This past weekend at Eastbrook, we concluded our series on prayer entitled "Sacred Invitation: A Life of Prayer." Kelly Erickson, who is both my wife and a spiritual director, preached a message entitled "Praying Outward," with a grounding text of John 17:1-15, the account of Jesus' high priestly prayer. This message explored the way our …
How Does Prayer Relate to Mission and Unity?: Andrew T. Lincoln on Jesus’ prayer in John 17
While studying for my message this past week, "Praying One: learning to pray for unity from Jesus’ Prayer," I encountered this insightful explanation from Andrew T. Lincoln about how Jesus' prayer for unity relates to the mission of the church. Jesus’ first petition for all believers, ‘that they may all be one’ (v. 21), is …
Praying One: learning to pray for unity from Jesus’ prayer
As we continued our series, "One: The Being of God in the Life of the Church," this past weekend at Eastbrook Church I explored Jesus' prayer in John 17 as a key to the unity of the church and an example for how prayer contributes to unity. I concluded the message with a time of …
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Praying Ourselves Toward Unity
Whenever I think about the unity that we are called to as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ under the Fatherhood of God, I often wonder how we actually can move into that reality? If you’re like me, you can look back at the history of the church and see divisions: between Eastern and Western …
Jesus Praying in Difficulty (discussion questions)
Here are the discussion questions that accompany my message at Eastbrook Church this past weekend from John 17 entitled "Jesus Praying in Difficulty." Discussion Questions: This week we conclude our series on prayer from the life and teaching of Jesus. Whether you are on your own or in a small group, take time to read John 17:1-26 aloud. …
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Matthew Erickson 