SERMON NOTES

PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Share a baptism story with your group or reflect on your own. What was significant about the experience? 
2. In a culture of standing for something, and socially declaring what we agree with on social platforms, Why do you think it’s necessary to publicly declare your faith in the form of baptism?
3. Jesus was baptized before he started his public ministry and it says in Luke 22, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” If we identify with Christ in baptism, what does it mean to you that God the Father loves you and is well pleased with you even before you have accomplished anything?
4. If Jesus was without sin, nothing to repent of, why then did He need to be baptized?
5. The essence of the Gospel is dying to our old life and rising to new Life in Christ. How is baptism by immersion a demonstration of the Gospel?

SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE ON

Romans 6: 3-5
Acts 2: 38-41
Matthew 3: 11-17

RESOURCES

Article | Gospel Coalition | Why Did Jesus Need To Be Baptized

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE TO TRY

Develop a Rule of Life (ROL). A Rule of Life, is a simple pattern that we implement into our daily life. This pattern is designed to intentionally move you forward in your faith with Jesus and your spiritual life. Taking the time to develop a ROL will help create vision for your life. Living by it will lead to transformation. These Rule of Life are not steadfast unmovable block in your day to day, but rather pliable patterns to initiate growth and transformation. Their goal is your goal, to help provide direction and support as you develop in holiness as God desires. Romans 12:1-2 in the message translation encourages us to embrace Gods best in every area of our life. “Spiritual disciplines are activities that open us to God’s transforming love and the changes that only God can bring about in our lives. Picking up on the monastic tradition of creating a “rule of life” allows for regular space for the practice of the spiritual disciplines. – Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

It was a summer day when I was in high school, and our church was doing a picnic and baptism out at the local lake. I remember standing before a hundred or so people from the church and a few hundred who were just at the sim area of the lake, my nerves had subsided as the adrenaline coarsed through my body in anticipation for declaring my faith publically. 

In the days that followed I remember a period of time where my faith grew like no time before. The obedience to the scriptures to believe and get baptized supercharged my faith. There is something to be said about shedding our discomfort and following through with what God instructed us to do. Now I was not perfect in faith, and continued to walk in success and failures in my faith, afterall our faith journey is not up and to the right, it is more messy. 

However, there is and continues to be power in my public declaration of faith through baptism. In the Acts 2: 38-41, peter seems to express a similar idea. If you have not been baptized I want to encourage you to “take the plunge”. Step out and obey the scriptures and experience a new chapter and season in your life.

Pastor Rob Hans