Tag: temple

Signposts at the End

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This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our new series entitled “The Beginning of the End.” This series explores the resurrection of Jesus in tandem with some of Jesus’ teaching about the fall of Jerusalem and the end of all time.This weekend I preached out of the first half of Matthew 24, verses 1-35, where Jesus responds to His disciples questions in verse 3:

  • when will this happen?
  • what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

This message is from the tenth and final part of our longer journey through the Gospel of Matthew, which includes “Family Tree,” “Power in Preparation,” “Becoming Real,” “The Messiah’s Mission,” “Stories of the Kingdom,” “Who Do You Say I Am?“, “‘Tis the Reason,” “Jesus Said What?!“, and “Scandalous Jesus.“

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.

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us…when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

Two Questions from Jesus’ Disciples (24:1-3)

The situation

Two questions:

  • When will this [the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple] happen?
  • What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

The Beginning of Birth Pains…But Not the End (24:4-8)

Human conflicts

Natural world difficulties

False claims of the Messiah

Pay attention but don’t be alarmed

Standing Firm Amid Persecution (24:9-14)

Persecution

False prophets lead people away from the faith

Some disciples’ love will grow cold and they will not stand firm

The message preached to the whole world

The Historical Destruction of the Temple (24:15-28)

‘The abomination that causes desolation’

Great distress unlike any other time

Be warned of false Messiahs that appear

The Arrival of the Son of Man (24:29-31)

Immediately after the distress of those days

The sign of the Son of Man

The Summary of Prediction (24:32-35)

The fig tree

Jesus’ trustworthy words

Dig Deeper

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

  • Memorize Matthew 24:12-13.
  • Set aside space and time this week to meditate on Matthew 24:12-13. Let the Lord search through your heart and mind about your love for Him. Ask the Lord to strengthen you in your steadfastness and faith.
  • For more background on the destruction of the Temple and the fall of Jerusalem, consider reading one of the following:

The Withering of the Old Ways

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continues our preaching series entitled “Scandalous Jesus,” that parallels our journey of Lent. This week, I turned our attention to three episodes within Jesus’ time in and aroundJerusalem. The first is Jesus’ overturning of tables in the Temple, a sort of enacted parable about purification and rededication of the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17). The second is a somewhat strange encounter between Jesus and a fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22). The third is Jesus’ conversation with a group of chief priests and elders of the people about Jesus’ authority, which Jesus connects with the identity and authority of John the Baptist (Matthew 21:18-27).

This message is from the ninth part of our longer journey through the Gospel of Matthew, which includes “Family Tree,” “Power in Preparation,” “Becoming Real,” “The Messiah’s Mission,” “Stories of the Kingdom,” “Who Do You Say I Am?“, “‘Tis the Reason,” and “Jesus Said What?!“

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.

“Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ Immediately the tree withered.” (Matthew 21:19)

Jesus Overturning Tables (21:12-17)

Jesus enacts a symbolic purification of the Temple 

Jesus heals and is acclaimed as the Son of David

Jesus is a prophet but, even more, the Messiah

Jesus Condemning a Fruitless Tree (21:18-22)

The fig tree with abundant foliage 

The fruitless fig tree and the desire of God

Jesus reveals the death of fruitless religion

Jesus Poses a Question (21:23-27)

Jesus questioned in the Temple Courts

Jesus’ question of the questioners

Jesus is a prophet with authority and honor beyond their expectation

Entering the Doorway Jesus Opens

From cluttered religion to true prayer

From fruitless religion to fruitful faithFrom self-protective questions to heartfelt worship

Dig Deeper

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

  • Memorize Matthew 21:13 or 21:21
  • Draw, ink, or paint all or part of Matthew 21:12-27. As you depict these scenes or episodes in your own way, take time to talk with God about what He is speaking to you. 
  • Consider watching some version of the life of Jesus on film, such as The Jesus Film or The Chosen, as a means for putting visuals to the stories of this passage. What did you learn through seeing and hearing these passages?

A Prayer inspired by Hebrews 9:1-28

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

image 3 - Hebrews

Throughout our new series “The Final Word: Knowing Christ through Hebrews,” I am writing prayers related to the text on which we are preaching each week. This prayer is drawn from Hebrews 9:1-28. The complete list of prayers inspired by Hebrews is included at the bottom of this post. You can also view the message by Pastor Femi Ibitoye from this passage “Deep Worship,” here.

Father, we praise You for Your matchless glory.
You are beyond us veiled in holiness,
yet You revealed Yourself in Jesus the Son,
who is the exact representation of Your being.

Jesus Christ, we thank You for offering Yourself to God
as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,
presented through the eternal Spirit for eternal redemption.
You have become the Mediator of the New Covenant with God.

Jesus Christ, we know that Your blood is incomparable
to the blood of bulls and goats offered in the earthly tabernacle.
Thank You for entering into the heavenly tabernacle
to offer true and lasting cleaning and forgiveness.

We offer our lives as our humble gift in response to Your great gift.
May our bodies be as living sacrifices to You, merciful God,
our spiritual act of worship given back to You each day
as we grow from glory to glory until we see You face to face.

All this we pray, through Jesus Christ,
Our High Priest and Perfect Sacrifice,
to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit
be all honor and glory, now and forever.
Amen.

Prayers from Hebrews:

A Prayer inspired by the prophet Haggai

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LORD of hosts,
Almighty King of all the earth,
You are worthy of all our praise
and deserve the best of what we have to offer.

Help us to give careful thought to our ways,
that we may not be found wanting
in presenting all of who we are
and all of what we have to You.

In Haggai’s day, You called the people to rebuild Your house,
strengthening them to accomplish the task by Your grace.
In our day, help us to hear Your calling for the church,
and strengthen us to accomplish that calling by Your grace.

May no opposition overcome us
and no circumstances dissuade us
from giving ourselves fully to You
and Your mission upon earth.

All this we pray, through Jesus Christ,
to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit
be all honor and glory, now and forever.
Amen.