Recently, I was talking with someone about what we most need in our lives for growth and I was reminded of the simple truth that we need to take in the message of the Gospel in Jesus Christ everyday. Wherever we are and whomever we are, the highest priority is that we preach the simple …
Facing Failings in the Character of the Church
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3) If, as Paul writes in Ephesians 2, Christ is our peace, who has reconciled us to the Father, then the calling upon us as God's people is to …
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A Crash Course in the Gospel (Ephesians 2:1-10)
One of my favorite books of the Bible is the Psalms. Through the Psalms I have learned how to pray. One of my other favorites is the Gospel of John. John's telling of Jesus' story has helped me connect my spiritual longings with the revelation of God in Jesus Christ so powerfully. Right after the …
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Prince of Peace [Name Above All Names]
This past weekend at Eastbrook Church we continued our series exploring the titles of Christ, "Name Above All Names," with a look at Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, …
The Church: A Multi-Ethnic, Kingdom-Oriented Community
This past weekend at Eastbrook Church, I continued a two-part reflection on the nature of the church. My working title for this series is "The Multi-Everything Church," which is an outworking of our vision to become a Revelation 7:9-10 type of church with attention to some other aspects beyond multi-ethnicity. Following last weekend's message on the …
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Matthew Erickson 