LISTEN to the message HERE.
MESSAGE NOTES
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:18-20
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:38, 39, 41
“When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace – a new life in a new land! That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus.” Romans 6:3-6 (The Message)
THINK ABOUT IT
What did you think of this idea that the command to the disciples and the pattern of the early church, was that those who placed their faith and trust in Jesus, were baptized immediately?
For someone who has never made the decision to follow Jesus in baptism, what reasons might they give for not doing so?
In Acts 8 the Ethiopian official responds to the message of Jesus by saying, “here’s water, why not now?” How do you answer that question about being baptized: “why not today?”
How might baptism be a defining moment for someone to move from “fan” to “follower”?
