The resurrection of Christ is the distinguishing event of Christianity and the critical point in our salvation (1 Corinthians 15:17–19). The Great Commission is the critical command in spreading the gospel (Matthew 28:19–20), and our obedience to this command is the distinguishing mark of a growing church.
Not only are we specifically commanded by Christ to carry the message of the Gospel, but we are constrained by the love of Christ to tell the world of our Saviour and His gift of eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:14–15).
The celebration of Resurrection Sunday presents a golden opportunity for obeying Christ’s command and making the offer of salvation known to our community.
Of all the Sundays of the year, this is the one when many “unchurched” people will plan to attend church somewhere for Easter. Many of these people have no real basis for deciding which church to attend. They will choose the church nearest them or one of the denomination their grandparents attended…or one to which they are specifically invited.
As our church family discovers every year, hundreds of people will attend a gospel-preaching church on Easter Sunday based on a simple invitation, hand delivered to their doorstep.
Each year, our church family works to prepare an Easter presentation celebrating the resurrection. The choir, orchestra, and a drama team work diligently to produce a presentation of Christ’s love, sacrificial death, and the power of the resurrection.
In the weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we canvas our community inviting people to come. People invite their families, neighbors, coworkers, and friends to this event. And each year, many people trust Christ as their Saviour.
All of us should have the deepest gratefulness for Christ’s death for us, and we should enthusiastically rejoice in His resurrection. What better way to do both than to obey His Great Commission?
What are you doing to make Christ’s resurrection known? Who specifically are you praying for and making an effort to reach with the gospel during this season? Let’s not miss this opportunity!