Join Us As We Honor the Risen Lord This Sunday

Certainly, the resurrection of Christ was an important event. Paul said the resurrection was part of the foundation of the gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope for eternal life (Romans 6:5; John 11:25-26). If it were not for the resurrection of Christ, we would have no hope (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). The resurrection of Jesus from the dead needs to be proclaimed, not just during the time of Easter, but throughout the year. However, it is important to note that Easter is not found in the Bible. It was an invention of men. Nowhere did Jesus instruct His followers to observe it. Nowhere did His apostles direct the early church to celebrate it. Nowhere do we find any example of the early Christians having a special day to remember the resurrection of Christ. Does any of that matter? It should matter to us. Jesus said of the Pharisees, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:8-9). Though we may seek to honor the Lord, if we attempt to do so using man-made religious practices, our worship is in vain. The way we honor the Lord is by obeying Him. Rather than instructing His disciples to commemorate His resurrection, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper so they would remember His death each first day of the week (Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 20:7). When the Lord’s church in the first century assembled, in addition to observing the Lord’s Supper, they also engaged in prayer (Acts 2:42), teaching (Acts 20:7), singing (Ephesians 5:19), and also giving on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:2). These are the things we are to do “every week” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Our aim is to honor Christ – the one who died for our sins and was raised from the dead to give us hope. He has been given “all authority…in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, as His disciples, we strive to “observe all that [He] commanded” (Matthew 28:20). You are invited to join us this Sunday – as well as any other time you are able – and learn more about what it means to honor Christ without man-made doctrines and religious practices. –Andy Sochor