Who is this man called Jesus? Popular author Max Lucado affirms, “The life of Jesus Christ is a message of hope, a message of mercy, a message of life in a dark world.” But how can his identity be confirmed?

In the gospel of John, not long after Jesus scattered the accusers of a woman who had been caught in an extramarital tryst, those in the crowd became more curious about the identity of the one who dismissed the law professors by simply writing a mysterious message in the sand.

A short time later, as Jesus resumed his teaching he announced, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). This again caused the Pharisees to challenge his declaration and question his true identity.

Here is the account from John 8:21-20: ²¹ Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” ²² This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” ²³ But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” ²⁵ “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. ²⁶ “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” ²⁷ They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. ²⁹ The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” ³⁰ Even as he spoke, many believed in him. (NIV)

Identity verification has come a long way since the time of Jesus. Often, one or more printed documents are required to confirm one’s identity. In the United States, acceptable identity documents include a state-issued driver’s license or identity card, a social security card, and a United States passport.

There are also more advanced ways to authenticate one’s identity including digital fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, voice recognition, and DNA comparison.

Rather than pulling out a heavenly ID card or scanning an incarnate fingerprint, Jesus identifies himself by his words and actions. John’s gospel underscores that Jesus is not of this world. He was sent on a redemptive mission by God the Father. He forgives those that others condemn. He is a light that shines in darkness. He is one whose aim is to please God. And he is one whose identity will be widely known once he is lifted or raised.

Just as some came before Jesus claiming to be the Messiah, there are many more who came afterward claiming that they were the Christ. Perhaps a greater dilemma has been the misrepresentation of Jesus by the people professing to represent the Christian faith. Too often Jesus is portrayed as the accuser, or he is depicted as a mascot for one’s preferred political party.

There are some surefire ways to identify Jesus. Jesus is the one who says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more!” (v11). Jesus is the one who brings light to the dark spaces and places in your life. Jesus is the one who, like God who sent him, doesn’t abandon you in the tough times in life.

In The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey writes, “Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he did meet skeptics he could not convince and sinners he could not convert. Forgiveness of sins requires an act of will on the receiver’s part, and some who heard Jesus’ strongest words about grace and forgiveness turned away unrepentant.”

During Lent, as we revisit the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry, let us sort through the urban myths and superstitions about Jesus and let us rediscover and reaffirm his identity as the Son of God who was sent to deliver us from our sins, and to show us the way to live a full and meaningful life.

According to Neil T. Anderson, “Your greatest fulfillment in life will come when you discover your unique gifts and abilities and use them to edify others and glorify the Lord.”

While I am not fully sure that discovering your spiritual gifts will lead you to live happily ever after, I am convinced that a deeper understanding of spiritual endowments can help a local church become more missional and less conflictual.

In I Corinthians 12:1, as Paul urges the believers to serve and grow, he writes, “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” Unfortunately, many long-time church attendees are uninformed or misinformed about the gifts of the Spirit.

What is a spiritual gift? A spiritual gift is a God-given potential or ability that enables individuals to work and serve as a team to empower the church to execute its mission on earth.

Here are 10 insights to help us think more deeply about spiritual gifts:

• Every Jesus follower is given at least one spiritual gift. Everybody has one, and some have two or three. Some gifts are not as obvious, and some gifts surface later in life. Know this for sure: whatever your age or stage in life, you are a gifted follower of Jesus.
  
  
• Spiritual gifts usually come with “some assembly required.” Some spiritual gifts are like the Christmas gifts we get for our children, and we have to spend time putting the parts together. Other spiritual gifts are like precious metal or blown glass, and they need to go through the refiner’s fire to reach their full potential.
  
  
• There are a variety of gifts mentioned in the Bible. Paul specifically mentions the gifts of being an apostle, prophet, evangelist, or pastor/teacher. Other passages allude to the spiritual gifts of leadership, compassion, encouragement, intercession, service, and healing. I would propose, however, that the biblical list is exemplary and not exhaustive.

• There may be additional gifts given for our time and place. The Bible doesn’t declare that any of the lists of spiritual gifts are complete. Neither does the Bible clearly say that more gifts will be given. From my perspective, there are either new gifts that are given for this era or there are fresh expressions of the gifts mentioned in scripture. For example, the gift of worship planning could be a subset of the gift of leadership, or the gift of end-of-life care could be the gift of compassion 2.0. As I think about the gifts I see being expressed or needed in today’s world, I could include things like peacemaking, worship planning, consensus building, social networking, missional innovation, technology management, and church revitalization.
  
  
• No spiritual gift is more or less important than the other gifts.
  Spiritual gifts are not given to create a class system but to generate a community system. Gifts are not given to entertain the church but to encourage and equip the church. Gifts are not given to rank the saints but to retool the saints.
  
  
• Spiritual gifts are unifying. These gifts of the Spirit are given so “that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith” (Ephesians 4:12-13). Within each church, which is a local expression of the body of Christ, the utilization of spiritual gifts produces a sense of harmony as the gifts are used cooperatively to advance God’s mission in the world.
  
  
• Spiritual gifts require a spirit of teamwork. No matter which spiritual gifts we possess, the gifts are most effective when used alongside other believers with compatible and complementary gifts. Teams that work together cooperatively and collaboratively can make better decisions and engage in more effective ministry initiatives than any individual. Brené Brown reminds us, “You don’t have to do it all alone. You were never meant to.”
  
  
• Ministers also have one or more spiritual gifts. Some church members mistakenly think that those who are called to serve as ministers have all the spiritual gifts. However, ministers, like other church members, have one or two, maybe three spiritual gifts. This means that when a church calls a minister, they should consider how the spiritual gifts of the minister correspond to the needs and gifts of the congregation. For effective ministry to happen, the spiritual gifts of the members must be activated and leveraged in concert with their minister or ministerial staff to maximize the giftedness of the congregation.
  
  
• Spiritual gifts are to be used for the building up of the body. When the Bible mentions spiritual gifts, the injunction that follows is to equip, encourage, edify, and build up the body of Christ. The directive to build up refers to the maturing of the body, not necessarily a numerical increase within the body. However, in my experience, the maturation of faith within the faith community almost always leads to increased participation within the community.
  
  
• Spiritual gifts are given to the church. Spiritual gifts are not for individual aggrandizement but for congregational empowerment. As individual believers, we are simply the human God uses to deliver the gifts. Spiritual gifts are not given to advocate for a personal agenda but to advance our God-given mission. One litmus test that determines whether we are using our spiritual gifts appropriately is whether we are equipping and encouraging the church. If our efforts create division in the church, we are likely not using our spiritual gifts as God intended.

Rick Warren urges us to remember, “Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit.” 

What is your spiritual gift? Some of us need to discover our spiritual gifts while others of us need to recover our spiritual gifts. If you have not completed a spiritual gift assessment recently, I encourage you to visit one of the following websites and complete an evaluation to help you discover and develop your spiritual gifts: Spiritual Gifts Assessment or Free Spiritual Gifts Test & Assessment (lifethrive.com).

Taking a journey through an engaging book is a soul-nurturing, mind-stretching adventure. Charles W. Eliot contends, “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”

My appreciation for reading was slow to develop. But when it emerged, it surged. As a teenager, I perceived reading to be a nuisance and somewhat of a necessary evil to attain decent grades in school. However, at some point early in my college experience, I learned to value the gift of reading, not just for assignments or entertainment, but for personal growth and development.

As a pastor, I need to read widely to stay current and to speak with fresh relevance on a variety of topics. More importantly, I need books like I need food, to satisfy cognitive hunger and to probe intellectual curiosity. Books stimulate my thinking, exercise my memory muscles, and challenge my presuppositions.

As I grow older, I continue to find that reading is relaxing, engaging, and often inspirational. The discipline of reading not only exercises my mind, it expands my thinking.

Each year I read a variety of genres including fiction, spirituality, theology, history, and biography. Typically, I keep from three to five books going at the same time, a practice that was recommended by Opal Lovett, one of the most influential faculty members at Jacksonville State from my college years. This approach invites a variety of authors to be conversation partners in my internal dialogue.

I also intentionally read books I can’t entirely agree with. Rather than making me combative, the practice of reading opposing viewpoints challenges me to test my assumptions and it familiarizes me with a variety of perspectives. This discipline equips me to dialogue and debate intelligibly, and not just emotively.

Around the beginning of the year, I make a list of books that I plan to read during the coming year. While I expect to read 30-40 books this year, I have already compiled a list of 24 books for my reading list in 2024:

1. The Little Liar by Mitch Albom (Harper, 2023).
2. Ship Watch: A Savannah Novel by Johnathon Scott Barrett (Moonshine Cove Publishing, 2023).
3. Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry by Ruth Haley Barton (Intervarsity Press, 2018).
4. Hard and Holy Work: A Lenton Journey through the Book of Exodus by Mary Alice Whistell and Tyler D. Mayfield (Westminster John Knox Press, 2024).
5. Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt by Arthur Brooks (Broadside Books, 2019).
6. How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks (Random House, 2023).
7. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown (Hazelden Publishing, 2022).
8. Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did by John Mark Comer (WaterBrook, 2024).
9. The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? By Jim David and Michael Graham (Zondervan, 2023).
10. Wresting with Doubt, Finding Faith by Adam Hamilton (Abingdon Press, 2023).
11. Remember Henry Harris: Lost Icon of a Revolution: A Story of Hope and Self-Sacrifice in America by Sam Heys (Black Belt Books, 2019).
12. Anxiety, Depression, and Jesus: Finding Hope in All Things by Aaron Hoover (Westbow Press, 2023).
13. Wounded Pastors: Navigating Burnout, Finding Healing, and Discerning the Future of Your Ministry by Carol Howard and James Fenimore (Westminster John Knox Press, 2024).
14. The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: and the Path to a Shared American Future by Robert Jones (Simon and Schuster, 2023).
15. Walter Brueggemann’s Prophetic Imagination: A Theological Biography by Conrad Kanagy (Fortress Press, 2023).
16. Searching for Certainty: Finding God in the Disruptions of Life by Shelly Miller (Bethany House Publishers, 2020).
17. All My Knotted Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore (Tyndale House Publishing, 2023).
18. Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America by Russell Moore (Sentinel, 2023).
19. Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times by Otis Moss III (Simon and Schuster, 2024).
20. Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others without Losing the Best of Who You Are by Lysa Terkeurst (Thomas Nelson, 2022).
21. When the Moon Turns Blue: A Novel by Pamela Terry (Ballentine Books, 2023).
22. The Narrow Path: How the Subversive Way of Jesus Satisfies Our Souls by Rich Villodas (WaterBrook, 2024).
23. Along the Journey by Mark O. Wilbanks (Wilbanks Books, 2023).
24. What’s So Amazing About Grace? (Revised and updated) by Philip Yancey (Zondervan, 2023).

Whether you are a fast reader or a slow reader, a hard print reader or an e-book reader, read for quality, not quantity. Richard Steele observed, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

I hope your life is enriched by the books you choose in 2024!

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

Grief is challenging to deal with at any time of the year, but during the holidays, grief can be deeper, darker, and more unpredictable than at other times. Why does grief seem to turn up the volume during the holiday season?

I think there are at least three reasons that grief is more amplified from Thanksgiving through Christmas. First, the nostalgia surrounding the holidays and other special occasions prompts us to recall memories more readily. Second, these events tend to frame the absence of our loved ones. For example, a chair that was occupied at the family table may be vacant this year. And third, we tend to be more emotive during the holidays. Our sensory capacity is thrust into high gear.

Richard Kauffman suggests, “There is no right or wrong way to handle the holidays. You are in complete control of your plans as to what you will do during this time of the year.”

Since grief is more pronounced during the holiday season, how can we best deal with it? Too often our human tendency is to repress the grief under the guise of being strong. However, repressed grief becomes toxic and can lead to depression or illness. It’s better to confront grief head-on. Here are ten helpful ways to navigate holiday grief:

• Proactively prepare for holiday grief. Don’t avoid it or deny it. Engage it. The best therapy for grief is to grieve.
• Do a soft re-set on your holiday traditions. Determine which traditions to keep and which to eliminate. And start at least one new tradition. Since grief has a way of reconfiguring life, relationships, and family, embrace a new configuration by beginning at least one new tradition.
• Highlight a favorite event or experience of your loved one. Choose something that was a favorite food, game, song, or activity of your departed loved one, and find a way to highlight it during the holidays. For example, if they loved driving around to see Christmas lights, do it this year in memory of them. If they loved coconut cake, make one and have everyone try a bite.
• Be creative in “work arounds.” Let’s say that Grandpa always read the Christmas story after dinner from his recliner. It may be too emotional for the family to have someone else read the Christmas story from Grandpa’s recliner. Consider having one or more of the grandchildren read the Christmas story before dinner around the dinner table.
• Plan a strategic holiday memorial gift. If Grandma was in a mission group and supported the Christmas Mission Offering, plan for the family to each give a gift to the mission offering in her memory. If Grandpa served on the Properties Committee at church, consider a gift toward campus improvement in his memory. Plan the gift to correspond to one of the passions of your departed loved one.
• Tell lots of stories. For years I’ve encouraged families to continue “to treasure the memories and tell the stories” as a way to process grief. Stories are therapeutic, for sure. But they are also formational and nurturing. One reason genealogies are included in the Bible is because stories of our ancestors help shape our identities.
• Write a letter to your departed loved one. In the letter tell them what you are feeling during the holidays. Then read the letter aloud as though the departed friend or family member is in the room with you. We think and we speak with different sides of the brain. To reflect, write, and then speak what you have written is healthier and more holistic than simply writing it down. It’s your choice whether to keep the letter confidential or to share it with other family members.
• Continue the conversation. Most of us tend to continue an internal dialogue with our departed loved ones after they are gone. Sometimes it involves a gut-wrenching confession such as, “Daddy, there are so many things I wish I had told you.” Much of the time it is something as simple as, “I sure do miss you.” And of course, such a dialogue may include good humor such as, “The lights at the top of the tree have gone out again, and I suspect you may have had something to do with that.” It is important during the holidays to keep the conversation going, and maybe even rev it up a bit.
• Designate moments for quiet and solitude. Be careful not to withdraw into a cocoon of isolation. But likewise, be careful not to bury your grief in a flurry of holiday events and activities.
• Participate in holiday services at your church. Not everyone is ready to return to active participation in worship or a small group for the first week or two after a memorial service.Of course, things will be different when you return. But the longer you wait to re-engage, the tougher it will be to adjust to a new normal. Somehow, the music and message of Advent and Christmas invoke hope and courage. So, the holidays may be the best time to return to active participation.

Healthy expressions of grief include finding the right balance of tears and laughter, of connecting and disconnecting, and of lamentation and celebration.

And remember, not every member of the family grieves in the same way or at the same pace. Allow space for family members to grieve in their own way.

There’s no doubt the weight of grief can be heavier during the holidays. But the holidays also present great opportunities for finding positive and proactive ways to deal with your grief.

Dr. Alan Wolfelt cautions, “Don’t assume that your holidays will be totally miserable this year. Yes, if you are actively mourning, you will experience pain and sadness. But if you spend time in the company of people you love, you may also experience moments of great joy and hope.”

(Barry Howard serves as pastor of the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. Previously, he served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. Later he practiced as a pastoral counselor in Pensacola, Florida.)

Someone wisely advised, “Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush.”

Advent helps us to take a scenic and reflective route to Christmas, which includes devotional reading, prayer, and reflection which are disciplines that nurture our spiritual health in all seasons. If you prefer to go “paperless” in your devotional reading during Advent, there are many inspiring resources available online.

When I was in high school the student ministry at my home church challenged us to begin the practice of a daily “quiet time.” Since those days my devotional time has nourished my spiritual development

Over the years my quiet time emerged into an early morning discipline grounded in inspirational reading, prayer, and meditation. My devotional life continues to be enriched by a variety of resources including classic devotionals, books by noted authors, and devotional reflections shared by church members.

About 12 years ago, I decided to go “paperless” in my devotional time choosing to utilize online Bible apps and a variety of e-resources for my devotional time. Online resources are especially helpful during holiday travels because the resources can be accessed on any internet computer or digital device. Going paperless also keeps my desktop a lot less cluttered whether I am at home or in my office.

Most online devotional sites provide complimentary access, with the costs covered through donations or advertising revenue. Additionally, like any digital communication, e-devotionals save paper and are friendly to the environment.

As I began preparing for Advent this year, I previewed several respected resources to share with others and to use in my own devotional time. I looked for resources that are easily accessible, theologically sound, and culturally relevant.

Like other online devotional resources, Advent E-Devotions may be created by churches, missional organizations, or individuals. A few of the devotional sites invite you to register your email address and they will send a daily devotional directly to your inbox. Other sites have corresponding “apps” that you can download making access easier on your mobile devices. And all online sites can be bookmarked or added to your favorites list for ease of access.

Here are 8 online Advent devotional options that you might find helpful:

• The Advent Conspiracy provides a unique approach to the season, focusing on Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. Engage with their daily devotionals that challenge the consumerist Christmas narrative and encourage a more intentional celebration. The devotionals, written by a variety of pastors, are available at The Advent Conspiracy Movement Homepage.

• D365.org offers daily devotionals designed specifically for youth and young adults. These engaging reflections include scripture, prayer, and interactive elements, making it a perfect choice for individuals or families seeking a dynamic Advent experience. (http://d365.org/)

• Bread for the World is an organization committed to pursuing a world where everyone has food security. Join Bread for the World in observing this Advent season as we reflect on the coming of Christ — Immanuel, God with us, the one who brings hope, peace, joy, and love to our broken world. You may sign up for devotionals at this link: Advent 2023: Christ Brings Hope to Broken World – Bread for the World

• Buckner International is a faith-based social service organization based in Dallas that serves hundreds of thousands of people each year across the United States and around the globe. Their Advent guide, written by assorted authors, can be downloaded at 2023 Buckner Advent Guide.

• Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) offers an option to read Advent devotionals online or to listen via apps such as Spotify, IHeart Radio, Alexa, or Google Home. Advent Devotions :: Lutheran Hour Ministries (lhm.org)
  
  
• McAfee School of Theology compiles Advent devotionals written by faculty, students, and alumni and they post them online at Advent | School of Theology (mercer.edu).

• Pittsburgh Theological Seminary provides an Advent Devotional W-Book written by members of the seminary community. This e-book offers a read option and an audio option, and can be downloaded at http://www.pts.edu/devotional_1.

• Sacred Space is an online prayer site provided by the Irish Jesuits. They provide a guided Advent devotional series and an Advent Retreat option at www.sacredspace.ie.

Whether you are new to the practice of a daily devotional experience or a long-time practitioner, you may discover that an Advent E-Devotion will guide you on a meaningful journey, helping you pause, reflect, and draw closer to the heart of the Christmas story.

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

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. -Psalm 119:105

Since childhood, I have been taught that the Bible is the word of God. Later I was taught that Jesus is the living word of God and the Bible is the written word of God. From a theological point of view, some might say the Bible contains the word of God.

In whatever terms we describe it, the Bible holds a special place in our faith journey, and numerous factors propel us to delve into its pages with a heart open to receiving God’s wisdom and guidance. Here are 7 reasons we study the Bible as the word of God:

• We believe that the Bible is divinely inspired. The Bible is considered the inspired Word of God, and it contains God’s revelation to humanity. When we study the Bible, we are opening ourselves up to God’s communication with us. It is through the Scriptures that we learn about God’s character, God’s plan for salvation, and God’s unwavering love for us. By studying the Bible, we are drawn closer to our Creator and gain insight into God’s divine purpose for our lives.

• The Bible encourages our spiritual growth. Our study of the Bible provides spiritual nourishment. Just as physical food sustains our bodies, the Word of God sustains our souls. Regular study of the Bible deepens our faith, helps us mature in our understanding of God’s will, and equips us to face life’s challenges with a Christ-centered perspective. It provides the spiritual nutrients needed to strengthen our relationship with God.

• The Bible provides moral and ethical guidance. The Bible provides us with a solid foundation for moral and ethical decision-making. It offers us timeless principles that guide us in living righteous and upright lives. As we study the Word of God, we discover how to align our values and actions with God’s will, contributing to a just and compassionate society.
  
  
• Study of the Bible builds community and fellowship. Studying the Bible is not just an individual endeavor; it’s a communal one as well. Gathering with fellow believers to study the Scriptures fosters a sense of unity and provides opportunities for discussion, mutual encouragement, and accountability. It allows us to learn from one another and grow together in our faith, strengthening our bonds as a church family.
  
  
• The Bible is a catalyst for life transformation. In church we call this process of having our lives transformed to be more like Jesus, discipleship. The Bible is a primary tool of the Spirit to transform our lives. As we meditate on its teachings, the Holy Spirit works in us, bringing about positive changes in our attitudes, behaviors, and character. Studying the Word helps us become more Christlike, equipping us to love others unconditionally, forgive as we have been forgiven, and serve selflessly in the name of our Lord.
  
  
• Many passages in the Bible offer hope and comfort. Life can be challenging, and we all face times of hardship, doubt, and uncertainty. In such moments, the Bible offers us hope and comfort. The promises contained within its pages remind us of God’s steadfast love and God’s unwavering presence in our lives. It assures us that, no matter what we face, God is with us, guiding us through the storms and comforting us in times of sorrow.
  
  
• The Bible, especially the gospels, shapes in us a Jesus worldview. As Christians, we interpret the stories of the Bible through the lenses of Jesus. When we study the life and teachings of Jesus, our worldview shifts from a secular or ego-centric worldview toward a Jesus worldview or kingdom worldview, wherein we begin to interpret life from the perspective of God’s redemptive initiatives in the world.

So, the Bible is not just a book of words but a divine revelation, a source of spiritual growth, a guide for living, a means of building community, and a catalyst for personal transformation. The Bible is not just a historical document; it is a living, breathing testament to the love and grace of our Creator.

(This is the third column in a 5-part series on The Basics.)

Different people have differing perspectives on the purpose of the church. Some mistakenly think of the church as a social gathering place for the religious elite. Others see the church as a breeding ground for legalist and judgmental personalities. Yet there are many more who experience the church as a place of grace, a community of encouragement, and a safe space for recovery. Dr. Vance Havner often reminded his congregation, “The church is a hospital for sinners, and not a museum for saints.”

Have you ever paused to ponder the purpose of the church? In our busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the routines of church activities without fully grasping the profound purpose that unites us as a spiritual family. This week, let’s reflect on the question, “What is the purpose of the church?”

• A church is a local expression of the body of Christ. Inspired by the life of Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today. We unify around God’s mission, not our particular preferences, to offer things like generous hospitality, an inclusive welcome, an encouraging word, a helping hand, and a healing touch.
• The church refers to people, not a building. A church is composed of flesh and blood, not brick and mortar. Do you remember the little nursery rhyme about the church many of us were taught as children? As we folded our hands in a prayerful position with fingers turned inward, we would say, “Here is the church and there is the steeple.” Then we would turn our interlocked fingers upward as we said, “Open the doors and see all the people.”
• We often gather on a church campus for worship. Worship is our time to honor and praise our Creator, to pray together, and to offer our time, talent, and treasure to serve God. Worship is at the heart of our purpose, aligning us with God’s will and nourishing our spiritual lives.
• The church is a spiritual community for support and encouragement. The local church becomes our primary spiritual family, providing support, encouragement, and love to one another. In Acts 2:42, we read that the early believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Our church community is a source of strength and companionship on our spiritual journey.
• The church provides resources for spiritual growth and discipleship. We are called to grow in our knowledge of God’s Word, to deepen our relationship with Christ, and to mature in our faith. As Ephesians 4:12-13 tells us, the church equips us for works of service and builds us up “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
• Each member of the church is commissioned to share the Good News. The church is a beacon of light to the world. It’s not a place to keep our faith hidden but to share it with others. Our purpose extends beyond our church walls to reach out to those who have not yet encountered the love of Christ. We are called to be ambassadors of the gospel, fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
• A church embodies grace and advocates for justice. Through our church, we actively engage in acts of compassion and service. And through our church, we become the hands and feet of Jesus as we live out our faith by caring for the needy, comforting the brokenhearted, advocating for the underserved, and working to make the world a better place. James 1:27 reminds us that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

It is through the combined work of local churches that I see God most at work in the world to offer hope, share grace, and advocate for justice. Popular author and Atlanta native, Philip Yancey, confessed, “I rejected the church for a time because I found so little grace there. I returned because I found grace nowhere else.”

In his sermon titled, “The Church Is Worth the Effort,” long-time Atlanta pastor Dr. Bill Self, proclaimed: “The church is a solid oak tree, not a fragile tea cup. It has withstood Roman imperialism, Jewish legalism, pagan optimism, medieval institutionalism, the excesses of the reformers, wars and rumors of wars, a youth quake, modern skepticism, southern provincialism, resurgent fundamentalism, and heresies in each generation that seem never to die. It can withstand anything our generation can throw at it. It has been victimized by unprepared and selfish clergy, tone-deaf musicians, manipulative members, argumentative deacons, demanding denominations, unloving reformers and greedy politicians. Still it continues to provide love, affirmation and community to the fallen in the face of alienation. The church is worth the effort.”

As we reflect on the purpose of the church, may we remember that each one of us plays a unique role in fulfilling the mission of the church. It’s not just the responsibility of the leadership or a select few; it’s a collective effort of every member of the body of Christ to do the work of the church.

Despite its imperfections, being a part of a church or spiritual community is the best way I know to become equipped and encouraged to serve God by serving others.

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

In recent weeks, I’ve been having more conversations about baptism than usual. Some of the conversations are with parents who are asking about baptism on behalf of their children. Other conversations are with adults, most of whom are new to the church and the Christian life. And I have enjoyed conversations with students who are thinking about baptism.

There are many baptism stories in the Bible, including the baptism of John, the baptism of Jesus, and the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch. My perspectives on baptism are shaped by the Baptist tradition in which I was raised. We practice baptism by immersion, which means we go under the water during baptism. However, the churches I have served respect and appreciate other traditions of baptism.

Some traditions hold that baptism is sacramental while others describe the act of baptism as symbolic. In describing baptism as a bold commitment, Rachel Held Evans advised, “​​In the ritual of baptism, our ancestors acted out the bizarre truth of the Christian identity: We are people who stand totally exposed before evil and death and declare them powerless against love. There’s nothing normal about that.”

As you think more intentionally about baptism, here are some of the questions I’ve been asked over the years, along with the responses I have given:

1. What is baptism? A general definition of the word baptism is “a rite of washing with water as a sign of religious purification and consecration.” Christian baptism is more specific. Baptism is a visual confession of faith wherein a follower of Jesus is dipped or immersed in water, much like Jesus, as a way of declaring or sharing their faith with others.

2. Who should be baptized? Those who have committed themselves to following Jesus are invited, some say commanded, to be baptized. Sometimes baptism comes at the end of a catechism or discipleship class for young believers. Adults who make a Christian commitment later in life will also find baptism to be meaningful and affirming. As a pastor, I encourage individuals to be baptized soon after they commit their lives to following Jesus.

3. Does being baptized make you a Christian? Although baptism does not make you a Christian, baptism is one of the many ways we let others know we have decided to become a Christian. Just as a wedding ring lets others know you are married, baptism lets others know you are a Christian.

4. Is there a minimal age for a person to be baptized? While some traditions practice infant baptism as an act of dedication and consecration, our Baptist tradition of baptism is to baptize individuals who have reached an age where they can make a willful and conscientious decision to follow Jesus. Some churches have a policy that specifies a minimal age. For example, I know of churches that have a minimal age of 7, 9, and 12 years old.

5. Is it necessary to be baptized in a church building? Absolutely not! However, it is often convenient and meaningful to be baptized in the church where you worship. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. My home church did not have an indoor baptistery, so I was baptized in a nearby creek. In addition to church baptistries, I have conducted baptisms in lakes, creeks, oceans, and swimming pools. Baptisms can be experienced wherever there is water.

6. Can a person be baptized more than once? Although the Bible does not give an example of someone being baptized multiple times, there are examples in Christian history of believers being baptized more than once. There are three reasons a person might be baptized more than once: 1) Some request a baptism of rededication after they have neglected their faith for a prolonged season. 2) Some churches require new members to be re-baptized if they were baptized in a different faith tradition or by a different method of baptism. 3) Christians may request baptism in an iconic location. For example, Christians who embark on a tour of the Holy Land (Israel) may choose to be baptized in the Jordan River, the iconic location where Jesus was baptized.

7. What is the next step once I decide to be baptized? If you are an elementary or middle school student, it is important to talk with your parents about your baptism. Then they can join you in speaking with your minister. If you are an adult or teenager, you should contact your pastor or student minister soon after you have made a commitment to Christ, so they can assist you in preparing for baptism and setting a date for your baptism.

My baptism was one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences in my early walk of faith. I hope that your baptism will be meaningful and memorable also.

Just remember that baptism is the starting line of your faith journey, not the finish line. Your baptism marks the beginning of your spiritual walk, not your arrival at full spiritual maturity.

If you have decided to follow Jesus, it is time to be baptized. Popular preacher and author Max Lucado contends, “Baptism separates the tire kickers from the car buyers.”

Baptism is sort of like a watery tattoo on our body and soul, identifying us with the Jesus we follow.

If you have additional questions about baptism, please contact me or a minister in your neighborhood to get more information.

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

(This is the second column on a series about The Basics.)

These are the words I wrote as a fifteen-year-old in the front of my KJV Scofield Reference Bible, Red Letter Edition, just after my baptism: “I was saved on June 26, 1975 at 1:30 a.m. at the Colonial Apartments on Laguna Beach near Panama City, Florida… I was baptized on July 6, 1975 with Mark Smith, Brandon Smith and Mike Tiller by Rev. Tommy Reaves at the creek behind Donald Lloyd’s house.”

After I made my public commitment to Christ and was baptized, my grandmother encouraged me to write the date of those significant events in the front of my Bible so I would never forget them. She said, “If you write it down, it will be easier to remember it and to revisit it.”

Baptism in that cold country creek was a significant moment recorded in my Bible with a pen and in my soul with permanent ink. So, what is the meaning of baptism and why is it significant?

Baptism is a visible testimony of the invisible commitment an individual has made to follow Jesus. It is a watery picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. That is one of the reasons that we as Baptists practice baptism by immersion. And that is the reason a minister often declares as a candidate is being immersed, “Buried with Christ in baptism, and raised to walk in newness of life, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

Although baptism is not an act that “saves” us, baptism is an act that identifies us as a follower of Jesus. Popular preacher and author Max Lucado says, “Baptism separates the tire kickers from the car buyers.” In other words, when we are baptized, we are no longer content to hide in the crowd of spectators applauding Jesus.  Rather, we “buy in” to what it means to be a full-fledged follower of Jesus.

Brian McLaren proposes that “Baptism is rich in meaning. It suggests cleansing. When you are a disciple, you understand that you are cleansed by Christ. You understand that Christ died in your place on the cross, paying for your sins, fully forgiving you for all your wrongs. You are cleansed from guilt, and you are becoming a cleaner, healthier, more whole person.”

There’s an old gospel song that says, “I can tell you time, I can show you the place, where the Lord saved me by his wonderful grace.” I certainly do not believe that everyone has to remember the time, date, and location of their conversion and baptism to be considered a genuine Christian. But for me, remembering my baptism has helped me to confirm and reaffirm my faith during some pretty tough times.

Do you remember your baptism?  As followers of Jesus who learn and live out Christ’s teaching in a Baptist community of faith, being baptized is pretty important…not so much to “seal the deal” but to confirm and launch us into a life of grace and growth. Baptism is deeply meaningful and becomes a vital part of our life’s story…a part of the story to be remembered, treasured, and lived forward.

If you or a member of your family is thinking about the possibility of being baptized, please contact me or a minister in your community who can help you plan and prepare for the experience of baptism.

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