BAPTISM SERVICE

Opening Remarks

Good morning, everyone.

What a blessed day we have on this Lord’s Day. Not only are we gathering as a church family to worship our God together, the children will be giving a presentation…and…AFTER MANY YEARS...

We have the privilege of witnessing baptisms. These candidates have responded to the call of the gospel by repenting of their sin and by faith trusting in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for salvation. You will find their personal testimonies inside your bulletin, and we encourage you to read how God brought each of them to believe the wonderful truth of the gospel. They have taken the baptism class. We rejoice with them as they come to publicly profess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and obey his first command to believers: to be baptized.

Brief Comments on Baptism

In case you do not know what baptism is...Fundamentally, baptism is an outward physical sign of an inward spiritual reality. Nothing magical or supernatural takes place just because someone is immersed in these waters. The act of baptism does not save you, but only is a symbol pointing to the reality of your salvation. You could liken it to a wedding ring that, in and of itself, does not make you married, but serves as a sign to the world that you have committed yourself in marriage to your lifelong spouse.

Therefore, baptism is a beautiful picture given by the Lord Jesus Christ that points to the spiritual transformation that takes place when one rightly responds to the gospel message.

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

This passage teaches that baptism serves as a visible picture or symbol of our death and burial with Christ, along with our spiritual resurrection with him, and that it identifies us with Him as our representative head. It is through baptism that we tell the world that we belong to Jesus and it is our commitment to live in obedience to Him for the rest of our life.

So, I’ll be asking the candidates three simple questions:

QUESTIONS:

1. Do you confess that you are a sinner, deserving of eternal punishment? 

2. Do you confess that you repent of your sins and trust in Jesus' death and resurrection for the forgiveness of your sins?

3. Is it your commitment to follow Jesus for the rest of your life?

NOTE: No need to translate after this point.

INVITATION. I’m going to invite...

Ariel

May

Jing Fang

Elaine

Mark

Pastoral Prayer

Praise God for His goodness

Praise God for the VBS

Praise God for the physical gathering of God’s people

Pray for John Lee at the loss of his father (Tsi Fang Lee). May the Lord comfort John and Danna.

Announcements

Tonight is the deadline to register for the Youth Retreat.

Regarding the luncheon, there is a specific way to dispose of the food wastes, recycle the utensils and plates,

Say Grace for the food.

(In case, pray for the baptismal candidates)