Are you like most people and think of Easter as a holiday to be celebrated once a year? Does your vision of Easter contain a large Easter dinner, egg hunts, and boys and girls in suits and dresses? Easter should be thought of differently. Instead of being a day of remembrance, what if it became a catalyst to a renewed sense of purpose in your life? Instead of seeing Easter as a holiday, what if it became a Christian work day, that all Jesus followers use to inspire them to take on the Great Commission and the Great Commandment? When the early church was getting started it was important to know what their mission was. Because of their new identity as “Christians” it was important that they focus on Jesus’ commission to “go and make disciples.” As they took the first steps as a church, the Book of Acts says that:

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. (Acts 4:32-33)

Notice that they were “united in hearts and minds” as to what was necessary to share the story of Jesus. Everyone was on the same page. This principle is still important today. As a church, Westwind needs to understand its mission in the world. Everyone who calls Westwind their worshipping community needs take ownership in that endeavor.

Secondly, the apostles testified to the resurrection of Jesus. They made sure everyone knew what they were about. This, too, is important today. In a court of law a person testifies as to what they have seen and experienced. Jesus followers should live a life that is a testimony to what Jesus has done in their lives.

Lastly, the writer of Acts wants the reader to know that “God’s great blessing was upon them all.” The people were blessed by God because of their work to expand the kingdom. What a compliment to say about a person, or a church: they are greatly blessed by God! The blessing comes as a result, not as a precursor. Their participation in the fulfillment of the Great Commission opened up blessing for them.

As Westwind enters into its second Easter season, we want to use this opportunity to challenge ourselves as a worshipping community to encounter the resurrection in our daily lives. This happens as people open their lives to “testifying powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.”

We are offering a 4-week Resurrection Encounter to help inspire and equip people to make Easter an opportunity to spread the Good News of the resurrection in their environments. Over the next four weeks we are offering daily devotionals that will walk the reader through a four-step missional approach (Prepare, Prayer, Care, Share). We hope you will participate in this with us as we seek to make this Easter season an opportunity to receive “God’s great blessing.”