pastor || writer || speaker
If blessing means "to speak good words over something or someone," what a powerful message of blessing comes to us from Paul's words in Ephesians 1:3-14. He tells us that God "has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (1:3). Every spiritual blessing. Just that one word sets the tone of …
Continue reading "Re-speaking God’s Good Words to Ourselves and Others"
Here is John Calvin reflecting on Ephesians 1:3, which says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." This is part of the text I preached from this past weekend in my message, "A People Called by God." The …
Continue reading "Blessed with Every Spiritual Blessing: John Calvin on Ephesians 1:3"
This past weekend at Eastbrook, we began a new preaching series entitled "United," which explores the essential nature of the church. This first week of the series I expanded upon the statement that the church is a people called by God. I walked through Ephesians 1:3-14 as the basis for my message. You can find …
We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5) The sufferings we endure are not meaningless …
Continue reading "Three Ways God Uses Suffering in Our Lives"
This past weekend at at Eastbrook Church I concluded our series, "Roots," on certain non-negotiable characteristics of the church, and Eastbrook Church in particular as we celebrate 40 years. This final weekend took us into an exploration of worship based in Psalm 96:9. I admit that I still love the way that the King …
Matthew Erickson 