to others.

Pastor Peter Steicke

Bible Readings: Mark 6:1-6 (NRSVA)