Join us for worship with Eastbrook Church through Eastbrook at Home at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM. This weekend we continue our journey of Lent with a preaching series on the Sermon on the Mount, "Becoming Real." This continues our extended journey through the Gospel of Matthew, which began with "Family Tree" and "Power in …
Jesus’ Six Examples of Surpassing Righteousness in Matthew 5
In my message at Eastbrook this past weekend, "Real Righteousness," I utilized a chart that helped show how Jesus' teaching on "righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law" (Matthew 5:20) is worked out in six examples. I'm including that chart here for those who asked to see it. Again, …
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Luci Shaw, “Judas, Peter” [Poetry for Lent]
Every Thursday during Lent, I post a poem that I find helpful for deeper engagement with Jesus' journey to the Cross and the significance of Lent. Here is Luci Shaw's poem "Judas, Peter" from Polishing the Petoskey Stone: New and Selected Poems. Luci Shaw has served as a writer in residence at Regent College (Vancouver, …
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Christ Contains the Law: insights from an early church leader on Matthew 5
While studying for my message at Eastbrook from this past weekend, "Real Righteousness," I came across these words by an anonymous church father from homily 11 of an incomplete work on Matthew. I found these insights helpful in understanding how Christ does not abolish the Law but fulfills it. The author is commenting on the …
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Contrasting Forms of Righteousness in Matthew 5: how Jesus’ way is different from that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law
This past weekend in my message, "Real Righteousness," I focused on Jesus' striking statement in Matthew 5:20: "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." While this statement has often plagued interpreters, I believe Jesus …
