This is the Way - Believe and Be baptized

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Welcome to our first series of the 2025-2026 school year. I try to collect my messages into groups that all center around a theme or a topic. That way each talk flows and builds upon one another. This first series is called, This is the Way. Before they were ever called Christians, the earliest followers of Jesus were called Followers of The Way by people in the Roman Empire who thought this Jesus movement was just a cult that would die out eventually.

But honestly, it’s such a fitting name because Jesus himself said in John 14:6: Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.‌

So over the next four weeks here on Wednesdays, I want to unpack what it means to follow Jesus. If you’ve ever been confused about what you should think, believe, or do as a Christian, this series is for you. If you’re looking to go deeper in your faith and you want to take a next step, then this series is for you. And if you’re still unsure if following Jesus is legit or if it’s for you, then this series is for you too.‌

My goal is to lay out the pathway that Jesus gives us and guide you on your journey of following him. ‌ Question for the group: What is the most important step someone can take?

I read a quote from someone that said:

“If you’re in the woods and you don’t know where to go, start walking.”

If you haven’t started, then your next step would be your first. And if you’re already on the journey, your next step is your next step. ‌ So let’s jump into our first message in this series, a message I’m calling “The Way to Begin”

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Rappelling story

At Army basic training, there is a Rappel tower called “Eagle Tower” - 65ft tall. Does not sound like much but, if you are like me…. it is terrifying.

Define Rappeling

how i felt pulling up

Talk through steps - putting on harness, climbing the ladder up, clipping in, looking down, “belay on” “on belay”.

Lean back over the edge…. jump backwards. Tell about drill sgt’s messing with me.

the HARDEST part is leaning back over the edge, taking the first jump.

I tell you this story because on this journey called the way of Jesus, we all have to take very important first steps.

(SLIDE) Big Idea

Before we begin following Jesus or even after we follow Jesus, we need to know WHAT these steps are and HOW we respond/

We take the first steps

These steps are: believing, repenting, and getting baptized.

Text Address

If you will, open up to Acts 2. The setting for this passage takes place after Jesus had ascended up to heaven, it is officially the day of pentecost, the Holy Spirit had come, and the Apostle Peter delivers the first evangelical message to the jews.

(SLIDE)Acts 2:36–41 “36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.”

(SLIDE) Point 1 - Believe and Repent

Peter is very straight forward in his delivery here to the Jews. He shares the message of Jesus to them, and it says those who heard his message were “pierced to the heart” and asked what they should do next. In response, Peter then says 3 simple words. Repent and Be Baptized for the FORGIVENESS of your sins.

What exactly is it that we are believing in and running towards?

(SLIDE) John 14:6 “6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

When we believe and repent, we are saying that Jesus is better than the world and we are choosing to turn away from our sin to follow his way.

In John 6, Jesus actually says this same thing to a crowd of people that he is preaching to.

(SLIDE) He says in verse 29 “This is the work of God - that you believe in the one who he has sent”. He says this because the people that he was preaching to were in this were confused. They were too busy asking Jesus what WORKS they had to do in order to be saved. Jesus laid it out plainly to them and said - you don’t need works! You just need to believe in the one that God sent (Jesus).

When we BELIEVE in Jesus - we are saying that we believe that He was sent to this world by the Father, that he walked this earth like you and I, was killed on a cross for our sins, and rose again 3 days later.

Now, we have a decision to make - follow him or turn toward the world.

Peter uses a specific word here - Repent.

(SLIDE) Repent = To turn from Sin and turn to Life.

Lemmy - my dog

when he goes outside, he LOVES to chase the animals in the backyard

he has no idea that cars will kill him - he does not know that running across that street to potentially get an animal could seriously hurt him

What he DOES know - my voice (not kates lol) he knows that I am in charge

He hears me, stops, sits, turns around, and runs straight to me

I tell you this because I think Lemmy in this situation can really teach us a lesson on repentance. The thing he wants (animals, playing with other dogs, greeting people, etc) to him, seem like the best thing in the world. What he does not know is that not only could it kill him, he could scare a little kid, he could get bit by another animal, maybe get lost…

When he turns and runs to me, it shows us what it looks like to repent from Sin and run to Jesus.

Repentance = TURNING from your sin (death/potential death) and running toward Jesus (life).

Not only does Peter tell us to Repent, he also tells us that we are to Be Baptized.

(SLIDE) Point 2 - Be Baptized

BAPTISM is an OUTWARD sign of an inward change. This is the FIRST step of obedience in the Christian life after giving your life and placing your trust in him. Baptism is an illustration of Christs death and recurrection from the grave. So, in baptism, a fellow believer submerges another believer below the water, symbolizing death, and raising them to life.

But, why do we do it?

Well, because Jesus did it and he tells us to.

In Matthew 3, we get to read that Jesus was baptized.

(SLIDE) In Matthew 3:15 “15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.”

Jesus was baptized to show his faithfulness and obedience to his father, as a demonstration to us that he came to fulfill all righteousness.

In Matthew 28, the Great Commission, he says,

(SLIDE)Matthew 28:18–20 “18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” “18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”

(SLIDE)Baptism allows us to follow in the FOOTSTEPS of Jesus.

Hear me when I say this, baptism does not save us. It is simply a signal of our faith in Christ. Turning away from our lives of sin and turning toward Jesus is what saves us.

One of my favorite things about the early church is how many of the new believers repented and were IMMEDIATELY baptized. They did not wait until the “right time”, they simply believed, repented, and acted.

If you will, turn to Acts 8, beginning in verse 26.

This is a story about Phillip, one of the early Deacons in the faith, leading an Ethiopian Eunuch (explain this) to faith. While walking by himself, he sees the man in his chariot, reading scripture out loud. Phillip approaches him and asks him if he understood what he was reading. The Eunuch then responds with “how can I unless someone guides me?” Then, Phillip explains what to him what he is reading.

Upon hearing this, the Eunuch responds by repenting! But it doesn’t end there.

(SLIDE) Acts 8:36–38 “36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.”

So, we see that this man does exactly what Peter commanded us to do in Acts 2. He acknowledged Jesus as his savior, he repented, and was immediately baptized.

Think of a wedding ring. The ring on my hand is not what MAKES me married - but it is an amazing representation to show that I belong to someone else! That I am unashamed of my marriage to my wife Kate. Much like this ring, baptism is a symbol of our relationship with Jesus - it is us publicly planting our flag for Jesus.

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I want to encourage all of you in this room tonight.

First, I mentioned it earlier - this is the first and most important step to take. If you have never placed your faith and trust in Jesus, I want to challenge you to seriously consider it. The gospel is real and true. It will change your life. So, repent and follow him.

Your next step, is to get baptized.

If you are in here and you have trusted in Jesus and have not been baptized and have never gone public with your faith, I want to give you the chance to do that!

Three weeks from today on Wednesday October 8, there will be a tub in the middle of this room and we are going to be doing a baptism night for students - for anyone of you, student or leader, that wants to go public with their faith.

This is the perfect opportunity to take the next step in your faith.

QR CODE ON SCREEN

Scan this QR code, fill out the application, follow the steps, and you are good to go - we will help you with the rest.

If you decide to get baptized, I want you to invite your family, and your friends - I want this room to be PACKED out.

Plus - I would love to have you get up here on stage to share your testimony in front of your friends and families, so let’s use these next three weeks to prepare!

Small Group Dismissal

Tonight is our first night of small groups! Look around this room - we have an incredible group of leaders that are taking time out of their week to lead you. So, treat them with respect and care!

I need all of you to listen closely and follow these directions.

BOYS - Follow Tor and Henry. SLOWLY to your area. Your rooms will be labeled with your leaders and group rosters. Blue and Teal pods (bottom floor)

GIRLS - Follow Grayce and I. we are going upstairs!

If you get to your room and you notice you are not on any lists - do not panic. Come to the UG, Grayce and I will put you in the right place.

If you are someone that came with a friend for the first time, go with your friend!

Pray