As we get ready to make a big deal out of worship this Easter weekend, let me commend to you Bruce Reyes-Chow’s piece, Why Churches Should Stop Making a Big Deal Out of Easter Worship:

The problem I have is that we too often put on a “show” for visitors rather than invite them to experience the community that is the church. How powerful would it be to have an Easter worship service that is inspiring, energetic, moving and transformative and be able to say, “If you have experienced something profound today, do come back, because this is what is like every Sunday here at …”

You see, by creating these “productions,” especially around Easter, most churches only perpetuate the practice of coming to church only on special days because we have, in fact, said that this day is more worthy than any others.

You could build a discipleship strategy on that thought, you know.

Whether you choose to make a big deal out of worship this Easter weekend or not, here are two church fundraising strategies to definitely avoid on this and every other weekend:

• When members of one congregation refused to donate their tax refunds to the church parking lot fundraiser, their pastor allegedly refused them communion and called them devils and demons. Happy Easter, everybody!
• Call & Response calls our attention to a church that hopes to boost attendance at their Easter service this Sunday by giving away cash prizes to two lucky–er, blessed–attendees.

So what’s the alternative to calling your members devils and demons or giving them money for showing up?

To remember this:

Easter is more than just a day to be commemorated with our finest clothes and a trip to the local church for a special service. It is the starting line for discipleship.  In the early church, Easter marked the day new believers were baptized and set apart for a life of structured, methodical discipleship intended to lead to fullness in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Happy Easter, dear reader.