I have been a pastor at the Little Church on the Prairie for about five years. In that time we have had well over a hundred people join the church and/or become regular attenders at the Little Church. Of all those people, how many people asked, “What brand of Presbyterians are you folks? Are you PC(USA), PCA, EPC, ECO, Orthodox, Reformed, etc.?”

There are currently over 97 Presbyterian denominations in the United States.

Out of all the new people who are a part of the ministries of the Little Church, how many have asked what kind of Presbyterian the Little Church is?

Zero. Zip. None. Nada. Not a single person.

What kinds of questions are people asking? They are asking questions like:

• Is God for real? Is Jesus for real?
• Can God really make an impact in my life?
• Can I make a difference in my community through the Little Church?

The Little Church on the Prairie is a PC(USA) congregation. We believe Jesus is the Lord and Savior of the world and that he makes all the difference in the world. Here’s a link to what we believe.

Some have asked why we continue to be a part of the PC(USA) denomination. My response has been very simple. If I thought for one moment, that changing the denominational logo on our sign or our letterhead would lead to the Little Church on the Prairie being better at reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, if changing denominations would lead to more disciples coming to obey the teachings of Jesus Christ we would make that change in a heart beat.

The reality is the denominational affiliation has almost no impact on our on-going ministry at the Little Church on the Prairie. I would rather that we continue to focus on accomplishing our mission:

• Make disciples
• Grow disciples
• Share the love of Jesus with all people

The Little Church on the Prairie strives to do this through:

• Worship
• Small Group Ministries – FOCUS Groups
• Family Ministries
• Outreach Ministries

We will continue to focus on our main mission. There are many in our community who still do not know the awesome love of Jesus Christ.

One of the last things Jesus uttered on the cross were the words, “It is finished.”

When Jesus uttered his last dying moments, “It is finished,” Jesus was proclaiming…

• that as the perfect and obedient Son to all that the Father had sent him to do, Jesus completed the work when and how the Father wanted it done, Jesus declared, “It is finished.”
• that as Jesus looked back upon the tapestry of his life, he looked at the lives that had been touched, the people who were healed, the salvation that he would usher in for all who would place their hope and trust in Jesus, he declared, “It is finished.”
• that as the perfect high priest, Jesus looked at the sacrifice of his body, his blood, his life, Jesus declared, “It is finished.”

Jesus came to do his Father’s will and he did it. He came to purchase our redemption and he did it. He came to do the great work of salvation and he did it.

All the Old Testament prophesies and pictures of Christ in the tabernacle furnishings, the priestly ministry, the sacrificial system are complete and finished in the life, death, and the resurrection of Jesus.

The reason why Easter is such a big deal for Christians is because in Jesus those who were dead in sin are made alive. Easter is the reason why Christians are made sons and daughters of the King of kings, the Lord of lords.

But we can miss all this.

There were hundreds of witnesses to the death of Jesus Christ and they missed it.

• To the high priest who was present for the trial of Jesus, Jesus was nothing but a dying lunatic who thought he was God
• To Pilate who sentenced Jesus to the cross, Jesus was nothing but a common rabble-rouser, another failed Messiah
• To the Roman soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross, Jesus was nothing but a common criminal
• To the crowds who spat upon Jesus, mocking him to save himself from the cross as he had saved others, Jesus was nothing but a false prophet

They were all there and they totally missed it.

And the sad thing is, you could miss it too.

In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God has given to us the greatest gift – the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ, the opportunity to live life here on earth with passion and purpose…and we can miss it.

Don’t miss it. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, died for you and for me. Don’t miss it. There is only one way to salvation: faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Is he your Lord and Savior? He can be if you will accept his finished work on the cross, and ask Jesus to save you.

Listen, accept, and receive God’s fantastic truth…God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that, whosoever should believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus loves you. Jesus is everything you’ve been searching for in your life.

Happy Easter!

We’re all for change…as long as we don’t have to change. While people are all for the idea of change, it’s the actual change part that we have issues with.

Now, there’s scientific explanation as to why that is.

John Medina has been studying how the brain works. In his book, “Brain Rules” he tells us that when people are hooked up to machines to record how the brain is functioning, a change event looks identical to a pain event. As far as the brain is concerned, change is pain for the brain.

That’s why every smoker knows that smoking is bad for them. But they have a difficult time quitting because change is pain for the brain.

I know that I need to lose about 25 pounds. And yet those 25 pounds are so difficult to lose because I like food. Change is pain for the brain.

What is true for individuals is also true for institutions and churches. Whenever change is necessary for the church, it is imperative that leaders understand that what they are doing is creating a pain event. That’s why churches and institutions know they need to change but have such difficulty actually changing.

The only way people change is when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing.

When leading change, it is absolutely vital that leaders advocate for and articulate not only for the change, but why staying the same is unacceptable and undesirable. In fact, a leader will have to convince folks staying the same would be even more painful than changing.

Change can happen, but if you are leading change, remember this simple rule: change is pain for the brain. Articulate both why the change is necessary, why staying the same is unacceptable, and why staying the same would be way more painful than changing.