This past weekend in my message "Caught" from our series on the life of Joseph, I spent quite a bit of time talking about temptation. I referenced a definition of temptation from the Puritan pastor and spiritual writer, John Owen, who defines temptation in this way in his book Of Temptation: Temptation…is any thing, state, way, …
Fasting for Spiritual Growth
I often refer to fasting as an important spiritual growth tool in our lives. Some time ago, I wrote a number of posts on the subject of fasting and I am gathering all of those together here as a resource for understanding fasting in general. These posts also address a number of specific aspects of …
Carried Away and Rootless
This past weekend at Eastbrook Church, we started a study on Psalm 1 called "Rooted." I love this powerful, pithy psalm. John Calvin, in his commentary on the Psalms, writes this in reflection on Psalm 1: the general character of men's lives is nothing else but a continual departure from the law of God; the …
Family Secrets
This weekend at Eastbrook Church I continued our series, "Family Portrait," with a message entitled "Family Secrets." My message was a reflection on the life of Jacob, culminating in his wrestling match with the angel of the Lord in Genesis 32:22-32. My main point in the message is that we need to face into our family secrets, …
||40days|| week three: turn from sin
Continuing our journey through Lent to the Cross with Jesus, we move from the focus upon acknowledging our sin last week to turning from sin - denying its power - this week. It is one thing to face our sins - to name them for what they are - but that is merely one step …
Matthew Erickson 