Part 1 of Coffee Shop Theology

“The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Baptism”

What is baptism?

Baptism is the act of using water to signify a person who has chosen to:1) repent of the sins they have committed during

their life.2) receive the forgiveness of sins that only Jesus

Christ can offer.3) follow Christ (ask Jesus to be their Lord and

savior)

According to the Harper Collins Bible Dictionary:

When Christians are baptized they “symbolically die to their sins and former lives, a death they share with Christ, and are buried with him; as they rise from baptism in purity, they share the new life brought by Jesus’ resurrection. Hence baptism may be compared to a new birth.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

. . . those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

John 3:3 (NIV)

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Who should be baptized?

How is baptism done?

Do I need to get re-baptized into Quest or into the Church of the Nazarene?

Should babies/children be baptized?

Acts 16:25-33

How did baptisms get started?

The foundations of Baptism

• Priests in Old Testament were purified (not baptized) with water before they could perform their duties in the tabernacle/temple.• Jewish common people had to be purified after

they did certain things in order to worship in the tabernacle/temple.• Those who converted to the Jewish faith were

baptized into the Jewish Faith.

The baptism we practice today

• John the Baptist began to baptize people as one way to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.• The baptisms that John did were slightly different

than the later baptisms that Christians performed.

Luke 3:1c-3

. . . the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

The baptism we practice today

• John the Baptist began to baptize people as one way to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.• The baptisms that John did were slightly different

than the later baptisms that Christians performed.• Interesting fact: Jesus did not baptize anyone.

(Why?)

John 4:1-2

The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

Will I feel any different after I am baptized?

• Some people do, some people don’t.

• Some people feel different after becoming a Christian, some don’t.

Should I get baptized?

Yes - If you have given your life to Christ.

Why should I be baptized?• Jesus was baptized (by John, but not for the

forgiveness of sins!).

Why was Jesus baptized.

• To identity himself with God and doing God’s will.• To identify himself with fellow believers.• As an example for us to follow.(Important: Jesus was not baptized for the forgiveness of sins!)

• To mark the start of His ministry on earth.• To receive the Holy Spirit.

Why should I be baptized?

• Jesus was baptized.• As a public proclamation of giving your life to

Christ and Christ’s forgiving of your sins.• As a means of accepting God’s grace.• Jesus told us to baptize and be baptized.

Matthew 28:18-19

Then Jesus came to them and said, "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 . . .

Where should people be baptized?

How should I be baptized?

Important: Baptism, like giving our life to Christ, is a starting point in the Christian faith. Baptism is not based upon good works; it is based purely and solely on accepting Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

Satan loves to convince people that they aren’t ready or they are not worthy to be baptized.

Pastor Bill will baptize. . .1) Anyone who has given their life to Christ and

desires it.2) At Quest or other places (Camp Cotubic,

Bellefontaine Pool, Hot Tub, Horse Trough, etc).3) Publicly.*

Matthew 10:32-33

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Baptisms in Two Weeks!