We just celebrated one of the biggest days for church attendance in America. Churches were packed, preachers were excited, and nursery workers were exhausted!
Now what? Are we content to have one day of impact on the unchurched and dechurched?
"I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation..." Psalm 40:10
Sometimes churches view Easter as their shot. They spruce up the decorations, throw away some junk, and bring out the double-barrel gospel sermon for those unwitting souls who wandered in the doors. However, this thinking misses the individual call of disciples and keeps the gospel "hidden".
Don't hide the gospel at church
Churches should preach the gospel. But we live in a society that is growing skeptical of the church and its message. Believing that Sunday's sermon is the greatest opportunity to reach the lost, will always miss a large part of the population that isn't wandering into church, even on Easter.
Churches should preach the gospel. But we live in a society that is growing skeptical of the church and its message. Believing that Sunday's sermon is the greatest opportunity to reach the lost, will always miss a large part of the population that isn't wandering into church, even on Easter.
Don't hide the gospel in your heart
We are to hide God's Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11), but as fuel to resist sin, submit to God, and be a witness to the lost. People rarely come up and ask if I might happen to know the way to Heaven. So I must speak of God's faithfulness and salvation within my circles of influence (school, work, family). Not all will care, but some will.
We are to hide God's Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11), but as fuel to resist sin, submit to God, and be a witness to the lost. People rarely come up and ask if I might happen to know the way to Heaven. So I must speak of God's faithfulness and salvation within my circles of influence (school, work, family). Not all will care, but some will.
The Easter story only becomes boring and stale when we put it away for the year. Like those women on the first Easter Sunday, let us go out as a witness of the empty tomb and a powerful Savior!
Would you say that Easter is looked upon as the religious New Years resolution. A reason to start something, but never has the chance to be long lasting? Is it the pastors responsibility to make it that way, and how do you influence people to see that it should be part of their lives, and not a one day musical chair event?
ReplyDeleteI think it's just more of a concession. I see some unhappy spouses, kids who are there to appease the believer in their life. The pastor's responsibility is to preach the word, but I have learned to not put the response of others on my shoulders.
ReplyDeleteThat's good. Because I think that may cause undue stress. Do you ever feel heartbroken that sometimes you feel your word has reached someone and then to turn around and see that those you have reached may turn against you? Or is it more like, an expectation or realization that it may not reach everyone, but if you can touch the heart of one, it make all worth it?
ReplyDeleteThere are times that people will turn or stray from their commitments and even turn angry. This often comes because they know they are making choices that simply cannot work with their faith, so I don't take it personally, but pray they will submit to God's conviction in their lives.
ReplyDelete