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Post Easter Reflections
Posted in: Uncategorized by DannyTice on April 7, 2010
It is Wednesday after Easter 2010. Lots of people were in church on Sunday. Seating was crammed as well as parking. Bay Shore Community Church was a fun place to be on Sunday. There was a lot of energy and excitement in the air. For me this Easter the Lord impressed upon me to tell the message straight. There is nothing wrong with creative ways to preach; using humor and stories to engage people in your big idea is definitely a good thing. Jesus told stories and all great communicators use a variety of methods to make their point useful and memorable. This year my message was stripped down to just telling the message of the cross and the resurrection. I discovered that the story of Jesus has inherent power to change people powerfully. I, like Paul the Apostle many years before me, preached Christ and him crucified. Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 2:2-5:
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:2-5 NIV
Ironically we as communicators sometimes believe the message of Jesus needs propping up by our cleverness. The message of the gospel has innate power in and of itself. Like a seed pregnant with life, the gospel when clearly sown, always bears fruit. In the New Testament book of Romans Paul said, “It is the power of God unto salvation, first for the Jews and then for the Gentiles.” Romans 1:16. I am sure the Lord will permit me to share, and even encourage me, to share with humor and with anecdotes and stories in the future but it was not his will for Easter this year. “Tell the story straight and see what happens” he seemed to say to me. I told the story straight and people came forward in groups to receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Some were weeping under conviction – others even shaking with emotion as the gospel pierced their hearts as they fled the judgment of God to find refuge under the tree (the cross). More people came to Christ this Easter than any Easter I have preached for the past 30 years. It was an Easter I will not soon forget. I saw again the fresh power of the gospel. The story of Jesus is so powerful and bright it clearly eclipses all other human stories – regardless of how good they are. We as communicators must remember that the gospel is not a story but it is “The Story” and the gospel is the only story that ultimately will alter the future of souls without Christ. Telling the story straight is always the best way.
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Dear Pastor Danny,
Yet another amazing Sunday with you as you preach to us GODS WORD in your own way so that we as followers and Christians can truly know what the LORD promises us that is is there for us of only we ask.
As it was my first Easter Sunday in Bayshore, I can with pure joy in my heart tell you this was my best Easter Sunday ever.
This Sunday your alter call touched my daughter’s heart as she has wanted to walk again with GOD. She has no dark history, or addictions, just merely slowly faded out of church as some young adults tend to do. She now for the past few weeks has come to Bayshore to join with Mom & Dad, and is excited to come back each and every Sunday. As you asked people to come forward, she grabbed my hand and asked me “Mom-please come with me”. I think it was one of best walks I have taken in my life, as my dream of having my family together in church again after a few years of Mom going alone, has come full circle, having us together as one in church now every Sunday.
This has been no easy journey for me, but my deepest prayers have been fufilled, and I know there are only good things to come.
Thank you, for the special way you preach to help all of us understand that GODS PROMISES are there if only we let HIM in.
And yes with you it is never boring. And for a Mom that has had a relative or two actually fall asleep in service at other churches, without mentioning any names, your service keeps us all on our toes and our hearts fufilled with GODS love for us, and a little humor and fun along the way.
It was my sincere pleasure to finally meet you on Sunday.
Thank you for preaching a message each Sunday that always makes us excited to come back each week.
May GOD bless you as you teach us how to better walk with the HIM.
Comment by Leslie Doyle on April 7, 2010 at 8:24 pm