Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church

Journeying with Jesus - April 11, 2021 Read Luke 24:50-53, wherein Jesus ascends into heaven. "Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. "... Ponder: After Jesus ascends into heaven, the disciples return to Jerusalem 'with great joy'. What do you think it was that gave them that joy? (Try to be as specific as possible!)

The online worship video of Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church for the Second Sunday of Easter 2021

Journeying with Jesus - April 10, 2021 Read Luke 24:44-49, wherein Jesus commissions the disciples to be about proclaiming repentance and forgiveness to all nations. "Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with youthat everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to... suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’" Ponder: The disciples are 'commissioned' to do a job - namely to proclaim repentance and forgiveness in Jesus' name to all nations. Have you ever been commissioned to do anything?

Journeying with Jesus - April 9, 2021 Read Luke 24:36-43, wherein the risen Jesus appears to the gathered disciples. "While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not hav...e flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence." Ponder: The disciples are described as being 'startled', 'terrified', 'disbelieving' and 'wondering' - while Jesus seems to meet their fears and questions head on. What question would you like to ask of the resurrected Jesus?

Journeying with Jesus - April 8, 2021 Read Luke 24:32-35, wherein two of Jesus' friends share their "We met Jesus" story. "They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they to...ld what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. " Ponder: The disciples described their hearts as "burning within us" when they heard Jesus' words. What is something about the teaching of Jesus that sets your heart burning?

Journeying with Jesus - April 7 Read Luke 24:28-31, wherein the risen Jesus is revealed to Cleopas and another disciples. "As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were... opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. " Ponder: Cleopas and the other disciples recognized Jesus in the blessing, breaking and sharing of bread. It was - for them - an 'Aha!' moment. Have you ever had an 'Aha' Jesus moment, where blurry things of faith suddenly became crystal clear?