How can pastors prepare people for Christmas? Matt Woodley talks to Matt Erickson, Senior Pastor at Eastbrook Church about how to approach this in Advent. This year, he’s doing a four week series on the genealogy of Jesus, from Matthew chapter one. The series will focus on some of the key men, and women that are part of Jesus story including Mary and Joseph. Last year, he did an Advent series entitled “Songs of the Savior: Psalms for Advent,” based on Messianic Psalms. He said “It was a powerful journey with church to engage with the Psalms.” They also explore preaching challenges in 2020: the global COVID-19 pandemic, racial tensions in the U.S., and a presidential election with high stakes.

Check out what was referenced on the podcast:

• Frederick Dale Bruner’s book Matthew: A Commentary. Volume 1: The Christbook, Matthew 1-12. Wm. B Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004.

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.