This from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Cost of Discipleship, which I referenced in my message this past weekend, "Baptized with Water and Spirit": Jesus must therefore make it clear beyond all doubt that the "must" of suffering applies to his disciples no less than to himself. Just as Christ is Christ only in virtue of …
Four Aspects of Suffering in Joseph
Let’s reflect on four aspects of suffering that we see in the life of Joseph: Joseph’s family dynamic brought suffering down upon him. Joseph did not choose to be born into the dysfunctional and broken family system of Abraham's generations, but that was the context of his birth and growth. The tensions between Joseph and …
The Context of the Life of Joseph
As we begin our series "The Life of Joseph: God's Sovereignty in Our Suffering" from Genesis 37-50, I cannot emphasize how important it is for us to understand the context in which Joseph's life takes place. Certainly, we must pay attention to both the historical context of Genesis and the relational/familial context of the generations …
The Cross in Shadows
This is my message from our "Journey to the Cross" worship service on February 14, 2018. This begins a journey with the life of Joseph at Eastbrook Church throughout Lent both in our weekend sermon series and through a daily devotional. In the book of Genesis, we read about the creation of the world, …
Matthew Erickson 