Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance: Why Now Is the Time to Prepare for Easter

After this week, we are four Sundays away from Easter. Let that sink in for a minute. 

You have probably heard the phrase, “Prior planning prevents poor performance.” It is usually shouted in locker rooms, printed on weight room walls, or repeated by coaches who are trying to prepare their teams for game day.

Let me be clear, Easter Sunday is not a performance. We are not putting on a show. We are proclaiming a risen Savior. But the principle still applies.

Easter is the most important Sunday on the Christian calendar. It is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is the Sunday when more guests will walk through the doors of your church than at any other time of the year. It is the day when spiritually curious people are often most open. It is the day when discouraged believers need fresh hope.

And it is coming quickly.

Every year I talk with pastors who say, “It snuck up on me.” The truth is, Easter never sneaks up. It is on the calendar. We know it is coming. The issue is not surprise. The issue is preparation.

If we believe Easter matters, then we should plan accordingly. Allow me to share a few areas you need to be preparing. 

First, prepare your heart.

Before you prepare a sermon outline, prepare your soul. Easter is not primarily about creative elements, special music, or attendance goals. It is about the resurrected Christ. Spend time rereading the resurrection accounts. Pray over your own sense of wonder. Ask the Lord to refresh your gratitude for the empty tomb.

A pastor who is personally stirred by the resurrection will preach differently than one who is simply managing a service.

Second, prepare your message early.

Do not wait until the week of Easter to begin thinking about what you will preach. This is not the Sunday for a recycled outline pulled from ten years ago. This is an opportunity to clearly, boldly, and compassionately present the gospel.

Ask yourself, if a guest walks in who has never heard a clear explanation of salvation, will they understand the message? Will they hear about sin, substitution, and the hope found only in Christ? It is not a time to impress others with how much you know. It is a time to be as clear as you possibly can. 

Work through your transitions. Tighten your illustrations. Make sure the gospel is unmistakable. Excellence in preparation honors the significance of the day.

Third, prepare your team.

Easter will stretch every system in your church. Parking, greeters, children’s ministry, sound, security, follow up, all of it matters. This is not about impressing people. It is about removing distractions or obstacles that could hinder someone from hearing the gospel.

Meet with your key leaders now. Clarify expectations. Pray together. Identify potential pressure points. Walk through the service from the perspective of a first-time guest. What would they see? Where might they feel confused? What might communicate warmth and care?

Preparation communicates love.

Fourth, prepare your people.

Encourage everyone in your church to invite someone. Do not assume they will. Equip them with simple tools like invite cards. Provide digital invites. Encourage personal conversations. Remind them that Easter is not just a church event. It is an evangelistic opportunity.

Challenge your members to pray specifically for at least one person by name. When a church prays and invites intentionally, the impact multiplies!

Finally, prepare for what happens after Easter.

A crowded Easter service is encouraging. But the real work begins the week after. Do you have a clear follow-up plan? How will you connect with guests? How will you invite them back? How will you move them toward next steps or discipleship?

Easter should not be a spike. It should be a springboard.

Again, Easter is not a performance. We are not entertainers. We are shepherds and communicators of the greatest news in history.

But thoughtful, prayerful, intentional preparation positions us to steward the opportunity well.

The resurrection deserves our best effort.

So do not wait. Open your calendar. Schedule the meetings. Begin shaping the message. Gather your leaders. Pray earnestly.

Prior planning may prevent a poor performance in sports. In ministry, prior planning helps ensure that nothing distracts from the greatest proclamation ever made.

He is risen. He is risen indeed!

Let’s prepare like it really does matter.