Life after Death.......Think about It!
       Sermon Notes relating the text to current issues.

Easter is celebrated not only by Christians but almost the entire population of many countries. Now, this celebration might mean a bunny bringing a basket full of candy or a children’s hunt for colored hard boiled eggs.  But it is still a celebration on the day that is the most meaningful in the Christian Church. It is a joyful day!  A day of hope!  The long gloomy winter days with barren trees are being replaced by the sun shining down on the greening branch buds. 

A day of joy!

I love the following story. It was sent by one of our subscribers:

• It was June 18, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo. The French under the command of Napoleon were fighting the allied forces of the British, Dutch, and Germans under the command of Wellington. The people of England depended on a system of signals to find out how the battle was going. One of these signals was on the tower of Winchester Cathedral.

• Late in the day it flashed the signal: “W - E - L - L - I - N - G - T - O - N - - - D - E - F - E - A - T - E - D - - -.” Just at that moment a fog cloud made it impossible to read the message. The news of defeat quickly spread throughout the city. The whole countryside was sad and gloomy when they heard the news that their country had lost the war. Suddenly, the fog lifted, and the remainder of the message could be read. The message had four words, not two. The complete message was: “W - E - L - L - I - N - G - T - O - N - - - D - E - F - E - A - T - E - D - - - T - H - E - - - E - N - E - M - Y!” It took only a few minutes for the good news to spread. Sorrow was turned into joy, defeat was turned into victory!

• So it was when Jesus was laid in the tomb. Hope had died in the hearts of Jesus’ most loyal friends. After the frightful crucifixion, the fog of disappointment and misunderstanding had crept in on the friends of Jesus. They had read only part of the message. “Christ defeated” was all they knew. But then on the third day the fog of disappointment and misunderstanding lifted, and the world received the complete message: “Christ defeated death!” Defeat was turned into victory; death was turned into life!

Now, the following isn’t sermon material as such.  But it is a very important topic and I think Easter is an appropriate time to discuss it.  I want to address all those pastors of small churches who are seeing their numbers disastrously dwindling.  Let's face it.  According to all current statistics, death to your churches could be a very real possibility.  In fact, we are in the "post Christian era" according to many theologians.

Yet, maybe death to the “we always do it this way” kind of church would be a good thing, if it is resurrected into a new vital, passionate church.  I believe there is a new life in your churches' future if you only believe and take action.  

There are new paths to take.  I think it must be one that addresses both the spiritual and the societal issues that affect each member in your church and beyond into the world.  One that takes the biblical text and applies it to the current critical desires and issues that have meaning to the emerging population.   One that respects the spiritual needs of the congregants.

• Let's begin with the spiritual  Young people today are spiritul.  How often have you preached about the mystical experience?  One Sunday, I shared my encounter with God and the people were astonished that I would reveal such a story.  I learned that many were afraid to talk about these type of supernatural occurrences.  There is a real hunger for more information.  Books based on spirituality are best seller fodder even though the church should be the logical place to seek answers.

Were you aware that almost half of all religious people claim they have had a supernatural experience in their lives?  That number has more than doubled since 1962. 

• According to Pew Research, these kinds of experiences are particularly common among the "religious unaffiliated" (i.e., those who describe their religion as "nothing in particular." Pew claims 51% have had a religious or mystical experience.  

Address this huge population:  Advertise your church on the entertainment page to reach the unchurched.  After all, they will not be looking on the religion page of your newspaper.  Or better yet, have someone write up a press release for a speaker or a muician/singer for free publicity.

And once there, wouldn’t that large group of unchurched people come if they knew they would find a home that respected their spiritual experience?  Instead of books, what if your church became a source for them? 

Some churches discourage spiritual, mystical talk.  They worry that these experiences might conflict with their denominational dogma.  Yet, most Americans are non dogmatic in their approach to religion.  (I doubt Americans are alone in their liberal approach.)  There is an openness to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue that younger people are demanding.  Could this history of silence be based on the fact that pastors are intimidated if they had not had an experience themselves?

“Doing church” in a new way would be a way of introducing a new direction. 

Please read this vital, interesting survey: http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report2religious-landscape-study-key-findings.pdf

I believe the necessary ingredient on that new path for a church is producing a liturgy that is a compelling collaboration of integrating the text and current critical social issues …..with programs that implement action, bringing the passionate words of Jesus to life.

You can't just stand in back of your lectern and read off a script any more.  Bring life to your service with images and music and outside speakers on significant topics. 

The following videos are some ideas on the churches of the future:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRtQM5lO0aw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lspey8iGoWk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxy9sF0OQfQ

I have been visiting a new church a week these past few months.  And I will write about my findings later.  However, I do want to emphasize this morning:  the churches that are continuing  to do church the same way they did 20 years ago have a smell of death about them.   

Many of you have placed importance on the entire worship service and are integrating the visual, music and the message into an impressive inspirational experience.  What about you? 

Is there life after death for the Christian Church?  Will your church survive?

Think about it!