It is popular in the sports world today to offer spectators a "main event." This spectacle includes the best fighters, the most prize money, the most energy, the most fanfare. It's as if the promoter is saying, "This is the best we've got -- and you must come and see it!"

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I have been thinking of this concept in relation to church and personal faith. What is the "main event" as it relates to our lives? What do I project? What about my church? What do we project? What are we known for?

You can easily find out what a church is all about. Perhaps our sign lets you know that we have what we consider apostolic leadership. Or maybe our pastor's name is worth advertising. Or maybe we have the best music.

Maybe we are the hippest. Maybe anyone could belong here. Maybe we have an amazing setup for your kids. You should check us out.

I can take this notion of the main event and apply it to myself. What am I known for? How would others describe me?

What is on my mind when my eyes open in the morning? Is it my looks, my physique? Is it the letters before or after my name? Is it my money? My talents? Perhaps I am witty or creative or intelligent. Maybe everyone knows me because I have done so many good things.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with beauty, money, piety, ministries or programs. It's just that I don't think we were created to be known for these things. There is something better. What should be the "main event" in the life of a church or a Christian person?

The Old Testament Hebrew text offers insight. In Jeremiah 9:23-24, we are encouraged not to boast of our wealth or our strength. Being a pastor is no big deal, nor is being a billionaire, nor is being a world-famous athlete. You're beautiful. You're rich. You're wise. So what?

We adore these things as if they were worth our worship, and we try to become them or achieve them because we want to be worshipped. We want to be the main event.

The Hebrew word here for "boast" is halal, which literally means "to shine." So each person who boasts is trying to shine.

Jeremiah says, in essence, for a person to be about money, power, piety, even self in any way, is futile.

The same can be said for a church that is about its building, its pastor, its wealth, its size or its programs.

Paul describes what I call "soul aroma" in 2 Corinthians 2. Paul says that the fragrance, the shine, the main event of any person would be sweetest were it the mercy of God found in Jesus Christ. My life is not about what I have done, but what has been done for me.

What are you and I known for?

The Rev. Jeff Miller is pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Augusta.