Small groups & Baptism

1. Small groups & Baptism

2. Guiding principle of small group ministry – on a personal level • The best version of yourself will only be found in a growing relationship with God • The best version of yourself will only be realized in growing, healthy relationships with others • We are not designed to live life in isolation but in a community

3. Guiding principles of small groups – on a practical level • Fellowship precedes relationships • Relationships precede most successful evangelism • Relationships precede effective discipleship • Healthy Church growth is directly related to developing & keeping healthy relationships

4. Design: common interest based small groups • Most natural to unite around common interests • Common interests can be spiritual growth areas or activities • Model is called “open market”  organizing principle is common interests • Each leader, each quarter can choose the organizing focus (interest or activity)

5. Overview of Baptism • Why we baptize • Symbols & message within baptism • Commitment of baptism

6. Because He said to • Jesus said to: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 • Part of “making disciples” & following Jesus • “Believer’s baptism”  milestone on the path of following Christ

7. Practiced by early Church • Acts 2.38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” • Acts 8.12-.13, Preaching in Samaria, • Acts 8.36-.38, Ethopian Eunich • Acts 9.18, Paul’s conversion • Acts 10.47-.48, 11.16, first Gentiles • Acts 16.15, Lydia at Philippi • Acts 16.33, Philippian jailor • Acts 18.8, the Corinthian believers • Acts 19.5, the Ephesian believers

8. Baptism, by itself, does not save us – faith does • “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works …” (Ephesians 2.8-.9a); also thief on cross - Luke 23.43, first Gentiles - Acts 10.43-.47) • Baptism (like communion) more than a symbol –a powerful act of obedience & a mystery • Baptism often tied to message of salvation & not to be taken lightly (Mark 16.16, 1Peter 3.20-21)

9. Baptism into Christ & into His body • Baptism into something … Christ • Galatians 3:27-28 “27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” • To be baptized & placed “into Christ” is called “God’s wisdom” by Paul (1Corinthians 1.30) • Baptized also into Christ’s body, we belong

10. Into a watery grave • Romans 6:3-4 “3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the deadthrough the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life… 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin”

11. A circumcision of the “old man” • Colossians 2:11-12 “11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” • Every verb: “aorist passive”, done in past tense by God to you • “buried”, “raised”, “circumcised” – just believe!

12. Raised to a new life • Jesus could not naturally get out of that grave • The natural order had to be overcome supernaturally • As natural men, we were all “stuck” in sin • In this new life, the same supernatural resource that raised Jesus lives in us (Romans 8.11) & enables us to overcome

13. Identification with Christ • “By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16 • Imagine: we identify with the greatest story ever told (the “mystery of godliness”) • Jesus’ story becomes our story • “the mystery of godliness” is the mystery of a God-changed life

14. Our reward in identifying with Christ -- Col 3.1-4 • Colossians 3:1-4 “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

15. Commitments of Baptism: discipleship & change • Immersion – it’s an “all in” situation • No part not wet  no part outside of Christ • A public confession of a decision: • To bury the old man & old life (of sin) • To live a new life with God at its center, relying upon His Holy Spirit to do His will

16. Baptism – a time to reflect on our decision • A good time to ask: how am I living? • Am I following God? • Am I living as the “old man” or as the “new”? • Baptism is an outward reminder to all of us of our decision to identify with Christ & to follow Him in this world