Good things come to those who wait, I’ve been told, but, honestly, I have a really hard time with that. Let me give you three situations many of us face. Number one: music tries to calm me down as I anxiously wait behind unending lines of traffic, hoping I arrive reasonably on-time to my next …
3 Simple Practices to Help us Grow to Look Like Jesus
This past Sunday at Eastbrook I preached on the sufficiency of Christ from Hebrews 10:1-18 in a message entitled "Sufficient." You can view that message below or here. Near the end of the message, I reflected on what the sufficiency of Christ means for us. One of the most important aspects of Christ's sufficient work …
Continue reading "3 Simple Practices to Help us Grow to Look Like Jesus"
What Is the Essential Virtue?: further insights about the easy yoke from Dallas Willard
Yesterday I shared an excerpt from Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart about what Willard sees as the essence of discipleship in the easy yoke of Jesus referenced in Matthew 11:28-30. I wanted to share one additional thought from Willard on this, which flows directly from living as a disciple of Jesus within His easy …
What Happened to Dietrich?: Bonhoeffer’s Theological Shift in Harlem
Not too long ago I read Reggie Williams' thought-provoking book, Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. This is an outstanding book and would easily fit within my top five recommended reads about the life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. There is so much to say from this book, but in …
Continue reading "What Happened to Dietrich?: Bonhoeffer’s Theological Shift in Harlem"
Spiritual Tourists or Pilgrims?: Eugene Peterson from A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Not too long ago, I was sitting with some of my staff in what feels like an altogether different universe from today. We were talking about the calling of the church and what it means to really do ministry. I shared with them this introduction from Eugene Peterson's masterful book, A Long Obedience in the …
Matthew Erickson 