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"As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'" (Matthew 3:16-17) The theological insights we gain …
Continue reading "The Urgent Need for a Baptismal Spirituality"
As we continued our series, "God in the Ruins: The Message of the Minor Prophets," this past weekend at Eastbrook I walked us through the prophet Joel. Joel is an often overlooked book of the Bible, although a couple of passages are fairly familiar because of their connection with historic markers in the church year: Ash …
Lord Jesus, as God's Spirit came down and rested upon you, May the same Spirit rest on us, Bestowing his sevenfold gifts. First, grant us the gift of understanding, By which your precepts may enlighten our minds. Second, grant us counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness. Third, …
O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever …
I continued our series on prayer, "Great Prayers of the Bible", at Eastbrook Church this past weekend by looking at four themes on prayer from the early church in the book of Acts. I try not have a romanticized view of the early church that leads into an impulse to "recover the true church." However, I …
Continue reading "Prayer as Mission: The Early Church in Acts"
Matthew Erickson 