What Does the Bible Say About Baptism?

What does the Bible Say About… Baptism? August 1, 2021 The Sacrament of Baptism • Baptism is God’s chosen way of _________________ people into the ____________. (Matthew 28:19-20) • Baptism is the moment we ______________ the forgiveness and _________________ of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) • The experience of Baptism shapes our _______________ and our ________________. (Galatians 3:26-29, Romans 6:1-3) The Question Behind the Question: • The Bible talks about Baptism as if something actually _____________ in the water. (Acts 2:38) • This seems to contradict the idea that we are saved by ________. (Ephesians 2:8-9) • What is Baptism? What does it actually ____? What role does it play in _____________ a Christian? Sacraments • God gives human beings a ________ in _____________ his grace with others. (John 14:12-14) • God gives us certain _________ (sacraments) to help ____________ his grace with others. (1 Corinthians 10:16) Conclusions: • We are not saved by ____________--we are saved by ________. • Sacraments give us __________________ of grace that shape our _____________. (1 Corinthians 10:17) • Baptism is a gift of ___________________--it gives us a moment when our salvation becomes ______________. • Sacraments do not limit what ______ can do—they limit what _____ can do _________________. (Acts 8:15-16, 10:44-47) • Baptism is a ________________--a way to share _____________ _______________ with a desperate world. Discussion Questions • Where do you see baptism referenced in verses 3-7? What does Paul want them to learn from their own baptisms? • Putting this all together, how does the experience of baptism help us to fulfill the instructions Paul gives us in verse 1? 1. Getting Started: • What did you find most interesting about the sermon this week? The most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? • Our culture has its own versions of sacraments—events that shape our identity, like weddings and graduations. Why do you think these moments are so important? • What is the most powerful identity-shaping experience you have had? 3. Going Deeper • How does Baptism shape our identity as Christians? How should it change the way we live? • How can we use the practice of baptism to offer hope to people who need Jesus? • What other actions can we use to bring God’s grace and hope to others? 2. Into the Bible (Read Titus 3:1-7) • • Consider the instructions of verse 1. What makes these commands difficult to follow? In verse 2, Paul begins explaining why we should do the hard work of verse 1. Why does it matter that we used to be “foolish, disobedient,” etc?