It's Not About the Pancakes

Looking Ahead to Easter Weekend

It’s only ever always all about Jesus.

If you don’t attend my church, you’ve probably never heard that phrase before. It’s commonplace around our church. It might sound a little clunky to you. It did to me at first. However, it’s so true and a good reminder. Let’s break it down.

It’s only (there’s no alternative)

ever (at any time)

always (at all times)

all (there is no other part)

about Jesus.

Easter weekend is the Super Bowl of church services. We gear up with our best foot forward knowing that people will be walking through the doors who might never have been to church before or this might be their one annual attendance (two if they make it to Christmas). We want to make an impact. We want them to hear the gospel. We want the power of the Holy Spirit to strike them wherever they’re at in their walk.

It’s only ever always all about Jesus.

We spend more time making sure the worship is top notch for this Sunday. We put extra time into planning and practicing. We make sure the slides look great. We make sure our lighting cues are solid. We make sure we have smiling people greeting you as you enter the lobby. We have better coffee than other Sundays. We have welcome bags. We bought new mugs. We updated our signs. We got t-shirts for those who are serving.

It’s only ever always all about Jesus.

Our church does a breakfast in between services. So, while people are singing songs or listening to the sermons, our volunteers are setting up tables and chairs. We have people cooking pancakes to a perfect golden brown. We have the coffee brewed, the syrup warm, and the orange juice ready to go. We’ve got people to serve you when you enter and others to clean up when you leave.

It’s only ever always all about Jesus.

We updated our website. We made extra posts on social media inviting people. We made postcards. We designed handouts for parents to use in our services. We put together devotional bags for kids. We got extra volunteers for the nursery. We bought a photo backdrop. We rearranged the lobby.

It’s only ever always all about Jesus.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). That’s why we do it. At least that’s what we say. And I do think most of us mean it. But shame on us if we’re actually making it about the music. If we make it about the sermon. If we make it about the pancakes. If we make it about anything other than Jesus. This isn’t just an Easter mentality; this should be our mentality every week. Every day. Every moment.

Easter is about Jesus. We know that. But just like the Israelites throughout the entire Old Testament, we often need reminded. We need to remember that if the electric guitar snaps a string, if the preacher stumbles over his words, if the sound guy forgets to unmute, if the pancakes are only mediocre, that all is not lost. We ought to be doing our best in order to glorify God, but it doesn’t rest on us. We can’t ruin God’s plan. We can’t ruin his power. Likewise, we can’t move where he isn’t. We can’t change hearts where his Spirit is not working. He uses us; we don’t use him.

As you spend time with family and friends, as you hunt for eggs, as you go to church, as you eat the pancakes, just remember:

It’s only ever always all about Jesus.