Belonging is an important part of being human. The sense of belonging (we also use the concept of community) is so important for our spiritual health as well. If we look at the life of Jesus this is something that stands out in his dealings with people. He constantly approaches and shows acceptance to the…
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After the resurrected Jesus appears to the disciples, they are filled with ‘amazement, disbelief and joy.’ (Luke 24:40) Jesus enters their midst and engages them in the newest reality that death has no power over the world. Returning to physical life will be a new change! In their excitement, in their disbelief and joy, Jesus…
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“And the seed fell in the weeds – well, these are the ones who hear; but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.” Luke 8:1-15 (MSG) Being connected to a church from birth and being brought up…
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To be a servant in the ancient world was taxing and often frustrating. At the whim of the master, the servant must drop everything in order to serve the master’s desires. Whether preparing food, cleaning up, taking care of guests, the servant was commanded to do this without question. To be a disciple of a…
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I am the vine and you are the branches. I think I’ve repeated that mantra thousands of times throughout my life. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches and we’re supposed to produce fruit – and lots of it. Yet, when I prepared for this week, I realised that I had been incorrectly repeating…
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Reading: 1 John 1:1-7 We are writing these things so that our joy may be made complete. ~1 John 1:4 I was wandering down the street the other day and noticing people. For most, wherever they were standing or walking, their faces were buried in their phones. Now, this devotion is not a diatribe against…
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He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus, your Good Shepherd As you may have noticed, in the Book of Isaiah, the prophet uses imagery or picture language. These describing words tell…
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There’s a delightful story in the Old Testament where God opens a person’s eyes to see what he was doing. The king of Aram was upset that the King of Israel seemed to pre-empt his every attacking move: This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which…
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‘Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death’ (2 Corinthians 7:10). 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 There is an unsolved mystery lingering over my family. Some years ago, on a trip to the Adelaide show I had purchased an extra Bertie Beetle showbag full of chocolates for a…
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Weekly News – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church | Para Vista
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Belonging is an important part of being human. The sense of belonging (we also use the concept of community) is so important for our spiritual health as well. If we look at the life of Jesus this is s...
