Tag: NT Wright

I believe in the resurrection of the body

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our preaching series entitled “Living the Creed: Connecting Life and Faith in the Apostles’ Creed.” This series walks through the Apostles Creed as a basic summary of our faith but also as a way to live our faith out with God in the world. Each weekend of this series will explore the biblical and theological roots of the Apostles Creed, while also providing specific spiritual practices and approaches to living out what we know as we ‘proclaim and embody’ the Apostles’ Creed in our daily lives.

This weekend I continued preaching on the third article of the creed: “I believe in the resurrection of the body.”

You can find the message outline and video below. You can also view the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

“Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” 

(John 11:25-26)

The Resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3-8; John 20)

The physical death of Jesus

The physical resurrection of Jesus

Present Resurrection for Us through Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:12-14; Ephesians 1:18-20; Colossians 3; Galatians 5)

Joined with Jesus’ death and resurrection through faith now

Resurrection power at work within our lives now 

Future Resurrection for Us through Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:20-49; 1 Thessalonians 4; Revelation 20)

Our future bodily resurrection will look like Jesus’ bodily resurrection (1 Cor 15:20-28)

Our resurrection bodies will be like and unlike our present bodies (1 Cor 15:35-49):

  • Perishable → Imperishable
  • Dishonor → Glory
  • Weakness → Power
  • Naturally animated body → Spiritually animated body

Living Out Our Belief in the Resurrection of the Body

Praise God the Father for the resurrection of Jesus resurrection

Live by faith now in our bodies for God’s glory 

Live with hope for future resurrection bodies

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

From there he will come to judge the living and the dead

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our preaching series entitled “Living the Creed: Connecting Life and Faith in the Apostles’ Creed.” This series walks through the Apostles Creed as a basic summary of our faith but also as a way to live our faith out with God in the world. Each weekend of this series will explore the biblical and theological roots of the Apostles Creed, while also providing specific spiritual practices and approaches to living out what we know as we ‘proclaim and embody’ the Creed in our daily lives.

This weekend I preached on the last phrase of the second article of the creed on Jesus the Son, which concludes with this statement: “From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.”

You can find the message video and outline below. You can also view the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.” (Matthew 25:31)

“From there he will come” (Acts 1:11)

“To judge the living and the dead” (Matthew 25:31-32; John 3:16-17)

Jesus and Judgment Now

Judgment now as Jesus speaks truth (Matthew 7:28-29; John 5:24)

Judgment now as Jesus bears the Cross (John 12:31-33; Isaiah 53:40-6)

Jesus and Judgment in the Future

Jesus and our death – encountering judgment at death (Hebrews 9:27-28)

Jesus’ return – the revelation of Jesus as judge at His second parousia (Matthew 25:31; 2 Timothy 4:1)

Jesus and the final judgment – King Jesus sets makes things new (Luke 12:8-9; Matthew 7:21-23; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; Revelation 21:1-5)

Living in Light of Jesus’ Return and Judgment

Walking with Jesus now everyday

Speaking of Jesus to othersLooking forward in faith and hope to our future with Jesus

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

  • Memorize Matthew 25:31-32 or Revelation 21:1-5
  • Draw, ink, or paint Revelation 21:1-5 as a basis for prayer. Take time to talk with God as you depict these verses in your own way. What is God speaking to you?
  • Consider reading:

Bibliography for “The Beginning of the End”

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

When I conclude a sermon series, I usually share resources I utilized in my study and preparation for sermons. Here is the bibliography for our recent series, “The Beginning of the End,” which is the tenth and final part of an extended walk through the Gospel of Matthew.

Bibliography for “The Beginning of the End” [Gospel of Matthew, part 10]

Dale C. Allison, Jr. “Eschatology.” In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, edited by Joel B. Green, Scot McKnight, and I. Howard Marshall, 206-209. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.

Kenneth E. Bailey. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2008.

Jeannine K. Brown and Kyle Roberts. Matthew. The Two Horizons New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018.

Michael Joseph Brown. “The Gospel of Matthew.” In True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary, edited by Brian K. Blount, 85-120. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2007.

John Calvin. A Harmony of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke, Volume 1. Trans. By A. W. Morrison. Calvin’s Commentaries. Ed. by David W. Torrance and Thomas F. Torrance. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1972.

John Chrysostom. Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew. NPNF, series 1, vol. 10. Ed. by Philip Schaff. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.

R. T. France. The Gospel of Matthew. NICNT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007.

Robert A. Guelich. “Destruction of Jerusalem.” In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, edited by Joel B. Green, Scot McKnight, and I. Howard Marshall, 172-175. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.

Craig S. Keener. Matthew. IVPNTC. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997.

Scot McKnight. “Matthew, Gospel of.” In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, edited by Joel B. Green, Scot McKnight, and I. Howard Marshall, 526-541. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.

Manlio Simonetti, editor. Matthew 14-28. ACCS. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002.

Burton H. Throckmorton, Jr. Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels, 5th edition. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992.

N. T. Wright. Jesus and the Victory of God. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1996.

________. The Resurrection of the Son of God. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003.

________. Surprised by Hope. New York: HarperCollins, 2008.

________. Simply Jesus. New York: HarperCollins, 2011.

Bibliography for “Scandalous Jesus”

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

When I conclude a sermon series, I usually share resources I utilized in my study and preparation for sermons. Here is the bibliography for our recent series, “Scandalous Jesus,” which is the ninth part of an extended walk through the Gospel of Matthew.

Bibliography for “Scandalous Jesus” [Gospel of Matthew, part 9]

Kenneth E. Bailey. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2008.

Jeannine K. Brown and Kyle Roberts. Matthew. The Two Horizons New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018.

Michael Joseph Brown. “The Gospel of Matthew.” In True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary, edited by Brian K. Blount, 85-120. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2007.

John Calvin. A Harmony of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke, Volume 1. Trans. By A. W. Morrison. Calvin’s Commentaries. Ed. by David W. Torrance and Thomas F. Torrance. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1972.

James D. G. Dunn. Jesus, Paul, and the Law: Studies in Mark and Galatians. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1990.

John Chrysostom. Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew. NPNF, series 1, vol. 10. Ed. by Philip Schaff. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.

R. T. France. The Gospel of Matthew. NICNT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007.

Craig S. Keener. Matthew. IVPNTC. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997.

Scot McKnight. “Matthew, Gospel of.” In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, edited by Joel B. Green, Scot McKnight, and I. Howard Marshall, 526-541. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.

Manlio Simonetti, editor. Matthew 14-28. ACCS. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002.

Burton H. Throckmorton, Jr. Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels, 5th edition. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992.

S. Westerholm. “Pharisees.” In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, edited by Joel B. Green, Scot McKnight, and I. Howard Marshall, 609-614. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.

N. T. Wright. The Challenge of Jesus. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.

________. Simply Jesus. New York: HarperCollins, 2011.

His Glory Brings Joy

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our Advent journey and our new preaching series entitled “‘Tis the Reason.” This second week of the series takes us to one of the most fascinating stories in all the Gospels. In Matthew 17:1-13, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him to a mountain where Jesus is transfigured before them and speaks with both Moses and Elijah. What does the transfiguration tell us about glory and what does that mean for our life with God in the everyday?

This message is part of the seventh part of our longer series on Matthew, which includes “Family Tree,” “Power in Preparation,” “Becoming Real,” “The Messiah’s Mission,” “Stories of the Kingdom,” and “Who Do You Say I Am?”

You can find the message video and outline below. You can also view the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’” (Matthew 17:5)

A Vision of Glory (Matthew 17:1-3)

Jesus and the three

Jesus’ transfiguration 

Jesus in conversation with Moses and Elijah (cf. Luke 9:31)

Glory Surpassing Human Comprehension (Matthew 17:4-8)

Peter develops a plan

The divine interruption 

Overwhelmed by the glory of the Lord

Elijah and the Messiah to Come (Matthew 17:9-13)

The Messianic secret

Elijah who is to come and has come

Finding Joy in the Glory of Jesus

Celebrate God’s glory revealed in Jesus

Take joy in God’s glory mingled with love and mercy in JesusWorship with awe before God’s glory that surpasses human understanding 

Dig Deeper:

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways: