pastor || writer || speaker
While preparing for a retreat with Eastbrook Church's student ministry, I came across this excerpt from Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard that hit home to me. Given some of my recent reflections on the nature of pastoral leadership in North America (see "Five Themes of Resilient Ministry" and "Five Steps for Overcoming the Dark …
Continue reading "Transformation into Christlikeness is Possible: Dallas Willard"
Near the end of the book Renovation of the Church: What Happens When a Seeker Church Discovers Spiritual Formation, Kent Carlson summarizes some of his deepest concern about the challenges of the church in North America. While I'm not sure I agree with his final driving metaphor about "wineskins" bursting all over the place, I do …
Continue reading "The Church in Transition: Kent Carlson on bursting wineskins"
This week, I am spending time in reflection about what it means to be a pastor, what ministry is all about, and what it means to be the church. Earlier this week I shared some insights from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together about the church and from Dallas Willard on the nature of ministry in a consumer …
I am entering a period of deep reflection on what it means to be a pastor and what it means to be the church. I am asking questions that I have considered for years but now approach with a deeper sense of urgency and attention. I find myself wondering over and over again: what are …
Today marks the beginning of our journey to the cross. At Eastbrook Church, we invite you to join with us in a day of fasting and prayer before a family-friendly worship service at 7 PM. For more info on fasting, read a series of posts I wrote here. Traditionally, this journey is known as Lent …
Matthew Erickson 