I just wanted to encourage fellow pastors out there today. For many pastors and churches you are now one week removed from the largest attendance in the history of your church, or at the very least, for the year.
Easter is the Super Bowl of church services. In most churches, every chair (or pew) is full. You add extra services, schedule extra volunteers and pull out the stops to welcome and love on the guests that God brings to your church. The Gospel is preached and people respond to salvation. The energy on Easter Sunday is electric, people are excited and you feel on top of the world. That was March 27th of 2016.
Yesterday was April 3rd. On April 3rd, in most places, there were not nearly as many people. The energy was not quite the same. There weren’t as many guests. It was back to “business as usual.” Yesterday might have been one of the best days you’ve had in a long time, but as the follow up to Easter, it just doesn’t feel as great, does it?
It’s very easy for us pastors to get caught up in the hype and high of Easter. The place is full and that feels good. Energy is high and it seems like that made our sermon better. We broke records and for that we pat ourselves on the back. But let’s not forget what REALLY matters.
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This is going to seem like a shift in topic, but bear with me. On Friday morning I was taking my kids to school and listening to the Dan Patrick show on sports radio. Dan was interviewing Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari, whose team was eliminated from the NCAA basketball tournament early on. Kentucky won their regular season conference title, their conference tournament and was a #4 seed in this year’s tournament with a real shot at a run for the title. In Kentucky nation, anything less than a national title is a let down. Dan asked John about how he deals with fans who are upset that Kentucky had a “down year” compared to winning a title. Coach Cal’s words were profound. He said:
“At the end of your life, your legacy won’t be about how many titles you won. Your legacy will be who you touch and who you move in this life.”
I think I said out loud in my truck, “That’ll preach right there!”
Pastor, your legacy will not be about how many people were in church on Easter Sunday. It won’t be about how many people were in church on ANY Sunday. Your legacy is not how energetic it was, how many guests came or anything else that we measure. Your legacy as a pastor is going to be who you touch and who you move in this life. I believe, when we are faithful to the God who calls us, He will use us to touch people and move people every single week…no matter HOW many people are in the seats.
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