Baptism
Who We’re Meant To Be – Part 1
February 5-6, 2021
Steve Tanner
“Then God said to Noah, ‘Leave the boat, all of you—you and your wife, and your sons and their wives. Release all the animals—the birds, the livestock, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth.’ So Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives left the boat.” Genesis 8:15-18 (p.8)
“…God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 3:20-21 (p.936)
Series Memory Verse: “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (p.809)
- Baptism Announces I Am A Child Of God.
“And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on the character of Christ, like putting on new clothes.” Galatians 3:27 (p.892)
- Trust God to give you New Life.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (p.811)
“And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”
Luke 23:43 (p.807)
- Take the step of obedience: get baptized.
“But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.” Acts 8:12 (p.837)
“’Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?’ He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:36-38 (p.837)
- Tell others about your new life with your baptism.
“One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized.”
Luke 3:21a (p.782)
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (p.760)
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 (p.864)
My Next Step This Week:
____ Sign me up to be baptized during our next Baptism Services.
____ I am praying for (and sharing with) ___________ to come to faith in Jesus and be baptized.
Discussion/Groups Guide
Who We’re Meant to Be – Part 1
“Baptism”
Life Groups use this guide in their discussion from the Weekend Talk. This is also a discussion guide you can use with your family and friends.
Conversation Starters
- Have you ever been included as a member of a special group of people? Maybe it was on a sports/academic team, a board, a wedding party, an advisory committee, etc. How did it feel to be included?
- Do you have experience with adoption, either being adopted or adopting a son/daughter into your family? Talk about your feelings about your/their inclusion into the family. How was your family impacted?
- Did you have a big class graduation photo, and you look back and wonder where those people are now? Do you keep in touch with any of them?
Quick Review
Looking back at your Weekend Talk Notes, was there anything you heard in the service that stood out to you, challenged you, or maybe even confused you?
Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk
Refer to the Talk Notes and Bible verses from the Talk Notes.
This week’s One Thing: Baptism Announces I Am A Child Of God.
Series Memory Verse: John 1:12 (p.809)
Background: Noah, Genesis 6-9 (p.6-8); Genesis 8:15-18 (p.8); 1 Peter 3:20-21 (p.936)
This week our discussion focuses on the following points of teaching and application:
- Trust God to give you New Life. See John 3:16 (p.811); Luke 23:43 (p.806)
- If you have been baptized, did your problems go away because of it?
- Maybe some problems go away, but most likely not. Talk about how your faith has helped you through difficulties. See also John 10:10 (p.819).
- Share your personal baptism experience. Do you feel like it was a public proclamation of your faith?
- Take the step of obedience: get baptized. See Acts 8:12, 36-38 (p.837)
- It is easy in our culture to prioritize things above God – family, finances, friends, etc. It’s also easy to just “look the other way” when God wants our attention. Talk about how you face these challenges and temptations in your life.
- See also Deuteronomy 6:2 (p.144)
- Talk about the significance of baptism being a step of obedience rather than the step that brings salvation.
- Tell others about your new life with your baptism. See Galatians 3:27 (p.892); Luke 3:21a (p.782); Matthew 28:19-20 (p.760); Romans 10:9-10 (p.864)
- What does it mean to put on “the character of Christ, like new clothes”?
- Jesus’ Great Commission to us in Matthew 28:19-20 (p.760) charges us with going, telling, baptizing, and discipling. Who has been affected by the fact of your relationship with Jesus? Who have you told? Who can you tell?
- Read 1 Corinthians 9:20-23 (p.874). How can you begin investing in those that are far from God for the sake of their eternity?
Digging Deeper
If you have been baptized, what led up to the event? Was it a long journey or did it happen quickly? Where did it take place? What do you remember about it? What impact did it have on you?
- Take a look at some of the people who were baptized in the Book of Acts.
- Acts 8:26-39 (p.836) The Ethiopian Eunuch
- Acts 9:1-18 (p.837) Saul
- Acts 10 (p.838) Cornelius and his household
- Acts 16:13-15 (p.845) Lydia
- Acts 16:25-34 (p.845) The Jailer
- What similarities or differences do you see in their stories?
- What can you learn from them? Do you see any similarities to your story?
- What can you share with others about your faith in God?
- How can you pray for opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus?
My Next Step This Week: _____
____ I am signing up to be baptized during our next Baptism Services. (February 19/20).
____ I am praying for (and sharing with) ___________ to come to faith in Jesus and be baptized.