Holy Week is a season for reflection and soul-searching, a week to re-trace the steps of Jesus toward the cross and to contemplate the depth of God’s love. During this week, Christ followers and spiritual inquirers from all around the globe will be focused once again on the events that led to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

Speaking of such holy days, Brian McLaren reminds us, “These special holidays give rise to various liturgical calendars that suggest we should mark our days not only with the cycles of the moon and seasons, but also with occasions to tell our children the stories of our faith community’s past so that this past will have a future, and so that our ancient way and its practices will be rediscovered and renewed every year.”

The word “holy” is a healthy and meaningful word, though one of the most misunderstood terms in the English language. It does not nearly suggest “spiritual superiority” or “moral perfection.”  The word “holy” refers to people or things set apart for specific, and usually religious, purposes. In the New Testament the Greek word for holy is “hagios” which means “different,” and it is most often used to underscore practices and lifestyles that correlate to a standard different than the cultural norm.

Why is observing Holy Week important to our preparation for Easter?  Here’s a bit of history: The traditional observance of Holy Week seems to have originated in the Christian East, emerging out of the practice of pilgrimages to Jerusalem.  Each day of Holy Week is important but at least five days call for specific reflection.  Palm Sunday is a day to revisit the royal welcome extended to Jesus by the curious crowd as he entered Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday believers recall the occasion when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as he gave them a new mandate to love and serve.  Good Friday is a day to review the passion and suffering of Christ on the cross. Holy Saturday (or Easter Even) commemorates the day that Jesus lay in the tomb. And Resurrection Sunday, or Easter, is a festive day to celebrate and proclaim that “Christ is risen; He is risen indeed.”  

Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, long-time senior minister at Northminster Church in Monroe, Louisiana before his passing, described the progressive steps in a meaningful pre-Easter journey: “Holy Week services bring into focus dimensions of discipleship that are missed completely by a simple leap from Palm Sunday to Easter. Worship services which take seriously the truths of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday please God because they challenge a greater commitment and a more comprehensive ministry of compassion among the people of God.”

This year as we navigate through each episode of Holy Week, here are a few suggestions for honest and healthy soul-searching:

• Read the gospel account in John 12-20.
• Listen to the conflicting voices in the crowd
• Meditate on the cruel injustice of the cross.
• Imagine the passion of Christ’s suffering.
• Think on the hopelessness felt by his disciples.
• Celebrate the hope of the resurrection.
• Renew your commitment to faithfully follow Jesus. 

The introspective prayer recorded in Psalm 139:23-24 is extremely relevant and probing during Holy Week:

Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

This year, as we read the biblical account with fresh eyes, and listen to the sounds of Holy Week with fresh ears, it may seem as though we are encountering the story for the very first time. At the end of the week you may concur with N.T. Wright who proposed, “The message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you’re now invited to belong to it.”

An intentional and focused journey through Holy Week may deepen our faith and inspire us to follow Jesus with unrelenting resolve.

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor of the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach with the Center for Healthy Churches. You can follow him on Twitter @BarrysNotes.)

Easter is coming a little early this year, well before the dogwoods bloom. Christmas is always on December 25. Why is Easter not on the same date every year?

Last year Easter was on April 9. This year we will celebrate Easter on March 31. Next year Easter comes on April 20, just as the redbuds, dogwoods, and azaleas are beginning to bloom.

Why does the date vary? Since the date of Easter is not an actual anniversary of the resurrection, when is the most appropriate time to celebrate?

That very question caused considerable debate and controversy in the early church. A quarrel broke out in the middle of the second century between church leaders in Rome and those in Asia Minor regarding the appropriate date for celebrating Easter. The practice in the East was to observe Easter according to the moon, regardless of the day of the week the observance fell on. The practice in Rome was to wait until the following Sunday. 

Bishop Polycarp, who was a disciple of the apostle John, represented the East, and Bishop Anicetus represented the West. Since they could not agree on the date, each continued to observe Easter according to his own conviction. The controversy became so intense that it threatened the harmony of the Christian world. 

Councils were called in Rome and Palestine to debate the merits of both arguments. Most of the participants generally favored celebrating Easter on Sunday. When the Bishop from Ephesus and many of the churches in Asia Minor refused to change their practice, they were declared “excommunicated” from the church by Bishop Victor of Rome.

Later, the Council of Nicaea, convened by Augustine in A.D.325, affirmed the calculation used to determine the official date of Easter and that calculation is still used today. Easter is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon falling on or after March 21. Therefore, Easter cannot come before March 22 or after April 25.

The connection to the lunar calendar is a nod to the Passover, the Jewish festival that commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. It is during the Passover that Jesus shared the Last Supper with his disciples, which holds immense significance in Christian theology.

Even though the name “Easter” is packed with spiritual implications, the term is derived from a pagan spring festival. Some believe it was named after the Teutonic god or goddess of spring. However, the name was seized by Christian believers and converted to a day of worship and feasting to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. 

Popular gospel singer Sheri Easter points out, “This week, whatever you may be facing, remember that in three short days, the disciples and family of Christ went from hopelessness to hopeful –from devastation to celebration, from defeat to victory! Because of the cross and the tomb, you have a hope in Christ!”

Regardless of when it appears on the calendar, in March or April, Easter is a high and holy day, a designated occasion to affirm and announce the resurrection, which is the foundation of the Christian gospel.

(Barry Howard serves as pastor of the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a columnist and leadership coach with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, currently reside in Buckhead.)

Irish singer and songwriter, Bono, of the band U2 confesses, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God; if we could be more like him, the world would be transformed.”

It’s one thing to confess, “I believe in Jesus.” It’s another thing to learn and live by a Jesus worldview. Cultivating a Jesus worldview is the heart of discipleship.

In a world filled with diverse ideologies and beliefs, cultivating a Jesus worldview can provide a compass for navigating life’s complexities. Here are 10 key practices to help you foster and deepen this perspective:

1. Read and reflect on the stories and teachings of Jesus in the Bible. The foundation of a Jesus worldview lies in learning and practicing these teachings. Regularly engage with the Bible, exploring not just the words, but the context and deeper meanings behind them.

2. Set aside time each day for prayer. Seek the guidance and wisdom of Jesus through prayerful reflection. Let prayer be your constant connection to the divine source of strength and peace.

3. Gather with other Jesus followers for worship. Make worship a priority in your life by participating in church services regularly. Connect with fellow believers to encourage one another, receive spiritual nourishment, and be inspired by the stories of Jesus.

4. Practice forgiveness. Embrace the transformative power of forgiveness in your relationships. Let go of grudges and resentments, and extend grace to those who have wronged you, just as Jesus forgave us.

5. Be generous with your time, talents, and resources. Follow Jesus’ example of generosity and selflessness by giving freely to those in need and supporting ministries that are making a positive impact in the world.

6. Live with purpose and integrity. Align your attitudes and actions with the principles of truth and righteousness that Jesus taught. Strive to honor God in all that you do. Let your life reflect the values and teachings of Jesus, serving as a beacon of light in a world that often feels lost.

7. Advocate for justice, righteousness, and equality.  Stand up for just causes in your community by advocating for the marginalized and oppressed. Let your actions reflect God’s heart for social justice and equality.

8. Promote unity within the church body. Jesus prayed for unity among his followers. Strive for harmony within our church family, embracing diversity and fostering an atmosphere of love and understanding.

9. Develop an attitude of gratitude in all circumstances. Recognize and appreciate the blessings in your life, acknowledging that every good gift comes from God.

10. Treat others with respect, especially those who are different from you. To counter the toxicity in our public discourse, it is important in our church and community that we learn better ways to disagree. A Jesus worldview teaches us to love our adversaries. When we listen respectfully to those with different viewpoints, we can learn more about the issues on which we disagree.

In John 10:10 Jesus summarizes, “I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The path to this full and meaningful life becomes clearer as we see ourselves and our world through the eyes of Jesus.

Cultivating a Jesus worldview is an ongoing journey that requires dedication and intentionality. By immersing ourselves in Jesus’ stories and teachings, embracing love and compassion, and living with humility and integrity, we can engage the transformative power of a Jesus worldview in our communities and our world.

For more information check out the Jesus Worldview Initiative at Belmont University. (www.jesusworldview.org.)

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor of the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, currently live in Brookhaven, Georgia.)

One good way to affirm and encourage the students in your church is to invite them to regularly participate in the life and liturgy of the church.

In I Timothy 4:12 Paul advises his young protégé, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

When I was growing up, the small rural church where I was raised planned a Youth Sunday almost every year. On that Sunday, the junior high and high school students of our church would teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, and lead the various parts of worship including making the announcements, offering the prayers, reading the scriptures, and serving as ushers.

Those are still memorable experiences. Most years I was asked to serve as an usher, but one year I was asked to lead the music, which was way outside my comfort zone.

One of the most impactful things a church can do to enhance a multigenerational approach to ministry is to empower students to take an active role in leading worship. Their energy, creativity, and perspective can breathe fresh energy into our worship experiences.

At the church I currently serve, each year we plan a Student-Led Worship Service where our students lead the entire service. And then throughout the year, we invite students to participate in worship leadership by sharing scripture readings, prayers, music, and creative arts.

Here are 5 reasons we invite our students to lead in worship:

• When students lead in worship it nourishes their faith. Participating in worship leadership can enrich their spiritual journey by prompting them to probe their faith at a deeper level.
• When students lead in worship it cultivates their leadership skills. Active engagement in worship leadership can help them discover their spiritual gifts and further develop their leadership potential.
• When students lead in worship it exercises their creativity. Students are imaginative and expressive, and opportunities to lead in worship can provide a venue for utilizing their artistic gifts.
• When students lead in worship it blesses our congregation. I have noticed that when students and children participate in a worship service, the congregation is uniquely inspired and encouraged.
• When students lead in worship it shapes the future of the church. Inviting our students to lead in worship is not just about giving them a platform; it’s about investing in the future of our church and empowering the next generation of believers.

My participation in worship leadership on those Youth Sundays from my growing-up years broke the ice of getting this shy and introverted kid in front of a loving and supportive congregation. Over the years, as I have witnessed students take part in worship leadership through singing, speaking, planning, greeting, and ushering, these experiences have had a positive influence on the church and made a lasting impact on the students.

A multigenerational church treasures multigenerational participation. In her book, How to Grow Your Church Younger and Stronger, Cecilia Chan insists, “Don’t just invite youths to the party, give them a seat at the table.”

(Barry Howard serves as pastor at the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches.)