“What should I preach about on Easter Sunday? Help me out, here.”
That’s the gist of a tweet I saw recently from a pastor. It caught me quite off guard, and it must have had the same effect on many others who punctuated their excellent advice –“preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for our sins”- with lots of “duh’s” and other indications that this should be a no-brainer for a Christian pastor.
Traditionally, the prevailing line of thought about Easter (and Christmas) services has always been, “This is one of the two times a year that a lot of lost people go to church. It might be our only chance to reach some of them. Let’s make sure we give them the gospel.” Maybe after so many years of that, some pastors feel that their church members have heard it all before and they need to move on to something else in order to keep people’s attention. Sometimes, as a pastor, it’s tough to know just what to do to best reach people for Christ.
But, see, the thing is, Christians never move past our need for hearing the gospel again and again. Young or old. Newly saved or seasoned saint.
We need the gospel.
We need it because we forget. We forget that we are great sinners in need of a great Savior. We forget to slow down and pour out our gratitude and worship for the sacrifice of our beautiful Savior. We forget to bask in our wonder, our amazement, at His glorious and triumphant resurrection.
As Christians, every day our sin sick souls need to bow at the cross and be washed afresh in the precious, atoning blood of Christ. What can wash away my sin? Nothing –nothing- but the blood of Jesus. Daily, we must approach the tomb, see the massive stone rolled away and shout with joy over its emptiness. Hallelujah! Death has lost its victory and the grave has been denied! The very reason we worship on Sunday instead of Saturday is the celebration of an empty tomb. Every Sunday is Easter Sunday.
Remember, and rejoice!
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Michelle is a women’s Bible study author, ministry wife, and home schooling mom. She and her husband have six children in their tweens, teens, and twenties. Michelle enjoys reading, spending time with family, and staying active at church and in women’s ministry. Her goal in writing, speaking, and teaching is to train church ladies to be “Mighty Amazon Women” of God: strong in godliness, humility, submission, discernment, kindness, wisdom, apologetics, and hermeneutics.
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So very true Michelle. I personally go back and study “the basics” at least once a year, and i especially love to hear the pure gospel told over and over again.
I do too! You can have all this world, but give me Jesus! :0)
Back to the Basics is a theme in my new book. I’m so glad you’re impressing the importance of Christ’s Resurrection with others. We need more of God and less of ourselves. The pure Gospel. Just Jesus and nothing more.
I so agree, TC! :0)
Yes, nothing but the blood of Jesus. Great post!!
Thanks, Judith! :0)
Jesus is alive and HE lives within my heart (and yours too) It is so wonderful that he can be is so many places all at once now that he dwells in heaven and sent His Holy spirit to indwell us.
Thank you for your entry at “Tell Me a Story.” I have been off line due to computer failure and virus problems, but my husband gave me a different computer so I am back on line – just lost a bunch of stuff including all my e-mail addresses. This is your reminder until I rebuild my e-mail addresses.
Please return Monday around 5:00PM PST when the new week will be open for your story at: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Hazel! :0)