Easter 2022- The day after.

Today is the Monday after Easter and I’m tired. It’s a good tired and I know that I am not the only pastor that feels this way. Easter takes it out of us. There is the influx of the seasonal people. The joy and emotion of the day and planning and the practice to celebrate the greatest event in Christianity- the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior.

My church, Hope Community Church, like many churches had record attendance and that is exciting but it isn’t the point of the Sunday. The point of Easter Sunday is that same as it is for every Sunday. It is to lift the name of Jesus up and to make much of Him. Jesus said in John 12:32:

And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself

Notice the two sides of this. When we lift him up, He draws all to himself. Our one and only job on each Sunday is to live Jesus high and to make him the eminent portion of the service. Anything less then that is not acceptable. I would rather people told me they hears, saw or met Jesus during one of my sermon then hear good sermon. I want them to see Him and not me. I want them to hear His voice and not mine.

Yesterday, Heather, my worship leader, did such a good job keeping Jesus the center. Whether it was the song What I see which talks about the empty tomb of Jesus to Behold which has us worshipping the Godhead, all of it was focused on the Savior. During second service, I was watching a young boy by me that has special needs, he has a hard time not moving but when we came to the part of the song What I see that says;

Oh, Hallelujah, it is finished

See that grave, no body in it

Dead things coming back to life again

I believe there's about to be another resurrection, resurrection, oh

that boy would stop and sing with all his might those words then he would resume his movement. The kids volunteer looked at me in concern for the boy and I said to her, “don’t worry, Jesus doesn’t mind”

That’s what I want for people in our church is to get lost in the moment- to be so focused on Jesus that nothing else matters. My friend Kathy, who readily admits that she doesn’t sing well, always sings in the choir and always gives it her all for the savior. She realizes that she’s not singing to be on American Idol, she’s singing for the King of Kings, who loves to hear his people sing- good or bad.

Our Easter was very blessed yesterday. We ad a lot of people. Biggest crowd we’ve had in our 14 months of existence and while that’s exciting, that’s not my first take away. My first take away is that our folks took time to invite their friends and loved ones because they are so excited by what God is doing in our church that they want their friends and loved ones to be a part of it. I love you church and am proud to be your Pastor.

To God be the Glory!