Jesus didn’t sit in an office and study all week so He could preach a good sermon. He got out among people and served them. Bob Goff, author of the books, Love Does and Everybody Always, puts it this way: “When Jesus rose from the dead He didn’t make a speech, He made His friends breakfast.”

Through out history, Christians have gathered in informal, unorganized groups to encourage and minister to one another. However, when human leadership and organization begin to override the voice of the Spirit, institutional church replaces the New Testament concept of informal, Spirit-led ekklesia.

Christianity is submissive cooperation with Christ, not a corporation that claims to represent Christ. If you’ve ever felt rejected by the institutional church, remember Jesus was rejected by the institutional synagogue.

Christianity proclaims Jesus is alive, so those of us who are Christians need to live like He is by listening to and obeying Him. You can’t follow the risen Jesus, if you’re unwilling to obey Him over self, other people, organizations, and government! (See Acts 5:29.)

To me, programming Christian worship is like programming the fans in March Madness. It kills the passion and spontaneity.

Here’s an observation. Visit a 12 step group and they’ll let you speak in the meeting. Visit a church service and they won’t.

Perhaps Palm Sunday means we’re supposed to put our palms together and give the risen Jesus a rousing, standing ovation! After all, on Palm Sunday, Jesus said this about the people making lots of noise for Him: “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Holy Week? The holiness of a week depends on whether you walk with the risen Jesus; not on the dates on a church calendar. Holy Week reminds me that while I am wholly weak in self, I am a new creature in Christ!

A dead Jesus can’t lead a church service. The risen Jesus can! Let’s let Him. Since Easter means that Jesus is alive, perhaps churches could have an open mic and let Jesus direct the Easter service. Instead, on Easter churches proclaim Jesus is alive, but then tightly program and control the Easter service as if He’s not.

Bible commentaries and sermons are fine, but they can’t compare to reading the Bible for yourself with an open heart! Religious ritual or routine can never replace the richness of direct revelation from and ongoing relationship with the risen Jesus!