“I remember lots of laughter and tears in that community. Above all, I remember Jesus’ presence. Being part of that community helped Jesus go from blurry to clear.”

Asked how his faith and comedy overlap, Stephen Colbert talked about love, sacrifice, and how death is not defeat. As a comedian, I love this approach to humor, and think it’s a great starting point for any Christian trying to navigate their field.

But we are involved in the story of God. We have a role to play because the Creator God has invited us to take up our part in his drama. This is where the third lens, a missional lens, comes into the hermeneutical process. The Bible is not simply pointing us to who Jesus is, but also to what Jesus came to do. The Scriptures are all about both the identity and mission of Jesus.