Easter and Hope 25
Daylight saving has gone for another year which means Easter is only moments away. As I said last week, there is no easier moment to invite a friend to church than Easter. It is a free-kick cultural moment and one that people are often more ready to participate in. As I am sure you know by now, we have services on Thursday night, Friday morning, and Sunday and all the details are on the website. I cannot wait to be giving thanks for Jesus' death and resurrection with you and your friends and family at Easter.
But that is not all there is coming up.
You know, in 1 Peter 1, we read
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. (1 Peter 1:3-4)
What great relief there is in that. There is no inevitable hopelessness when you trust Jesus for he has provided us with the strong and sure hope of eternal life. The living hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the assurance that when we trust Jesus, we live even though we die.
This is the message of hope we will be proclaiming this Easter - God is not finished with us - but it is also the message for Hope Sunday, 27 April.
Hope Sunday is the Sunday after Easter and we are joining with Anglican Churches around Australia to proclaim hope to the world. Hope Sunday is an initiative designed to share hope with the whole country at the same time for the glory of Jesus.
Dave Jensen will be joining us for the day and he is a sharp, provocative and clear preacher who speaks humorously and incisively. You will not be disappointed if you bring a friend to hear Dave.
Now we know that it might be a difficult time for some to do inviting. Hope Sunday is at the end of the school holidays and many of you will only get back from the glorious 10 for 3 day break that day but it will be worth bringing your jet lagged self and a friend to church.
But also know this, our observation is that for the majority of people who became Christian in 2024, their first encounter with the gospel came through an invite to church. They did not come first to Mondays or a Growth Group or even a special Sunday like Hope Sunday. They actually just came on a normal Sunday.
So here is my encouragement to you. Invite people to Easter. Invite people to Hope Sunday. But actually, just invite people to church any week. When the Bible is opened, God is at work. So even though times like Easter are a free kick invite, lower the pressure and just invite someone anytime. We’re working hard to make every Sunday excellent. In fact, we want all of us to leave church every week saying, I am so glad I was here. So just invite people anytime, don’t wait for the mythical best time. The best time is every week.
Well, here is a prayer you can pray as we approach Easter and Hope Sunday but you can pray this for yourself and your friends any week.
God of Hope
you call on us to be your witnesses in this uncertain world;
by your Spirit awaken in us
a true vision of your kingdom,
a greater certainty of our salvation, and
a deeper dedication to your service;
that through our words and actions the same Spirit may
bring many who are lost to be found,
and for them to celebrate the hope
that we can only have in Jesus Christ,
in whose name we pray. Amen
