BAPTISM SERVICE Defining Moments and Choices.
Each of us has a story of our life.
A story made up of events and circumstances, moments and choices.
A story that contains good days and not so good days.
____ story is different from _____ and ____.
Your story is different from mine, and different from the person sitting next to you, because it is your story.
Each of us have different experiences, different highlights, different low-points,
different things that help shape us.
And each of us have special moments in our lives that help define who we are.
Moments that change us, moments that shape us.
Maybe, the day you passed your driving test.
Or, the day you bought your own home.
The day your first child was born.
The day you were given an all clear by the doctor.
Or the day you first discovered Elim and met Dave Redbond for the first time.
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Defining moments. Significant moments.
For ____&____ today is a significant day in their lives.
Today is a significant day that is a result of another defining moment in their lives.
Now I can see that has got you thinking.
“What is He on about?”
“They were just baptised - isn’t this the defining moment?”
Actually - Baptism is an outward symbol of something that has already happened in their lives- it is a symbol of a defining moment that has already taken place.
The defining moment when _____ & ____ trusted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
That defining moment when they realised for themselves they wanted to be in a real relationship with the God who loves them.
That defining moment when they realised that by placing their trust in Jesus and asking Him into their lives the that their sins would be forgiven.
The defining moment when they realised that God cares for them and has a plan and purpose for their lives.
The defining moment when they chose to accept the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life that God gives to everyone who trusts in Jesus as Saviour.
The defining moment when it all made sense.
The moment they realised for themselves that
The Bible is not just a collection of stories.
God is real.
Jesus Christ really lived.
He was really crucified.
He really died on the cross.
Three days later He really rose from the Grave.
Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is alive today,
and one day He is coming back.
The defining moment when they understood that it was all really true.
The defining moment when they were Saved.
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Tonight, they have chosen to be baptised to show what has already happened in their lives.
A symbol, a public statement, of the choice they have made to believe in and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
A statement that they will follow the teachings of the Bible and commandments of God.
A symbol of the trust they have in Jesus to cleanse and renew their lives and direct them with purpose.
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Water Baptism is symbolic of many things: cleansing, burial, resurrection, the death of the old, the birth of the new.
Water baptism is symbolic,
there is nothing special about the water used -
it came from the tap,
we warm it up with a little water heater,
there is nothing special about the water -
it has no special properties of powers.
But it is symbolic of God’s grace, mercy and love.
Baptism symbolises a real connection to God - a real relationship.
The Bible tells us in the book of Romans “we are joined with Christ Jesus in baptism” (Rom 6:3).
Today, this baptismal service, is symbolic of ____ & ____ & ____ commitment to join with Jesus and follow Him.
In the Bible in Matthew Chapter 3 Verses 13-17 there is the record of Jesus being baptised in the Jordan River - Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptised by John. But John tried to talk Him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptised by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptise Him. After His baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
The Jordan River - a useful little river, but nothing special about the water.
Jesus wades out into this ordinary river, the water swirling around Him and approaches John the Baptist and John recognises who Jesus is.
John is hesitant to baptise Jesus and says that Jesus is the one who should be doing the baptising.
“It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.”
Why would Jesus do this?
Why would Jesus insist on being baptised?
It was to mark a significant moment in His life - the start of His journey to the Cross. In his baptism, Jesus came to the river because of our sin.
When we are Baptised it is a symbol of our willingness to turn away from sinful behavior, a symbol of our repentance from Sin.
The word repentance comes from a culture where people were essentially nomadic and lived in a world with no maps or street signs.
Can you imagine how easy it would be to get lost walking through a desert?
Perhaps in your life you have been on a journey, and at some point on your journey you realised you were lost, that you were not where you were supposed to be.
Maybe you realised you were going in the wrong direction, so you turned and went another way.
That’s repentance.
Literally, the word simply means “to turn.”
In the Bible Ezekiel explained what God wants people to turn from: “Repent and turn away from…all your detestable sins” (Ezekiel 14:6).
Another prophet, Isaiah, revealed what God wants us to turn toward: “Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22 NLT).
All through the Bible, God pleads with people to turn away from their sins, failures, and mistakes, and to turn toward him—trusting in God alone to save.
The Apostle Peter, preaching on the day of Pentecost, told the crowds who were listening, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 NLT).
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Today, in the Baptism of our friends, there is a symbol of the repentance that has taken place in their lives.
The defining moment, the “turning point” when they chose to turn away from sin and turn to God.
The stake in the ground, the line in the sand, the moment when they accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
The moment when they said, “I have been going the wrong way, I need to follow God’s ways”
Have you experienced that defining moment in your own life?
Have you experienced the defining moment of understanding your need to be in a real relationship with the God who loves you and cares for you?
Tonight in this baptismal service _____& _____ & _____ have shown they trust in the promises and power of God.
Their baptism is symbolic of what has already happened in their lives - their relationship with Jesus, their repentance, the forgiveness of their sin
their assurance of eternal life.
Have you experienced the defining moment of accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
Have you come to the point where you know for certain that your sins have been forgiven?
Is tonight the night?
Is now the time for you to make the most important choice of your life?
Is right here, right now, the place and the time for the most amazing defining moment of your life?
Will you do what _____ & ____ & _____ have done -
will you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
Will you do what ____ & ____ & _____ have done -
will you repent and turn to God?
Will you do what ____ & ____ & _____ have done -
Will you place your trust in Jesus?
Now is the defining moment - what is your choice?
