I tossed the ball to Assistant Pastor Justin McCarty to launch our brand new Easter Series LOST last weekend and he and our artists hit it out of the park! (Did you SEE that set?!?) God has so much in store for us as we unpack His ultimate rescue plan for our lives in this series. I can’t WAIT! (Get your friends here!)
Here are Justin’s reflections from this weekend:
I can’t believe that we’re doing LOST in church! I’m so excited about the potential for this Easter series — I think God has substantial stuff in store for everyone over the next 5 weeks. Personally, it was such a privilege to teach this first week… thanks so much for the ball, Pete! Here are a few things that are sticking with me as I reflect over Week 1 of LOST…
1. The artists knocked it out the park — especially the craftsmen & set teams! Everyone who walked through the doors was blown away by the full-size jet engine and airplane fuselage on the stage! I’ve never seen anything like it in a church and I’m so proud of our teams for stepping into new creative territory with such excellence!
2. That crash experience — with video, lighting, sound all around the auditorium, and even leaf blowers creating wind in the room — was UNBELIEVABLE. Again, a big shout-out to our artists for dreaming up something that Disney would have been jealous of! You really honored God and helped us viscerally experience what He he had for us.
3. People were so psyched jump into a Easter series revolving around “Lost” — even if you had never seen the show before, there was no denying how easy it was to feel drawn in to the story line. I met lots of people who said they were going to start watching the TV show (smart move!)
4. “What was the crash in your life?” — what event, crisis or choice left you running around in the wreckage looking for survivors? We’ve all experienced moments that have left us feeling lost.
5. Taking a cue from “You Might Be a Redneck If…”, we launched out with “You Might Be Lost If…” – clues to help us identify areas we’re lost:
• “…if someone tries to help you and it ticks you off.”
• “…if you’re seeing the same landmarks again & again.”
• “…if you won’t stop.”
So how about it — is there a place where you’re lost?
6. “While we are looking for something, the Bible tells us we are looking for Someone — and that He’s looking for us.” I loved the way Acts 17 helped us see that for all our “feeling our way” toward God, He’s already on His way toward us.
7. Lots of folks related to my brother, Ross’ story of discounting Christianity as a possible answer to the deep questions inside of us. I’ll never forget watching him getting taken off guard by what he experienced at Quest, so much so that he was compelled to “put Jesus back on the table” as a legit option. I think lots of us did this past weekend.
8. “Jesus knows what you’re looking for” — no matter if you’re thirsty (John 7:37-38), in the dark (John 8:12), or worn out & weary (Matt. 11:28-30, Message). He always knows what our hearts are actually looking for.
9. “Jesus is moved by your lostness” — The way you and I feel in our lostness actually affects the heart of God. I love that Jesus doesn’t insulate himself from our pain, but enters into it and lets it break his heart (Mark 6:34, Luke 19:41-42).
10. “Jesus has an impressive track record of finding people” — millions of people, including 11,000 over the past 10 years at Quest, have found Jesus to be everything they were looking for. Wherever you may be lost, you are not the exception to his ability to find you.
Keep seeking, asking, and knocking, Questers! (Matthew 7:7-8) Jesus’ promise, throughout this Easter series, is that you really will find what you’re looking for!