Category: Baptism

Baptism Sunday

9/23/2019

September 23, 2019

This past week we witnessed the Baptisms of seven people. It was incredible to hear what God has done in and through each life to bring them to the point of baptism.

This week reflect on your stories. We had started this last week and just wanted to give appropriate time for everyone. If everyone has shared already, this week is an excellent opportunity to talk about your own baptism.

When were you baptized? Why did you choose that time? What were the factors in your life at the time that led you to choose baptism? What did baptism mean to you then? Has your understanding of it grown over the years? Has your baptism served as a milestone for your faith, an event for you to look back on and reflect?

For further discussion, look at these passages on baptism together if you have time. For each, consider your own understanding and motivation in baptism. What can you learn from these verses? How does each passage glorify God? (Definition: God’s Glory is his holiness made manifest.)

Luke 3:21-22

Romans 6:3-4

Matthew 28:19-20

1 Corinthians 12:13

1 Peter 3:18-22

The Theme of Water as an instrument of purification:

Genesis 6

Exodus 14:15-31

Leviticus 16:23-24

2 Kings 5:1-19

How do you reconcile the theme of purification with your own baptism?

Does contemplating God’s purpose in water judgement, purification and obedience in baptism lead you to deep worship? This is not easy to understand, but it is worth it!

Timothy Brindle writes (or more accurately, raps);

“Saving us from the lake of fire, Yahweh Jehovah
Who was baptized in the Jordan River
A redemptive historic picture of his death for the sinner
The dove descended on him, this is fact Christian
Mark 10:38 he called his death a baptism
'Cause the only way he's saving us from hell
Is to be baptized by wrath and to take it on himself
The point I bring is that upon the anointed King
End time judgment fell for all who are joined to him
Plus the reason I discuss this
Is 'cause the Bible says the flood's a preview of the final judgment
Just as Egyptians were cast into the sea
The wicked will be in the lake with gnashing of teeth
Thus your baptism is a water judgment
That's either pointing to all that God the Son did
Or to fall away and to disregard your sonship
Means your baptism points to your awful punishment”

"Water Judgement" Lyrics

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The Immersed Life

11/18/2018

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We are called as Christians to live a baptized life. This is a state of relationship with God which begins at conversion, is confirmed in baptism, and continues unto our death. This week in your group, spend some time sharing with each other about what living the baptized life has meant for you.

Specifically:

How did you come to confess Christ and be born again? (Justification)
What circumstances or convictions brought you to the point of walking in the obedience of baptism? (Confirmation)
What has living the baptized life meant for you since? (Sanctification)
What has been one of the most impactful scripture passages for you through this process? Or, what is something in scripture that God has been using in your life recently?

Homework
Try to share a brief version of your story of justification and sanctification with someone who is not a believer this week. This could be as simple as saying, “God is has been so faithful in my life….” and let the Holy Spirit lead from there.
The second part of this is telling your group about what happened. If you have a group chat, or text, throw your story in there. Otherwise, lead off next week with some story telling.