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If you’ve hung around the Fishhook team long enough, you know that this is a phrase you might hear us saying. “Never Upstage the Resurrection” is a guiding principle in how we help churches plan and communicate (and really walk through all of life.) This phrase keeps the focus where it should be – on Jesus and the life-changing power of His death and resurrection.

We originally said this phrase about the things that we might plan and communicate on Easter. Easter Sunday isn’t the time for distractions, big announcements or anything that competes with the gospel message. Instead, Easter is about celebrating Christ, clearly sharing His victory and inviting people to respond.

So for this important celebration that all churches are planning for, how can you keep the main thing the main thing?

Here are a few things to remember in order to help us never upstage the resurrection:

Keep Easter Centered on Jesus

• Every aspect of the church service from the music, preaching, visuals, and special activities should point back to Christ’s resurrection and its impact on our lives.
• With that in mind, avoid cluttering Easter Sunday with too many extras. Church announcements, ministry spotlights, generosity campaigns, etc. can wait.
• If there’s a new initiative or something big coming, save the big reveal for the following Sunday or another time when it won’t overshadow the gospel message. Easter Sunday is a great time to invite people back and get them excited to hear some upcoming news. 

Make the Message Clear

• Assume that there will be guests in the room and many will be hearing the gospel for the first time or reconnecting with faith. I think we know that Easter brings newcomers, but we don’t always shift to help those people fully understand and connect. Go the extra mile and make sure things are clear and easy to understand. 
• Keep all the content for the day focused, compelling and invitational. Guide people to a next step that brings them closer to Christ.
• Use language that resonates with both your current congregation and those unfamiliar with church-y words. It’s okay to say the words but make sure to explain what those words might mean. We never want a newcomer to feel out of place because they don’t understand the language.

Focus on Next Steps, Not Just Attendance

• Easter Sunday isn’t just about filling seats, it’s about helping people take their next step toward Jesus. Offer a clear and simple invitation for what’s next:
  • A follow-up sermon series that continues the journey.
  • A next-step experience like baptism or a newcomers’ class.
  • A devotional study to help people grow in their understanding of who Christ is. 
  • Sometimes just a friendly hello from a congregation member inviting them into conversation and asking if they’ll see them again next Sunday is the best form of connection. 
• Follow up personally. If a newcomer has taken the step of offering their contact information, send a warm email, text or handwritten note inviting them back. It’s worth sending a personal email instead of a pre-crafted, form-filled message that everyone knows is automated. Show that care and a real human connection waiting for them. 

Celebrate Without Distraction

• Easter should be joyful, hopeful and deeply meaningful—but not chaotic. If something feels like too much for you as you are planning … that may be a good indication that it is going to be too much for people to experience on Easter.
• Make sure logistics (parking, check-in, seating, etc.) are smooth so that nothing distracts from the message. Easter is a great time to evaluate all these basic hospitality areas. 
• Keep announcements to a minimum. If they don’t reinforce the resurrection, they can wait. 

By holding to this "Never upstage the resurrection" mindset, churches can ensure that Easter is all about Jesus—the One who conquered death, offers new life and invites all to follow Him.

Looking for additional Easter planning encouragement and support? We'd love to help you promote your Easter services and special events through social media advertising, a fresh landing page, Easter designs or a full social media content plan.

Reach out if you’re interested in a quick chat about how Fishhook might come alongside you this Easter planning season!