Will the Sunday(s) After Easter be a Letdown? (It Doesn't Have To Be)

The following article by veteran music leader Bob Kauflin addresses an all too common experience and answers a really important question:  Will the Sunday(s) After Easter be a Letdown?  Enjoy.

"Many pastors, music leaders, and tech personnel are breathing a deep sigh of relief after this past weekend. After all the planning, strategizing, prayer, preparation, and practice, the Good Friday/Easter weekend service(s) finally happened. Everything came together and people were well served. The music was moving, the preaching powerful, and the effect exhilarating. And throughout the world, thousands of people were baptized and saved for the glory of God.

But you may be starting to wonder what you’re going to do next Sunday. Maybe you’re even asking yourself, “How do I keep this coming Sunday from being a major letdown?” The anxiety is already setting in.

Here are some reasons why we can be tempted to think next Sunday might not be quite as “amazing” as this past Sunday:

A) No doubt your church was like most in that you saw an increased number of unbelieving guests, visitors, and family members who think that Easter and Christmas are the only appropriate times to fulfill their religious obligation.

B) You probably don’t have as much in the budget for this coming Sunday as you did for Easter. That means you and others might not to put as much effort or thought into it.

C) The people in your church probably received daily reminders last week that Easter was coming. This coming Sunday will probably sneak up on them like it does every week. They might not prepare as much nor look forward to it so eagerly.

D) After the hyper-preparation leading up to Easter maybe you’re really looking forward to the opportunity to get back to normal. Some leaders won’t think as carefully nor intentionally about the cross and resurrection and will pick songs that people just enjoy.

Resurrection Sunday is Finally Here!!

Today we gather as redeemed sinners to celebrate, worship, and sing gospel tunes with words like this:

"Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away. Rising, He justified freely forever. One day He’s coming-
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
Glorious day, Oh, Glorious day!"

And- "Death cannot keep his prey— Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away—Jesus my Lord!"
...Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

And- “See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, “Christ is risen!”
See God’s salvation plan,
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

10 Ways to Show Christian Love to Guests on Easter Sunday

"It will likely be one of the highest attended days of the year for your church...There will be some people you don’t know. Some of them are guests. Others are members who attend infrequently.

You have an opportunity to make a loving Christian impression on these people with a few simple acts. Indeed, you have an opportunity to make an eternal difference.

Here are ten servant actions for you to consider.

1) Pray as you enter the property. Pray for the guests. Pray for the services. Pray for the pastor and the sermon.

2) Park at the most distant spot available. Save the closer parking places for guests.

3) Greet people. They may be guests. They may be members. It’s okay to introduce yourself to either.

4) Look for people to help. You know the place well. Many others will not. Be a guide. Help someone who looks like he or she needs help.

5) Sit as close as possible to the front of the worship center. Save the back rows for guests and late entrants, so they don’t have to walk past so many people.

6) Sit in the middle. Don’t claim that aisle seat where people have to walk over you or past you.