Eastbrook Church Sunday Sermons

"Leaders in the Church" 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 Pastor Femi Ibitoye April 28, 2024 Leaders have a place in the church but what is that place? What happens when we get too attached to a leader or teacher?

"The Holy Spirit and the Deep Things of God" 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Pastor Matt Erickson April 21, 2024 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?

"The Message of the Cross" 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 Pastor Matt Erickson April 14, 2024 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.

"A Unified Church in Divided Days" 1 Corinthians 1:1-17 Pastor Matt Erickson April 7, 2024 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.

"Mistaken for a Gardener" Easter Sunday John 20:1-18 Pastor Matt Erickson March 31, 2024 A standalone message for Easter Sunday out of John 20. 

"Palm Sunday" The Tree and the Vine Series  John 11, 12, 15 & Psalm 1 Pastor Ruth Carver March 24, 2024 This week we look what is known as Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. We will explore the meaning of this event in light of the week to follow, and gain insights into both John 15 and Psalm 1 as we conclude our series "The Tree and the Vine.”

"The Fruitful Life" The Tree and the Vine Series  Psalm 1:3; John 15:1-8, 16-17 Pastor Matt Erickson March 17, 2024 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.

"The Pruned Life" The Tree and the Vine Series  John 15:2, 6; Psalm 1:4 Pastor Matt Erickson March 10, 2024 This week explores the pruning work of God necessary for fruitfulness in our lives.

"The Nourished Life" The Tree and the Vine Series  Psalm 1:2; John 15:3-7 Pastor Nic Fridenmaker March 3, 2024 This week explores the nourishment we receive through meditating on God’s word and letting the words of Jesus abide in us.

"The Connected Life" The Tree and the Vine Series  John 15 Will Branch February 25, 2024 This week introduces John 15, building upon Psalm 1, and talks about abiding life as connected to God. Specifically, this explores the love of God in which we are deeply connected.

"The Planted Life" The Tree and the Vine Series  Psalm 1:1-3 Pastor Matt Erickson February 18, 2024 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.

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?

Ecclesiastes falls within the wisdom writings, grouped along with other books in the Hebrew Bible in the Ketuvim. More specifically, Ecclesiastes is one of the five Megillot, connected with the festival of Sukkot, or the Feast of Booths. Throughout the book, the writer wrestles with how to find real wisdom. In a world where truth is up for grabs, where is real wisdom found?

We all at one time wrestle with the question, “why do bad things happen to good people?” The writer of Ecclesiastes is no different: “There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 8:14). Is there meaning in all this, or is life just random?

“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 s...

The first few chapters of Ecclesiastes explore various pursuits in life, showing how any of them might become meaningless for us. Whether it’s the pursuit of pleasure, hard work, knowledge, or riches, any of these things apart from God can become sources of dissatisfaction. So, what can truly satisfy us?

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?

Following on our series on 2 Peter we spend one week looking at the book of Jude, one of the most interesting and short books in the Bible. Jude is interrelated with 2 Peter, so this is a good time to explore it.

Because of the unique timing of Christmas Eve, this is a stand-alone message for Christmas Eve 2023 called "A New Day."

The conclusion of our series on 2 Peter brings us to the final words of this letter, urging us in light of all that has been said, to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). 

We want to watch for that day of the Lord, but we also want to live in light of it. Peter’s question should ring through our minds and hearts as well, “What kind of people ought you to be?” (3:11).  2 Peter 3:10-13

Peter reminds his readers of the reason he is writing: “to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” (3:1-2). This spurring on is vitally important as we enter days that are confusing and may wonder if there will ever be a day when Jesus returns. As we begin Advent, the words of 2 Peter 3 coincide with the Advent longing for the parousia of Christ.

Following false guides leads us away from the power and presence of God. Such wandering is not without consequence and may leave us wondering, with our author, if it would be better to have not known the way of righteousness in the first place.  2 Peter 2:10b-22

There are dire warnings here about false prophets and false teachers, who seek to exploit others. Their ways deserve condemnation and will be punished with destruction.  2 Peter 2:1-10a

Peter points out he was an eyewitness of Jesus’ incarnation and transfiguration, while also highlighting the importance of the prophetic message about Christ he and others bear. This gives us an opportunity to talk about the message of Christ, the significance of the apostles, the power of Scripture, and contemporary prophecy.