At the time that I was writing this, my family and I were preparing for our first family vacation as a complete family, me and my wife, our three children, their spouses, and our granddaughter. The next morning the plane will take off (if everything goes as planned), and away we’ll go. Two hours later we should be landing in Florida. Hopefully that’s how it goes.

This is actually something we’ve been thinking about, talking about, and preparing for for a few years now. We’ve also picked up one more since we first started planning, as our daughter got married this past May. We kind of like him. He too is a keeper.

But as the bags get packed and the itinerary gets double-checked, I’m finding myself thinking less about theme parks, restaurants, or the beach, and more about the simple gift of shared moments. Trips like this aren’t really as much about the destination as they are about the time spent together. Time that feels increasingly rare as life fills up with responsibilities, work schedules, and the natural busyness that comes with a growing family.

As I stepped back from thinking about the time away for a second, I started to think about how Scripture often calls God’s people to remember. Israel was commanded to remember what the Lord had done, how He had delivered them, provided for them, and remained faithful even when they were not. Psalm 105:5 tells us to “Remember His marvelous works which He has done.” God wasn’t telling the nation of Israel to remember what He had done just for the sake of nostalgia or reminiscing, He wanted them to see that their experiences of the past were shaping who they were to be in the future.

In a similar, though smaller way, family memories matter because they too shape our future. They remind us of who we are, where we came from, and what we’ve done together. They become reference points of joy, laughter, and sometimes even hardship. And for the family that’s rooted in Christ, we can remember His sustaining and guiding power, no matter the experience. One day, our granddaughter probably won’t remember too much about the flight or the place we stayed at while we were in Florida, but she may remember being laughed with, doing things together as a family, and most importantly, being loved.

The fact of the matter is, life moves fast, too fast; and it just seems to be moving all the more rapidly with each passing year. I guess that shouldn’t surprise us though, as James reminds us that our life is “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). That truth can feel heavy, perhaps even depressing, but it also gives perspective. If our days are few, then they are precious. And if they’re precious, then they’re worth investing in very intentional ways, especially in the people God has placed closest to us, our family, our friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

So as we board that plane, I’m grateful, not just for the opportunity to travel, but for the reminder that every good gift comes from God the Father. My prayer is simple, that these days would be marked by gratitude, joy, and a deeper awareness of God’s kindness in giving us one another. The memories will follow. And when we get back, we’ll share our memories with you, our extended family, as well.

In Matthew 28:19-20 we read these words, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. These are the words of Jesus—His command to spread the message of repentance and faith in Him to all peoples. We call it the great commission.

But notice that in these words Jesus doesn’t simply tell His followers to make converts, but to make disciples. A disciple is someone who has been called by Christ, transformed by the gospel, and committed to obedience to all that Jesus has commanded. And in this process of discipleship, baptism stands at the very beginning. Baptism isn’t presented as an optional add-on or a private spiritual experience, but rather a visible response to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It’s an imperative, something that those who follow Jesus must do, go and make disciples and baptize them. It’s also an imperative to the one who becomes a disciple.

So here’s the question, why did Jesus place such a significant emphasis upon baptism? I think there’s really a two-fold answer. First, baptism serves as evidence that someone is a disciple of Jesus. It’s a way that the church knows who’s following Jesus and who isn’t. Now we have to be careful to note that baptism doesn’t save us, nor does it add to the finished work of Christ, but it testifies that something real has taken place in the life of the one being baptized. That’s the testimony of Zane who’s being baptized this morning. Something has changed in Zane’s life, and his baptism points to that fact, that He wants to follow Jesus in all of His ways because of what Jesus has already done. When a believer goes under the water and is raised up again, they are publicly identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. They are saying, in effect, “I belong to Him. My old life is gone, and my new life has begun.” The local church witnesses this act and affirms it, recognizing that God has truly done a saving work in this person’s life.

The second reason it seems that Jesus placed such a heavy emphasis upon baptism is more than evidence though, it’s also a statement of belonging. Baptism is a declaration of intention. When someone is baptized, they aren’t merely saying, “I follow Jesus,” but also, “I want to follow Jesus with His people.” Baptism places a believer into the visible community of the church. It marks the beginning of a shared life of worship, accountability, instruction, and love. You see, Christianity isn’t a solo journey, and baptism makes that truth visible, that the one being baptized is joining with others who also are following Jesus.

This is why baptism is so important to the local church. It’s the front door to the life of the church. Through baptism, the church celebrates God’s saving grace, welcomes new believers into fellowship, and commits to helping them grow in obedience to Christ. Likewise, the baptized believer commits to walking alongside other believers, submitting to the teaching of Scripture, and living out their faith in community.

In a culture that often treats faith as private and individualistic, baptism boldly proclaims something different. It says that the gospel creates a people, not just isolated believers. It reminds us that following Jesus means being joined to His body and walking together until the end of the age. Isn’t that what Jesus said? “… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

So today, it’s a really special day. Today, we as the church are doing that which Christ commanded. Zane is doing that which Christ commanded. And together we’re bearing witness to the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the beauty of life together in Him. Baptism isn’t the finish line of faith, it’s the starting point of a lifelong journey of discipleship, lived out in the context of the local church.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Central to the Christian faith is quite simply, faith. It seems almost silly to have to say that, but the author of the book of Hebrews obviously felt it necessary to point it out. Why? It seems to be because faith is something that can grow or lessen, be strengthened or weakened, be actively present or at times seemingly absent, and so the author of the book of Hebrews double-clicked on the necessity of exercising our faith.

You see, faith isn’t just a question of whether or not one has it. It seems to be more of a continuum. And yet, Jesus seemed to imply that it’s not necessary to have massive faith, at least not initially, as He spoke of having the faith of a mustard seed, and even that faith had miraculous effect. So what is God telling us about faith?

Well, I think the key is actually found in the verse that preceded one of Jesus’ instances of speaking of the faith of a mustard seed. In Luke 17:5 the Bible reads, “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” Jesus’ response to that was that one must exercise whatever level of faith they already possess, whether it’s great faith or small faith, like that of a mustard seed. Faith must be exercised.

Faith, then is not merely something we claim, but something we practice. Like a muscle, it grows through use. When faith is exercised, it strengthens; when it’s neglected, it weakens. This helps us understand why Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people not just to believe, but to walk by faith, live by faith, and endure through faith. An active and growing faith is one in which one’s trust is in the character and promises of God, especially when circumstances tempt us to rely on our own understanding instead.

This is why the apostles’ request, really a prayer, in Luke 17:5 is so instructive. They didn’t ask for new information, better strategies, or fewer challenges. They asked for increased faith. They recognized that the life God was calling them to live required deeper dependence on Him. And Jesus’ response reminds us that growth in faith doesn’t begin with waiting for some dramatic spiritual moment—it begins with obedience right where we are.

All throughout Scripture, faith grows as God’s people respond to His Word. Abraham’s faith grew as he followed God into the unknown. David’s faith grew as he trusted God in both times of peace and times of war. The early church’s faith grew as they prayed, preached, suffered, and persevered together. In each case, faith wasn’t abstract, it was being lived out in real circumstances, under real pressure.

This brings us to why I’m writing about faith in the first place. Well, every year we have a theme for our church, a specific, special emphasis to consider. This year's theme, a theme that will run throughout 2026 is “Lord, increase our faith.” I want us to especially note, however, that this isn’t a passive request, nor is it a vague spiritual slogan. It’s a petitioning of God Himself, a prayer that, as long as we mean it, commits us to growth. This call to the Lord, “increase our faith,” assumes that God will place us in situations that stretch our trust, deepen our dependence, and call us beyond comfortable Christianity. It also acknowledges that we’re going to need Him and His grace every step of the way.

As your pastor, it’s my desire, and a desire that I hope the entirety of our church family will want to share as well, that in 2026 we wouldn’t simply talk more about faith, but that we would live it more fully. It’s my desire that we would trust God more deeply in prayer, obedience, generosity, and perseverance. It’s my desire that we would take God at His Word, even when the outcome is uncertain. It’s my desire that we would believe, as Hebrews 11:6 says, not just that God exists, but that He is good, faithful, and rewarding to those who diligently seek Him.

May 2026 be a year where our church is marked by clearly growing faith, not because we are strong, but because our God is faithful. May our prayer continually be the humble and honest cry of the apostles: “Lord, increase our faith.” Happy New Year!