Baptism Sunday The Power Of Baptism

11/30/25 Baptism Sunday

The Power Of Baptism

“Overflowing With Thanksgiving:

A tradition is born:

TV dinners have Thanksgiving to thank.

In 1953, someone at Swanson misjudged the number of frozen turkeys. It would sell that Thanksgiving, by 26 tons!  Some industrious soul came up with a brilliant plan. Why not slice up the meat and repack with some trimmings on the side? Thus, the first TV dinner was born!

Colossians 2:6–7 (NKJV) 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

The Power of Baptism

Before we celebrate baptism today, let’s look at the ground we’ve covered in our Thanksgiving series:

Week 1: David — The Effects Of Thanksgiving and what happens when we don’t give thanks.

Psalm 103:1–5 (NKJV) 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

We learned that David praised God with all his heart, on good days and bad days.

Gratitude is not seasonal; it’s spiritual.

Week 2: We saw that we need to have a heart of Gratitude, in all season’s of life.

Genesis 8:22 (NKJV) 22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”

Week 3: The One Leper,  Thanksgiving Makes You Whole

Luke 17:17–19 (KJV) 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Ten were healed, only one was changed.

Gratitude doesn’t just acknowledge the miracle, it brings us back to the Miracle Worker.

Week 4: Paul & Silas: Thanksgiving Unlocks Prison Doors 

Acts 16:25–26 (NKJV) 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

When they worshiped in the dark, God moved in the light.

Praise doesn’t wait for freedom; praise brings freedom.

All four weeks taught us one truth:

A thankful heart brings God into the middle of our story.

And today, we come to one more moment of thanksgiving, the greatest one of all:

“The Greatest Thanksgiving is our,  New Life in Christ”

Let’s look at some quick points and then see some of our brother’s and sister’s be baptized.

1. In Baptism we Give Thanks Because Jesus Saved Us From Death

Colossians 1:13–14 (NKJV) 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Salvation is not self-improvement, it is the resurrection life.

John Newton, former slave trader turned pastor, said before writing Amazing Grace:

“I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior.”

If you’re saved today, you have something eternal to be thankful for, life from the dead.

2. Baptism Reminds Us That Our Old Life Is Buried

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Going under the water symbolizes the burial of the old sinful nature.

3. Baptism Celebrates Our Resurrection With Christ

Colossians 3:1–4 (NKJV) 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Rising out of the water is a picture of rising to new life.

The early church called the baptism tank “the womb of the new creation.” You go in one person and you come out brand new.

It is a living, breathing Thanksgiving testimony:

“I once was dead, but now I live!”

4. Baptism Publicly Declares Our Gratitude to Jesus

Psalm 107:2 (NKJV) 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

Every person being baptized today is preaching a sermon without saying a word.

Thanksgiving is not quiet. Baptism is gratitude made public.

The Pilgrims held a feast to say, “Lord, we survived!” Believers get baptized to say, “Lord, I’m saved!”

5. Baptism Launches Us Into a Life Overflowing With Thanksgiving

Colossians 2:6–7 (NKJV) 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

We don’t get baptized and return to the old life.

We walk out like Paul and Silas: praising God, no matter what.

Billy Sunday once said,

“Stopping at salvation is like getting married and never speaking to your spouse again!”

Baptism is the beginning,  a life of gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving, lived every day.

Church Family: TODAY IS A DAY OF THANKS

Today we thank God for:

✔ Salvation ✔ The cross ✔ The empty tomb ✔ Forgiveness ✔ New identity ✔ New creation ✔ And these precious believers about to be baptized

Like the Pilgrims who lifted thanksgiving after a dark winter…

Like Paul and Silas who sang in their prison…

Like David who blessed the Lord at all times…

We choose gratitude because Jesus has rescued us, redeemed us, and raised us.

Let’s Get Wet