One of the most incisive handlings I have ever encountered on Jesus' temptation in the wilderness as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11 is Henri Nouwen's book In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. While the book is specifically targeted at those in ministry, I believe it has broader application to all believers. In this …
Prayer as Living within God’s Power and Love (Ephesians 3:14-21)
This past weekend at Eastbrook, we began a new series entitled "Power in Prayer: Learning to Pray with St. Paul." This first weekend in the series, I took us inside of Ephesians 3:14-21, one of Paul's notable prayers from this circular letter sent to churches in Ephesus and the surrounding area. I structured the message …
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The Disturbing Temptations of Pastoring in Obscurity
I had the privilege of writing an article for Christianity Today's CT Pastors imprint that was released today. There's an excerpt below, but you can read the full article here. Gregory the Great, so tradition tells us, was a reluctant pope. Well-educated and from a wealthy family, Gregory experienced inner tension between his longing for the contemplative …
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Excerpts from Henri Nouwen’s The Way of the Heart
During my sabbatical, I re-read a book for the fifth time. That's not a very common occurrence for me, but Henri Nouwen's book The Way of the Heart is that sort of book for me. As I was looking through my sabbatical journals, I found excerpts from this book over a long stretch. So, as much for …
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Henri Nouwen on Compassion
Here is a quotation from Henri Nouwen that I shared in my message, "Compassion," this past weekend: God is a compassionate God. That is the good news brought to us in and through Jesus Christ. He is God-with-us, who finds nothing human alien and who lives in solidarity with us. He is a servant God …
Matthew Erickson 