Tag: Eastbrook

Senior Pastor Video Update in the Time of COVID-19 (June 17, 2020)

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Here is my latest video update for Eastbrook Church as we navigate the time of COVID-19. I will continue to re-post these weekly video updates here at my blog for those who have not seen it or who are not part of our church but could use the encouragement. You can watch it here or at the Eastbrook Church Vimeo channel.

 

In the midst of everything else happening in relation to racial justice issues in our city and nation, which I continue to address in other venues, this update offers very practical advice related to reopening the Eastbrook Church campus for services this Sunday, June 21st. I mentioned a couple of things in this video that you can take a look at here:

Senior Pastor Video Update in the Time of COVID-19 (June 3, 2020)

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

Here is my latest video update for Eastbrook Church as we navigate the time of COVID-19. I will continue to re-post these weekly video updates here at my blog for those who have not seen it or who are not part of our church but could use the encouragement. You can watch it here or at the Eastbrook Church Vimeo channel.

In the midst of everything else happening in relation to racial justice issues in our city and nation, which I continue to address in other venues, this update focuses mostly on questions related to reopening of our church campus for services, midweek activities, and more. I mentioned a couple of things in this video that you can take a look at:

God in the Ruins: The Message of the Minor Prophets

Matt Erickson3 Comments

This weekend at Eastbrook Church we began a new preaching series entitled “God in the Ruins: The Message of the Minor Prophets.”

At the end of the Hebrew Bible, our Old Testament, we find a collection of twelve small, yet powerful, books known as the Minor Prophets or “the Book of the Twelve.” The title “minor” refers to their length, and not to their significance, as each of these short books brings a powerful word from God to His people that challenges the status quo. As we walk through this entire collection, we will seek to hear God’s message to us today.

This series will eventually coincide with our Lenten journey to the Cross and Resurrection, with a devotional (more info to follow). Join us as we take a journey into the heart of God through this unique portion of the Scriptures.

Songs of the Savior: Psalms for Advent

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This coming weekend at Eastbrook Church we begin a new preaching series entitled “Songs of the Savior: Psalms for Advent.” As you can already tell, this series corresponds to the season of Advent, the start of the liturgical year that leads to our celebration of Christ’s birth.

The Psalms are referred to as the prayerbook of the Bible. This collection of prayer-songs gathers up the wide-ranging experiences and emotions of humanity at prayer with God. All through these prayers are clues to God’s plan to bring lasting hope and new beginnings through a promised Messiah. As we enter into Advent, remembering Christ’s nativity and anticipating His return, we journey through four psalms that are songs of the Messiah.

November 30/December 1 – “The Beloved Anointed of God” [Psalm 2]

December 7/8 – “The Suffering Messiah” [Psalm 22]

December 14/15 – “The Eternal Priest” [Psalm 110]

December 21/22 – “The Perfect King” [Psalm 72]

Love–Sex–Body: Toward a Biblical Theology of Embodied Sexuality

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This coming weekend at Eastbrook Church we begin a new preaching series entitled “Love-Sex-Body: Toward a Biblical Theology of Embodied Sexuality.” All around us, in our daily interactions with others and in the cultural conversation, we encounter ever-changing and vigorous debates about the nature of the human body, gender identity, and sexuality. In this series we will take steps toward developing a more-robust theology of the embodied sexuality within the contemporary church. Walking through the four-chapter gospel, we want to understand how our bodies, our sexuality, our relationships, yes, our very selves are affected by God’s creation, the fall into sin, Christ’s redeeming work, and the ultimate restoration of all things. Through this series we will strive to develop a clear yet nuanced approach to Scripture on God’s purposes for love, the human body, and sexuality from Genesis through Revelation, with attention to pertinent issues and questions.

October 26/27 – “Love-Sex-Body: Introduction to Embodied Sexuality”

November 2/3 – “Creation and Embodied Sexuality”

November 9/10 – “Fall and Embodied Sexuality”

November 16/17 – “Redemption and Embodied Sexuality”

November 23/24 – “Restoration and Embodied Sexuality”

Along with the weekend series there are a few other opportunities I want to highlight.

Discussion Groups and Classes
To encourage conversation within the church, this new series will include sermon discussion groups each weekend during the 11 AM hour every Sunday morning (October 27-November 24). Trained facilitators will help us talk deeply with one another around tables. Also, our NextGen and Adult Ministry teams are developing follow-up classes on related topics scheduled to begin in January 2020.

Leadership Community
On Monday, October 28, Dr. Preston Sprinkle will share with us on the topic: “The Jesus Way: Grace and Truth in Developing a Theology of Sexuality.” Dr. Sprinkle is the president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, and is a biblical scholar, an international speaker, and a New York Times bestselling author who has written numerous books including People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality Is Not Just an Issue (Zondervan). To help us plan adequately for materials he will bring, please register if you plan to attend.