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Baptism

The next baptism service will be held on the weekend of October 16 and 17. Students, high school age or younger, who are interested in baptism need to talk to the pastoral staff who lead their respective ministry. The preparation classes required for adults are:

Monday, September 27, at 7:30 pm in room 108
Tuesday, September 28, at 7:30 pm in room 108
Sunday, October 3, at 8:00 am in Lounge B

You need only register for one of the classes. Registration will begin mid August.

Memory Verse

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

Signpost of a Maturing Christian

I have been baptized as a believer in Jesus Christ, and am allowing that act of obedience and public identification to inspire my testimony of faith.

Bringing into Focus

Many sincere followers of Jesus have differing biblical views regarding who should be baptized and the method that should be used.

Consider the implication of these passages on your own understanding of baptism:

The significance of Jesus asking John the Baptist to baptize him at the start of his public ministry (Matthew 3:12-1).

Jesus disciples' baptize followers during Jesus' earthly ministry (John 3:22-23, 4:1-2).

When Jesus leaves his disciples to return to his Father, he commands them to baptize believers in his name, the name of his father, and the name of the Holy Spirit. This baptism is to be part of the disciple-making process (Matthew 28:18-20).

Baptism is a public sign of my identification with Jesus in his death and resurrection. What does it represent to me personally (Romans 6:1-4)? How can baptism have an ongoing impact on my spiritual life?

Baptism is important to each community of believers because it allows people to publicly identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus told his disciples that obedience was a sign of their love for him. Since he set the example by being baptized and commanded his followers to baptize those who came to faith, it is important that each of us as individuals identify with Jesus and his body through public baptism. Like the eunuch we should take advantage of the first opportunity to show that we have died to sin and been resurrected to new life in Jesus. Like Philip we should encourage and enable those who come to know Jesus to be baptized.

Soul Searching

Do I see the importance of baptism within this community of believers? Have I been baptized to show my identification with Jesus? Who do I know that I should encourage to be baptized?

Reflection

Immersion in water symbolizes the end of the old way of life. Coming up out of the water represents the new life found in Christ. The person who was previously dead in sin has been made spiritually alive by the same power that raised Jesus from the grave!

Water baptism identifies a person as a disciple of Jesus and celebrates passage from the old life into new life in Christ. Simply stated, it is an outward sign of an inward change.