{"id":373,"date":"2025-04-19T17:00:45","date_gmt":"2025-04-19T17:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottferguson.com\/thoughts\/?p=373"},"modified":"2026-01-24T14:39:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T19:39:17","slug":"why-apostolics-celebrate-easter-differently","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottferguson.com\/thoughts\/2025\/04\/why-apostolics-celebrate-easter-differently\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Apostolics Celebrate Easter Differently"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each spring, people around the world celebrate Easter in various ways\u2014some attend sunrise services, while others host egg hunts and distribute candy-filled baskets. However, Apostolic Pentecostals celebrate differently. For us, an Apostolic Easter celebration transcends holiday tradition; it reflects our daily walk with God and serves as the foundation of our salvation.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t just celebrate the resurrection of Jesus as a historical event\u2014we rejoice in its living reality. And that difference? It shapes everything.<\/p>\n

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Easter Isn\u2019t Just a Day\u2014It\u2019s Our Doctrine<\/strong><\/h5>\n

For us, the resurrection isn\u2019t a seasonal message. It\u2019s the core of our gospel, rooted in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That\u2019s why our worship isn\u2019t just reflective\u2014it\u2019s responsive. Our repentance, our baptism in Jesus\u2019 name, and our infilling of the Holy Ghost are all direct reflections of the resurrection power at work within us.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…\u201d \u2013 Philippians 3:10 (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We don\u2019t wait for Easter Sunday to celebrate the risen Savior; we live in that victory every single day.<\/p>\n

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A Celebration of Victory\u2014Then and Now<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Yes, Easter marks the moment when death was defeated and the grave lost its power. But it also points us forward to the promise of eternal life. Because He rose, we too have the hope of rising again and spending eternity with Him in heaven.<\/p>\n

This moment is not only reflective; it is prophetic. It confirms the ancient words of Isaiah, David, and Hosea. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies, conquered the grave, and opened the door to our salvation.<\/p>\n

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\u201cO death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?\u201d \u2013 1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Worship That Doesn\u2019t Hold Back<\/strong><\/h5>\n

If you\u2019ve ever attended an Apostolic Easter service, you know\u2014we don\u2019t do quiet reflection. We do victorious worship. The tomb is empty, the promise is alive, and our response is heartfelt praise, powerful preaching, and a call to action. We often witness souls baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost because Easter is not just a commemoration\u2014it\u2019s an invitation to step into the resurrection life.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMake a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.\u201d \u2013 Psalm 100:1\u20132 (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We don\u2019t worship out of habit\u2014we worship in triumph. And we do it with joy, volume, and passion\u2014because He\u2019s alive, and we know it.<\/p>\n

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Priorities, Not Prohibitions<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Some Apostolics choose to abstain from Easter traditions like bunnies, baskets, and chocolate eggs\u2014and that\u2019s completely fine. Others, like my family, have participated in those lighter traditions while keeping the main thing the main thing: Jesus Christ<\/em>.<\/p>\n

When my children were small, they got Easter baskets\u2014and yes, the Anthony Thomas chocolate-covered peanut butter egg remains a family favorite. But our first focus has always been the cross, the empty tomb, and the living Savior.<\/p>\n

Having fun is fine. But Jesus must come first.<\/p>\n

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Living the Resurrection Today<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The story doesn\u2019t end at the tomb. We are called to walk in newness of life<\/em>. That\u2019s not just poetic\u2014it\u2019s practical. The resurrection power that raised Jesus is available to us now, through His Spirit.<\/p>\n

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\u201cTherefore we are buried with him by baptism into death… even so we also should walk in newness of life.\u201d \u2013 Romans 6:4 (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Our Easter message isn\u2019t \u201cHe rose.\u201d It\u2019s \u201cHe rose\u2014and so can you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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You\u2019re Invited to An Apostolic Easter celebration<\/strong><\/h5>\n

If you\u2019ve never experienced an Apostolic Easter, I invite you to join us at Calvary Apostolic Church<\/a> in Westerville, Ohio<\/strong>. Come and see what resurrection power looks like when it\u2019s alive in worship, in preaching, and in people just like you.<\/p>\n

Jesus rose from the grave so that you could rise from whatever holds you down.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s celebrate that together.<\/p>\n

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Recommended Reading on Scott\u2019s Thoughts:<\/h5>\n