Tag: sin

“Faltering at the Finish line: After the Flood”

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we contimued our preaching series, “Fractured,” drawn from Genesis 4-11. This is the second part of a two-part series on Genesis 1-11 that will stretch from January through Lent up to Easter. You can access the first part of this series on Genesis, “In the Beginning,” here. This fifth week of the series I preached from Genesis 9:18-10:32, walking through the final episode in Noah’s life and the impact upon his family and the nations.

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

“Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.” (Genesis 9:20)

A New Beginning and the Table of Nations (9:18-19; 10:1-32)

A new beginning in light of God’s covenant blessing (9:18-19)

God works with the generations and all peoples

Noah’s Vineyard (9:20-21)

Noah is the new man of the soil, echoing Adam

Noah is the first to plant a vineyard

Noah enjoys the work of his hands

The Uncomfortable Encounter of Noah’s Sons (9:22-23)

Ham disrespects his father, to his shame

Shem and Japheth respect their father, to their blessing

The Cursing and Blessing of Noah (9:24-28)

The curse on Ham’s son, Canaan

Why is Canaan cursed for Ham’s wrong?

The blessing on Shem’s God, YHWH

The blessing on Japheth’s territory 

Making It Real 

God is faithful to His promises to humanity through Noah, even in spite of Noah

It is good to enjoy the work of our hands, particularly the generative aspects of creation

We must beware of how sin and temptation crouches at the door

It is good be in touch with our need for God’s grace always and in every way

Dig Deeper

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

“The Need for Cleansing: The Flood, part 1”

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we contimued our preaching series, “Fractured,” drawn from Genesis 4-11. This is the second part of a two-part series on Genesis 1-11 that will stretch from January through Lent up to Easter. You can access the first part of this series on Genesis, “In the Beginning,” here. This third week of the series I preached from Genesis 6:9-8:1, walking through the first part of the flood narrative with Noah and his family.

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

“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.” 
(Genesis 6:11-12)

A New Generation (6:9a)

The story of Genesis as a story of God working across the generations 

  • The ten toledot of Genesis
  • The generation of Noah and his family
  • Leads up to 10:1 with the generation of Noah’s children

The Tension Between Noah and His Generation (6:9-12)

Noah as righteous, blameless, and walking with God

Noah’s generation as corrupt and full of violence

The Tension Between God and a Disordered World (6:13-22)

God’s heart vexed by what God sees

God’s judgment on corruption, violence, disorder

Two asides

  • about comparable ancient stories of a flood
  • about dates, times, geography, and expansiveness of the flood

The Tension Between God’s Judgment and God’s Mercy (7:1-24)

The Cataclysmic Nature of God’s Judgment

The Generative Nature of God’s Mercy

Dig Deeper

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

  • Memorize Genesis 6:18 or 8:1
  • Draw, ink, or paint this first half of the story of the Flood in Genesis 6:9-8:1. As you do that, consider what God is speaking to you about your own heart. When you finish, consider sharing your prayer reflections and/or artistry with a friend.
  • Read through other references to Noah in the Bible: 1 Chronicles 1:1-27; Isaiah 54:8-10; Ezekiel 14:12-23; Matthew 24:36-41; Luke 3:23-38; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:19-22; 2 Peter 2:4-10. 
  • Read one of the following:
    • Peter Spier’s Caldecott Medal winning children’s book, Noah’s Ark

“The Expansion of Evil: Before the Flood”

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we contimued our preaching series, “Fractured,” drawn from Genesis 4-11. This is the second part of a two-part series on Genesis 1-11 that will stretch from January through Lent up to Easter. You can access the first part of this series on Genesis, “In the Beginning,” here. This second week of the series I preached from Genesis 4:17-6:8, walking through the expanding cycle of disorder from Adam and Eve up to the life of Noah.

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

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5)

The Internal Conflict of Humanity (4:17-26)

Cain and future human accomplishment: a city, technology, the arts

Lamech: a representative of vengeance beyond Cain

Seth: a new beginning and the worship of the Lord God

The Generations (5:1-32)

The story of Genesis as a story of God working across the generations (toledot)

The generation from Adam to Noah

Examples to explore:

  • Enoch who walked with God
  • Lamech and his son, Noah

The Sons of God and the Daughters of Men (6:1-4)

Who are the sons of God?

  • Godly descendants of Seth versus descendants of Cain?
  • Angelic beings of some sort?
  • Dynastic tyrants descended from Lamech?

The absolute contamination of even the best humanity 

The Response of God to the Expansion of Evil (6:5-8)

God sees

God grieves

God acts

God extends favor

Dig Deeper

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

“The Power of Anger: Cain & Abel”

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we began a new preaching series entitled “Fractured,” drawn from Genesis 4-11. This is the second part of a two-part series on Genesis 1-11 that will stretch from January through Lent up to Easter. You can access the first part of this series on Genesis, “In the Beginning,” here. This first week of the series I preached from Genesis 4:1-16, walking through the story of Cain and Abel.

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

“Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’  While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Genesis 4:8)

The Turn Toward the Next Generation (4:1-2)

Cain: the firstborn, who works the soil, like Adam

Abel: the second-born, who keeps flocks

The Brothers’ Offerings and Conflict (4:3-7)

Two different offerings and two different responses from God

The silence of Abel

Cain’s response of anger and depression

The warning of God

The Double Wrong of Cain (4:8-14)

Cain intentionally murders his brother

Cain pleads ignorance and non-responsibility

God’s punishment upon Cain 

God’s Grace Amidst Punishment (4:15-16)

Grace in hearing Cain’s complaint (4:13-14)

Grace in the promise of protection (4:15)

Grace in the mark of Cain (4:15)

Dig Deeper

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

Eastbrook at Home – February 26, 2023

Matt EricksonLeave a comment
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Join us for worship with Eastbrook Church through Eastbrook at Home at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM. This weekend we begin a new preaching series entitled “Fractured” based on Genesis, chapters 4-11, by looking at the tension between Cain and Abel in Genesis 4.

We also begin the journey of Lent this Sunday and here is a prayer for this first Sunday in Lent from The Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

If you are able to do so, let me encourage you to join us for in-person services at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM this weekend at the Eastbrook Campus.

If you are new to Eastbrook, we want to welcome you to worship and would ask you to text EBCnew to 94000 as a first step into community here at Eastbrook.

Each Sunday at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM, you can participate with our weekly worship service at home with your small group, family, or friends. This service will then be available during the week until the next Sunday’s service starts. You can also access the service directly via Vimeo, the Eastbrook app, or Facebook.

If you are not signed up for our church emailing list, please sign up here. Also, please remember that during this time financial support for the church is critical as we continue minister within our congregation and reach out to our neighborhood, city, and the world at this challenging time. Please give online or send in your tithes and offerings to support the ministry of Eastbrook Church.