Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro:

Today is Known as Baptism of our Lord Sunday.

Not only is it supposed to be a time that we remember or look at the Baptism of Jesus but is it also supposed to be about us remembering our baptism as well.

Illustraton:

I remember mine like it was yesterday…I was baptized in a little church in East Texas that we built ourselves.

Because we built it ourselves there were a lot of things that got done well…almost right.

One of those thing was the baptismal.

When we dug out the hole the men went with the adage bigger is better.

The hole was too big for the baptismal and because it was so big when he filled in around it they could never really get the dirt all around the the tub…so when it rained it would wash away the dirt and leave small pockets around the tub.

This led to critters of all kinds but especially frogs finding at least a temporary home there and at times interrupting a key part of the service.

Not only that but I was baptized in February which most of the time in east Texas was not a problem but his year was a very cold year.

That should not have mattered because of the heater but the heater was not working and no-one told me.

So when I stepped in I was immediacy chattering my teeth and when the pastor asked me if I would be baptized into this faith when I opened my mouth a loud bullfrog croak replaced the words I do….

It was not an easy endeavor it did not go smoothly but I have to tell you that it was worth it all.

When I came up out of the water I felt like a new creation.

The symbolism of dying to myself as I went under and joining Jesus in resurrection as I emerged from the icy water was not lost on me.

All the cold weather and all of natures sound effects could not change the meaning of baptism for me.

While I still remember the cold and the frog....what makes my baptism more memorable was a moment I can point to where I went public with me faith.

It was worth it all…Because the presence of God outweighed any inconvenience.

Life is not always easy.

Life does not always go as planned but that does not mean that God is not with us during times of inconvenience or trouble.

In fact those are the times we can be the most confident in our hope.

Those are the times God is the closest to us.

Through Line:

It is not possible to get where God wants you to be if you are not willing to travel with Jesus through the Storm.