Sermons by Pastor Matt Erickson (Page 5)
Fools for Christ
The Apostle Paul unpacks what it means to be an apostle for Jesus and why servant leadership is what is most needed in the church and beyond. (1 Corinthians 4:1-21) Sermon Outline “We are fools for Christ.” (1 Corinthians 4:10) Living with God and Entrusting Ourselves to God (1 Corinthians 4:1-5) The calling and identity of Paul and the apostles Not being controlled by others’ opinions But not thinking too highly of oneself The opinion, and judgment, of God Living…
The Holy Spirit and the Deep Things of God
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God who also reveals the wisdom and deep things of God. Who is the Holy Spirit and what does it mean to live with the Holy Spirit? (1 Corinthians 2:6-16) Sermon Outline “For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11) God’s Powerful Wisdom and the Waning Wisdom of this Age…
The Message of the Cross
Paul explores the apparent foolishness and weakness of the Cross as a revelation of the wisdom and power of God. It shaped his life and ministry, and it should shape the life of all Christians, both individually and as a community. (1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5) Sermon Outline “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) The Cross Proclaimed (1 Corinthians…
A Unified Church in Divided Days
This sermon gives background on 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul, the Corinthian community, and why this letter might be what we need to look at right now. We also explore what happens when the church is only unified by being divided against itself, and what it means to truly stand in unity. (1 Corinthians 1:1-17) Sermon Outline “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all…
Mistaken for a Gardener
A standalone message for Easter Sunday out of John 20. Sermon Outline “Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’” (John 20:15) The Gardener? Is Mary mistaken? Does Jesus look different? Is John telling us something? The Garden of Eden and the Resurrection Garden The garden of Eden The ruins of the garden of our world The resurrection garden Jesus’ New Gardening…
The Fruitful Life
This week explores how we are made for fruitfulness and that true fruitfulness comes from God’s life in us and from our obedience to God and love for others. (Psalm 1:3; John 15:1-8, 16-17) Sermon Outline “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear in prayer, asking God to speak to you through this study. fruit—fruit that will last.” (John 15:16) The Way of Fruitfulness In Psalm 1: meditating…
The Pruned Life
This week explores the pruning work of God necessary for fruitfulness in our lives. (John 15:2, 6; Psalm 1:4) Sermon Outline “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2) Pruning as Cleansing for Fruitfulness The word means cut “clean” and implies healing Jesus’ word is the pruning tool that cuts clean What about the branches that don’t bear…
The Planted Life
This week introduces the series and explores the imagery of Psalm 1 of being planted. We can plant in one way of living or another, but there is a choice before us. (Psalm 1:1-3) Sermon Outline “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water…” (Psalm 1:3a) Introducing this Series The journey of Lent The two passages: Psalm 1 and John 15 Seeing these passages through the lens of Jesus Christ The Happy Person is Not Like This…
What is the Most Important Thing in Life?
Many scholars believe that Ecclesiastes is edited by a narrator, who takes the questions assembled by the Teacher (Qoholet) and reframes them with some qualification. Chapter 12 is often seen as the ultimate reframing of the entire book of Ecclesiastes around the question: what is the most important thing in life? Sermon Outline “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1) Stages of Life and Stages of Faith (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7) Engaging…
The Intersection of Diversity & Discipleship
On Monday, January 29, 2024, Pastor Matt Erickson led a discussion among leaders within our church community about Eastbrook as a multi-ethnic church, the intersectionality of diversity and discipleship, and how these lessons can shape our ministry at Eastbrook for the future.
Are We Stuck in Endless Cycles or Is there Something More?
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). The litany of different seasons the Teacher explores can make it seem like life merely undulates along a path over which we have little control over and in which we may struggle to find meaning. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (1:9). Are we stuck in an endless cycle or…
Is Life Meaningful or Meaningless?
One of the most pervasive themes in Ecclesiastes is what can seem like the apparent meaninglessness of life. The very beginning of the book centers on this theme: “Meaningless! Meaningless!’, says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). We can all feel like this sometimes. So, is life meaningless or meaningful? Sermon Outline “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14) Background…