Tag Archives: Easter

Preaching in the Mirror: It’s Not Me

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I know I’m not alone in this one.

When I look in the mirror I sometimes see someone who thinks the weight of the world is on my shoulders.  Easter is coming and this might be one of the most likely times of the year for anxiety to set in for worship pastors.  We plan for months to create the best worship experience we can.  Sometimes there’s fear every step of the way in the planning and preparation.  The night before is often a sleepless one for me.

“I hope nothing goes wrong”

“I hope “they” like it”

“I hope we don’t make christianity look too weird to unchurched people”

“I hope everyone shows up”

I hope I hope I hope I hope…..

Ugh, it’s painful for me to think about how often that scenario has played out in my life.

But it’s not me.

It’s not me that changes lives.  It’s Jesus!

God has given me gifts, tools, experience, influence, and resources to point people to Him, so that HE can change lives.  I can serve Jesus by using those well to glorify Him, but then I need to release the work to Him.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

Jesus wants a relationship with every single person.  I believe that with all my heart.  Jesus is going to pursue the lost just as much on Easter Sunday in the middle of all the celebration as He is on the Monday after.  He’s going to keep chasing after us whether we’ve planned a service or not.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Luke 19:10

It’s not me

It’s not you

It’s Jesus

rest in that

To Magnify

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photo credit: Emmanuel Dyan

This week I was asked a question that has caused me to reflect.

I was prepping for Easter, doing some budget planning, and making sure we had everything lined up for our Easter Celebration service plans.  We try to communicate to our congregation that Easter is a big deal.  We want them to understand that this celebration of the resurrection of Jesus is foundational to our faith and worth having a party for and we want to invite them into that celebration.  This means we usually do a little more in the way of lighting, and “production” if you’d like to call it that.

So I was asked, “why”?

and I’ve reflected on that a bit this week

As I mentioned we think Easter Sunday is a big deal, but this person already knew that.  But how does lighting, or projection, or video communicate that Easter is a big deal?  Because it’s certainly not about throwing an elaborate, expensive looking party.  I like to honour our congregation’s stewardship by being careful with how we spend money for the weekend services.

And it’s not about matching what the bigger church down the street can do so people decide to come to your church on Easter Sunday instead of theirs.  Oh please agree with me that it’s not about THAT!

It’s about worship.  Ascribing worth to our God, our Saviour, and our King.

Our desire is to Magnify the name of Jesus.

I grew up in Europe where I developed a love for medieval cathedrals and churches.  I loved staring at the stained glass images of bible stories and climbing the steps to the top of the spire to find myself at the highest point of the city.  Those buildings were built to magnify our God and to direct our gaze heavenward.

I’m inspired by those buildings to use more than just words on Easter Sunday, and every Sunday for that matter to magnify my God, the one and only true God who I hope and pray everyone will come to know personally.  We live in a world where so much attention is focused inward.  As worship leaders we choose songs that express our worship to God and teach truth about who He is and what He’s done for us.  Our worship spaces can also be set up in a way that reflects the beauty, creativity, and majesty of the creator.

So as a worship leader I encourage you to look beyond just the words.  Direct hearts to God, in any way you can, with all the creativity the Holy Spirit has given you.

 

for more resources on worship spaces and art used in worship check out…

http://www.visualworshiper.com/

http://www.davidsantistevan.com/2012/03/art-and-the-church/