Yesterday, we began looking at a blog post from Pastor Paul Chappell. His message encouraged us not to just let Easter happen to us but to prepare for it. With only about 2 ½ weeks left before the Passion Week begins, it seems like we should take this time to align our hearts properly.
As we saw yesterday, this begins with worship. Pastor Chappell directed our attention to a familiar passage of Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20. “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Let’s continue with Pastor Chappell’s message as he gives us way to prepare.
- Witness
What was Christ’s instruction to His disciples? “Go ye therefore…”! They were to be His witnesses, bringing the gospel into all the world.
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
There is no time like the week leading into Easter Sunday for sharing the gospel. And I believe that this Easter, in particular, could be a significant moment. All around our communities there are people who have been affected by Covid-19 and many who are ready to reengage—especially where they are invited and welcomed to a message of hope through Christ! (Ed. He wrote this in 2022)
So, invite your unsaved family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to come to church. Engage in every outreach opportunity you can this year.
Share invitations on social media for family and friends to join you in person or online for church services…
- Work
As Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples, it didn’t end with the instruction to preach the gospel, but with the instruction to baptize new converts and disciple them in the faith.
I’ve always believed that special events like Easter Sunday should be treated by churches as the beginning of our outreach work, not the the end of it.
I pray that many people come to Lancaster Baptist Church this Easter, hear the gospel, and trust Christ as their Savior! (Ed. I pray that many people come to First Baptist Church this Easter. How about you?)
Each person who trusts Christ deserves to have a church family who cares enough to
follow up with them, invite them to follow Christ in baptism, and offer to come alongside as they grow in their faith. And each person who comes but isn’t quite ready to place their faith in Christ deserves to have a church that cares enough to follow up to see what questions they may have, pray for them, and keep pointing them to the gospel.
So let’s be faithful to obey the entire Great Commission as we preach the gospel as well as baptizing and discipling new believers.
We in 2022 (Ed. And in 2026) have the privilege of knowing and serving Christ while the rest of the world is caught in confusion, disarray, and despair. Let’s take time to worship Him. And let’s bring the rest of the world the message they most need to hear—Jesus died and rose for their sins. As we head into Easter Sunday, let’s serve Christ like the disciples did after Easter.
Three Ways Christians Should Prepare for Resurrection Sunday
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