A Mosaic Easter

This last week we had our very first Easter worship gathering at Mosaic.

To be honest, weeks before I had already decided in my mind that I really didn't like everything that comes with Easter Sunday. People bring all types of expectations with them on Easter. Among other things, they expect your best shot. And for those of us who are missionally minded, we know that people will come on Easter who aren't normally there - meaning a great opportunity for ministry. There is a lot of pressure for pastors to deliver.

As the big day approached, so did my blood pressure. I dug in, visited and revisited familiar passages, prayed with a renewed sense of urgency, and wrote and rewrote my message - even opted to scrap half of it 1am early Easter morning.

Then finally, the morning came. We gathered, I shared the gospel, and God did something profoundly powerful in our midst. Honestly, I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. As a communicator and as a leader, I felt flat. I was disappointed in my "performance." I was convinced I had failed. But God moved anway and that morning I watched in awe as almost every person in the place responded by coming forward and surrendering all of themselves to Christ's incomprehensible love and forgiveness. There was hardly a dry eye in the place.

I can tell you something profound happens to a person when he realizes that apart from Christ, his best isn't good enough; yet in Christ, even his worst somehow can be.

As I reflect on what happened on Easter Sunday, I can't help but wish that everyone could have the awesome privilege and responsibility of preaching an Easter message at least once in their life. The discipline of reflecting on the events leading up to and immediately following the cross, the arduous work of trying to put such a glorious account into words, and the humbling privilege of striving to share it with the kind of conviction and urgency it deserves, truly leaves an indelible mark on a person.

Comments

[Nate]

That was the most immotional Church service i have ever attended! After surrendering myself, and writting down my internal struggles, i sat back down, and felt this incredible since of forgiveness, wash thru my body.

Thank You Aaron & Mosaic!

[Aaron Loy]

Nate, I am so thrilled to hear that God used that experience on Easter Sunday to reveal to you the great love He has for you, and the complete grace and forgiveness that is in Him. "It is finished" was just the beginning!

Thanks for such an encouraging note, Nate!