Baptism

Greeting

Invite people to grab a bowl of water

Opening Prayer

Kid’s Rock

Let’s talk baptism…

But first let me introduce you to the craziest guy on any side of the Jordan River…

Have you been to the Jordan River?

Pause

No?

Me Either!

Still, this Jordan river was a pretty special place.

Do you remember the story of Moses…and how he led God’s people out of slavery in Egypt and toward the promised land?

Well…Moses didn’t get to make it to the promised land himself…he was too old and died before they could get there…

So his second in command, Joshua, became the leader and lead the people across…what…

You guessed it…the JORDAN RIVER…into the Promised Land.

It was Elisha, the prophet, who told Naaman to wash himself in the Jordan River…

and he was healed of his Leprosy after doing so…

So, this Jordan River was a special place…

and this guy named John the Baptist, crazy looking and acting as he might be (I mean he did dress in camels hair and eat locusts for food)…but… he was doing something very special at the Jordan River too.

Do you know what that was?

YES! BAPTISM.

Now, what is Baptism my friends?

If you guessed that it is the way we cleanse ourselves of our sins, you would be right.

John was calling people to REPENT of their sins and get baptized as a sign of God’s grace being upon the person receiving the water.

Now, John’s repentance didn’t actually provide THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS…

But was a sign of God’s forgiveness and grace in the midst of the coming of GOD’S MESSIAH…who is the UNIVERSAL JUDGE OF AL CREATION.

But the one who would follow John, the one John was preparing people for…

his Baptism would provide for cleansing and the beginning of the Sanctifiation process.

This MESSIAH is who my friends?

That’s right! Jesus Christ.

Now, Let me ask you all this?

How many of you remember your baptism

Scripture Passage

Mark 1:4–12 (NLT)

4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!” 9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” 12 The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness,

Focus Statement

Baptism is God’s cleansing of our original sin,

initiation into Christ’s Holy Church,

incorporation into the body of Christ,

and empowerment by the Holy Spirit for a lifelong process of discipleship in community.

Point of Relation

Baptisms are special events are they not?

My most favorite baptism that I’ve attended, the one that moved me the most,

was one that took place years ago when I was a youth pastor at Vernon United Methodist Church.

Now…don’t get me wrong…ALL BAPTISMS MOVE ME.

But this one was special for a specific reason.

One of my youth, a girl (well now a woman I will be marrying later this year, actually…

by the name of Becky.

Now, Becky was not raised in a Christian setting and did not attend a Christian church.

Her family were good people, don’t get me wrong, just for specific reasons that I won’t go into here,

the church was not a place they called home.

And you know what…that is the reality for many kids out there…

Well one of my youth, Jodi Bischoff, daughter of one of our own members, John, was friends with Becky…

and had this awesome habit of INVITING friends to youth group…Thank you very much…Hallelujah…amen!

So, Becky, over time became one of our most faithful, active youth…

who intern invited others to youth group as well…

And she BECAME A CHRISTIAN….and decided to be baptized because she had never been…

at 14 o4 15 years old…

And it moved me to tears…I STILL THINK OF IT TO THIS DAY…

Things to Consider

Let me invite you all to think of baptisms that you have experienced, witnessed and/or were a part of.

Were those experiences perceived as momentary actions or as the beginning of a lifelong process?

What Scripture Says

Many of the ”roots” of Methodism

that this series explores

have a spirit of ”both/and,” or synergy.

Baptism is one of these;

it is both sacramental and evangelical,

outward and inward,

liturgical and spiritual,

a divine initiative and a human response,

a life changed through both water and the spirit,

a change initiated often in infanthood

and that is nurtured and lived into

through lifelong discipleship through adulthood.

Baptism names and claims us as beloved.

John’s practice of baptism

was about repentance and forgiveness (verses 4-5)

and baptism,

as Jesus experienced it,

was about the Holy Spirit and being claimed as beloved by God (verses 8-12).

In our baptism,

there is a washing away of our sin and

we are also claimed as beloved by God.

We are plunged into the depths of the divine

through water and the Spirit.

We experience an immersion into a new life with God,

as loved,

forgiven and gifted people.

Baptism unites us in community.

In the earliest Gospel, Mark,

Jesus chose to be baptized by John.

We do not experience faith and faithfulness in isolation

but surrounded and supported by others.

That is why we do not engage in private baptisms, why we acknowledge that private baptisms are not, theologically speaking, valid.

The communal nature of faith also helps explain why early Methodist bands/small groups

began to support each other, rather than trying to operate independently.

Consider highlighting places in the baptismal liturgy that speak to both the individual and community commitment (suggestion: United Methodist Hymnal, page 35, sections eight and nine).

In baptism we receive the Holy Spirit and in response are sent out into the world.

When we receive God’s grace in baptism,

it is God calling us (as God called Jesus) ”beloved.”

Right after God calls Jesus Beloved Son,

the Spirit sends Jesus out into the wilderness.

Being sent is our human response to our belovedness. God’s

love for us calls us to action.

Consider referencing our work as individuals and the community in

resisting evil,

injustice

and oppression as found in the

(UM Hymnal, page 34, section four).

Reflect on this quote, my friends:

“If you can raise your hands in praise but can’t reach down to help someone in need, you’ve just nullified your praise,” from Rev. Dr. William Barber III.

What This Means from Us

In baptism, you are called beloved,

empowered with the fruits of the Holy Spirit,

and you are united with the struggles and joys of those in the church community.

Your voice is important and unique.

Is there a place you need to receive God’s forgiveness?

Is there a particular injustice you have failed to act on?

Keep newcomers in mind!

New disciples may be interested in baptism.

Some may not understand how baptism is a one-time thing in the UMC,

so if they were baptized as infants, they cannot be re-baptized.

But you might encourage them to participate in a baptism remembrance ceremony.

If they have not yet been baptized and would like to be,

offer them a baptismal class.

What This Means for Us

As United Methodists,

we have worked towards eliminating malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa

with “Nothing But Nets,”

(for more info:

htps://www.igrc.org/files/tables/content/9021903/fields/ files/567d4a152b􀄩43b3859a6b02c3af7e34/ comprehensive+impact+report.pdf)

This past year,

We have welcomed new people into our church

through our ongoing bi-monthly potluck dinners,

we’ve been promoting communal and individual help through Hypnosis for Health,

we’ve continued to educate Christians young and old alike, through our Christian Education program.

Also, we’ve built community outside the walls of our church at Theology on Tap

and will be doing so at an upcoming community prayer ministry that I am developing. More will be out on that shortly.

In what ways can our church unleash the power of connection

when addressing the baptismal admonitions against injustice (as referred to in the baptism liturgy)?

Make a specific challenge to the congregation to do more than they think, because of God’s empowerment and the Holy Spirit. The pastor may need to do some research on ways the congregation can impact the local community, the conference, or the world.

Together, let us not only remember our baptism,

but let us live into and embody our baptismal vows. Amen? Amen.

Additional Material:

• Read “Water and the Spirit” for a UMC understanding of baptism: htps://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/by-water-and-the-spirit-full- text

• Chuck Knows Church on Baptism (#47): htps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABCKyffq7Wo