A Checklist
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Read the Welcome and Guidelines
Fill out the form and contact Trinity’s office
Schedule a meeting with the pastors
Read the Liturgy and note any questions you might have
Read the “Introduction to Baptism” section and note any
questions you might have
6. Prepare for a joy filled time of learning and baptism!
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Welcome Home!
We are excited that you wish to have your child
baptized at Trinity Church. Baptisms are a joyful
occasion. In Acts 2:38, Peter says, “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”. He follows this command by
saying in Acts 2:39, “For the promise is for you and for
your children and for all who are far off, everyone
whom the Lord our God calls to himself”. At Trinity
Church, we believe in these covenant promises and look
forward to God’s complete work of redemption in each
child’s life as they grow in their knowledge and love of
our Lord.
J.C. Ryle, a prominent theologian once asked, “"Why is it
that the sacrament of baptism appears to bear so little
fruit? How is it that thousands are every year baptized,
and never give the slightest proof of having received
benefit from it? The answer to these questions is short
and simple. In the vast majority of baptisms there is no
prayer except the prayer of the officiating minister…
[the baptism many are attending is] a mere matter of
form.” At Trinity Church our hope is to give every child
in our community the opportunity to be raised by
converted Christian parents who guide their children
into the household of Christ’s Kingdom.
In order for this growth to occur, we have set guidelines
in place to help you grow in your relationship with the
Lord, and therefore help to cultivate your child’s
relationship with Jesus. Below you will find the steps
we ask parents of those being baptized to commit to,
and please know, we’re ready and willing to help you
meet each of these guidelines with grace, time, and
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practical help. If you have any questions, please ask! We
want to help!
Parent Guidelines:
● Parent(s) will have an initial meeting with the
Children’s Pastor and/or Rector. The Rector
and/or Children’s Pastor will go through the
teaching on infant baptism and answer any
questions along with setting a date for the
baptism.
● Baptisms will generally be scheduled on or near
one of the five major feast days of the Church,
The Baptism of our Lord, The Sunday after
Easter, Pentecost, or the Sunday after All Saints’
Day, although other times are permitted at the
discretion of the Rector.
● Parent(s) are members of Trinity Church and
have completed (or are completing) the Rooted
Series (4 week study) and are moving into Life
Group participation.
● Parent(s) are required to express a lively and
active faith which includes regular worship
attendance, life group participation, and service
to the church.
● Parent(s) will actively assist the child in living
into the baptismal promises by making sure they
attend worship regularly, and grow in helping
the child understand the grace of God in Christ.
● Parent(s) will be given resources for discipling
their child as they grow.
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Sponsor or Godparent Guidelines:
● The sponsor/godparent for a child will be a
baptized Christian. Only a Christian can, in good
conscience make the required baptismal
renunciations and promises on behalf of the
child.
● The sponsor/godparent should be an active
member of Trinity Church. If they are a member
of another church then a letter stating active
participation and evidence of a lively faith from
their home pastor will be requested.
● The sponsor/godparent will need to meet with
the Rector and/or Children’s and/or Youth
pastors to understand the concepts of baptism
and discipleship.
● The sponsor/godparent should commit
themselves to establish a relationship with the
child and be willing to grow in regularly
discipling and praying for the child.
● The sponsor/godparent should stand with the
child at the time of baptism and assist the child
to live into the baptismal promises.The
sponsor/godparent should support the child
through prayer.
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Trinity Church - Holy Baptism Information
Today’s Date:___________________________20_________
Requested Date for Baptism: _________________________
Date of meeting with pastor(s) ________________________
Date of sponsors or godparent’s meeting with pastors ______
Full Name _____________________________________
Gender __________
Goes By _____________________________________
Date & Place of Birth________________
Address______________________________________
_____________________________________________
Father’s Full
Name_____________________________________
Mother’s Maiden
Name__________________________________
Parents’ Telephone __________________________
Are the parents members of Trinity Church? Yes / No
Are the sponsors/godparents members of Trinity Church? Yes /
No (if not please give the name and city of the church to
which they belong below)
Godparents (or Sponsors)
1. __________________________________________
2. __________________________________________
3. __________________________________________
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The Liturgy of Baptism
Baptism should be administered as part of the Holy Eucharist on a Sunday
or other Feast Day. The most appropriate days for Baptism are the Easter
Vigil, the Baptism of Our Lord, Pentecost, All Saints’ Day (or the Sunday
after All Saints’ Day), and the visitation of the Bishop. The Bishop is the
appropriate Celebrant, if present.
A hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung.
The people stand, and the Celebrant says the following, or the appointed
seasonal greeting.
Blessed be God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.
People
And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Celebrant then continues
There is one Body and one Spirit;
People
There is one hope in God’s call to us;
Celebrant
One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;
People
One God and Father of all.
Celebrant
The Lord be with you.
People
And with your spirit.
Celebrant
Let us pray.
The Celebrant prays the Collect of the Day.
People
Amen.
The liturgy continues with the appointed lessons. Following the sermon, the
candidates with their sponsors stand before the Celebrant.
The Exhortation
The Celebrant then says to the People
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Dearly beloved, Scripture teaches that we were all dead in our
sins and trespasses. Our Savior Jesus Christ said, “Unless one is
born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of
God;” and he commissioned the Church to “make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.” Here we ask our heavenly Father that
these candidates, being baptized with water, may be filled with
the Holy Spirit, born again, and received as living members of
Christ’s holy Church. Therefore, I urge you to call upon God the
Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his abundant mercy
he will grant to these candidates that which by nature they cannot
have.
The Presentation
The Celebrant says
The Candidate(s) for Holy Baptism will now be presented.
Adults and Older Children
The candidates who are able to answer for themselves are presented
individually by their Sponsors, using full names as follows
I present N.N. to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
The Celebrant asks Candidates the following
Celebrant
Have you already been baptized?
Candidate
No.
Celebrant
Do you desire to be baptized?
Candidate
I do.
Infants and Younger Children
Then the candidates who are unable to answer for themselves are presented
individually by their Godparents and Sponsoring Parents, using full names,
as follows
I present N.N. to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
When the following promises are made by Godparents and Sponsoring
Parents of infants or young children, the Celebrant addresses them
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Today, on behalf of this child, you shall make vows to renounce
the devil and all his works, to trust God wholeheartedly, and to
serve him faithfully. It is your task to see that this child is taught,
as soon as he is able to learn, the meaning of all these vows, and
of the Faith that you will profess as revealed in the Holy
Scriptures. He must come to put his trust in Jesus Christ, and learn
the Creeds, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and all
other things that a Christian ought to know, believe, and do for the
welfare of his soul. When he has embraced all these, he is to
come to the Bishop to be confirmed, that he may publicly claim
the Faith for his own and be further strengthened by the Holy
Spirit to serve Christ and his Kingdom.
Are you yourself a follower of Jesus Christ, trusting the
gracious promises of God?
Answer
I am.
Are you willing to sponsor these children, answering for them
now and accepting responsibility for their Christian
upbringing in the life of the Church?
Profession of Faith
The Celebrant then examines the Candidates who can speak for
themselves, and the Godparents and Sponsoring Parents who will
speak on behalf of infants or young children, saying
Question
Answer
Question
Answer
Question
Do you renounce the Devil and all the
spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel
against God?
I renounce them.
Do you renounce the empty promises and
deadly deceits of this world which corrupt
and destroy the creatures of God?
I renounce them.
Do you renounce the sinful desires of the
flesh that draw you from the love of God?
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Answer
I renounce them.
The Celebrant shall pray over the Candidate(s) and may anoint each
candidate with the Oil of Exorcism, saying
Almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness and
evil, and lead you into the light and obedience of the
kingdom of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Celebrant continues
Question
Answer
Question
Answer
Question
Answer
Do you turn to Jesus Christ and confess him
as your Lord and Savior?
I do.
Do you joyfully receive the Christian Faith,
as revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old
and New Testaments?
I do.
Will you obediently keep God’s holy will
and commandments, and walk in them all
the days of your life?
I will, the Lord being my helper.
The Celebrant then addresses the congregation, first inviting them to
stand.
Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to
support these persons in their life in Christ?
The Congregation responds
We will.
The Celebrant then says
Let us join with these candidates to proclaim our faith in the
words of the ancient baptismal confession, the Apostles’
Creed.
Celebrant
People
Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
I do.
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator
of heaven and earth.
Celebrant
Do you believe and trust in Jesus Christ?
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People
Celebrant
People
I do.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our
Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried: He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again. He ascended
into heaven, and is seated at the right hand
of the Father. He will come again to judge
the living and the dead.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
I do.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic
Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the
body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Litany for the Candidates
The Deacon, or other person appointed, may pray
Let us now pray for these candidates who are to receive the
Sacrament of Baptism.
That they may continue in the apostles’ teaching and the
fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers.
We beseech you to hear us, Good Lord.
That they may walk in a manner worthy of the calling to
which they have been called, ever growing in faith and all
heavenly virtues.
We beseech you to hear us, Good Lord.
That they may persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
they fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.
We beseech you to hear us, Good Lord.
That they may proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ Jesus to a lost and broken world.
We beseech you to hear us, Good Lord.
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That as living members of the Body of Christ, they may
grow up in every way into him who is the head.
We beseech you to hear us, Good Lord.
That, looking to Jesus, they may run with endurance the
race set before them, and at the last receive the unfading
crown of glory.
We beseech you to hear us, Good Lord.
Other petitions may be added.
Prayer for the Candidates
The Celebrant now prays for the candidate(s) as follows
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting Father, in your great mercy you
saved Noah and his family in the Ark from the destruction
of the flood, prefiguring the sacrament of Holy Baptism.
Look mercifully upon these your servants. Wash and
sanctify them through your Holy Spirit, that they may be
delivered from destruction and received into the Ark of
Christ’s Church; and being steadfast in faith, joyful
through hope, and rooted in love, they may pass through
the turbulent floods of this troublesome world and come
into the land of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Thanksgiving Over the Water
If there is a procession to the baptismal font, a Psalm, anthem, or
hymn may be sung.
The Deacon, or the Celebrant, pours the water for baptism.
Celebrant
People
Celebrant
People
Celebrant
People
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
The Celebrant continues
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We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it
the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Through it you led the children of Israel out of their
bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son
Jesus received the baptism of John in the River Jordan
when the Holy Spirit descended upon him as a dove.
We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we
are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his
resurrection. Through it we are made regenerate by the
Holy Spirit. Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we
bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith,
baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Here the Celebrant touches the water and says
Now, Father, sanctify this water by the power of your Holy
Spirit. May all who are baptized here be cleansed from sin,
be born again, and continue for ever in the risen life of
Jesus Christ our Savior. To him, to you, and to the Holy
Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The Baptism
The Celebrant says to the sponsors,
Name this Candidate/Child.
Then the Celebrant immerses the candidate or pours water upon the
candidate three times, saying
N., I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Celebrant makes the sign of the Cross upon the forehead of the
newly baptized (and may use the Oil of Chrism to do so), saying
N., receive the sign of the Cross as a token of your new life
in Christ, in which you shall not be ashamed to confess the
faith of Christ crucified, to fight bravely under his banner
against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and to continue
as his faithful soldier and servant to the end of your days.
Amen.
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or this
N., you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and
marked as Christ’s own for ever. Amen.
If garments or candles are presented, they are given here.
When all have been baptized and signed the Celebrant says
Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy
Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the
forgiveness of sin, received them as your own children by
adoption, made them members of your Church, and raised
them to the new life of grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your
Holy Spirit, that they may enjoy everlasting salvation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Celebrant continues
Let us welcome the newly baptized.
We receive you into the
fellowship of the Church. Confess the faith of Christ
crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in
the royal priesthood of all his people.
Celebrant and People
The Peace is now exchanged
Celebrant
People
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And with your spirit.
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An Overview of Baptism
To help you get started on the journey toward baptism,
we first have to ask: what is baptism? What does
baptism do? Who should be baptized, and why? Below
is a short summary that answers these questions.
Starting with the Foundation: Who saves?
Baptism is a great and holy gift from God, and here at
Trinity we love to baptize! Nevertheless, it is important
to stress first and foremost that it is Christ who saves.
Article XI of the 39 Articles says,
“It is only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings”.
In other words, it is not by the things that we do that we
are saved. God saves graciously through Christ’s death
and resurrection. Baptism is not something that we do
to earn salvation. It is not our action for an ungracious
God. Instead, as we shall see, baptism is a gracious work
of God on our behalf. Salvation is solely of Christ’s
merit. He is the one who has earned it on our behalf.
How does he save?
Having said that, God delivers this salvation purchased
by Christ through different appointed means. You might
think of it like a delivery system. God has various ways of
getting what Christ has done 2,000 years ago into our
hands. The Reformed confessions commonly call this
delivery system God’s “means of grace”. Notice what the
Westminster Smaller Catechism says about God’s
means of grace:
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“The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ
communicates to us the benefits of redemption are his
ordinances, especially the word, sacraments and prayer;
all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.”
(WSC, Q88)
So God “communicates to us the benefits of
redemption” through means of grace. One very common
means of grace is preaching. Many times, people will
say: “I was saved when I heard the gospel on one
Sunday morning”. They are not saying that the preacher
saved them. Rather, it was God who saved through the
preacher’s sermon, mouth, lungs, etc.
The same goes with the sacraments (Baptism and
Eucharist). The 39 articles say this about the
sacraments:
“Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or
tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they be
certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and
God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work
invisibly in us” (XXV)
Notice the wording: not only “badges”, but “effectual
signs of grace...by which he doth work invisibly in us”.
So then, sacraments are actions through which God acts
to save. The problem is that very often people
understand sacraments to be something that they do for
God. It is a badge that we wear. It is some action we
perform to profess our faith or please God. Not so, the
articles state: they are divine actions whereby God
accomplishes salvation.
In fact, Paul says this very thing in several of his letters.
In Titus 3:5, Paul says, “he saved us, not because of
works done by us in righteousness, but according to his
own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and
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renewal of the Holy Spirit”. This “washing of
regeneration” is a reference to Christian baptism. Paul
also says in Romans 6:4 that we were buried with
Christ in baptism. Through baptism, we participate in
Christ’s death and resurrection, in the fruits of his
saving work.
The 39 Articles say that for those who receive baptism
rightly, that as “by an instrument, they...are grafted into
the Church” (XXVII). So then, baptism delivers the
goods of Christ’s salvation.
Baptism does not automatically save
All that being said, it is important to emphasize that
baptism is not a “one-and-done” event. It does not
automatically save. The Reformers knew this important
fact: baptism must make its way into the personal faith
and life of the recipient. In fact, if we do not receive our
baptism by faith, it has no effect. To put it another way,
baptism isn’t a magic ritual. Baptism must be, as the 39
Articles say, “rightly received”. By this, the Articles
mean to say that sacraments do not work apart from the
faith of the individual. People are not objects to simply
be worked on. People are humans with wills and hearts
that must receive and believe God’s gracious gift given
in baptism.
This is especially relevant for infants admitted to
baptism. Infants who are baptized ought afterward to
be raised in the church, taught, and nurtured to mature
faith. They should be raised within the embrace of God’s
people. If a child is baptized in the church, and never
sets foot in the church again, there is simply no reason
to believe that on the basis of their baptism alone, they
are saved.
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Here is how Martin Luther explains baptism in his Small
Catechism:
“[Baptism] indicates that the Old Adam in us should by
daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with
all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily
emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and
purity forever”. Luther borrows this wording from
Romans 6: we are drowned in baptism, and raise as new
creatures. Therefore, each day we should live as if our old
man is dead, and we are new.” (4.3)
Baptism’s effect on our lives should span the entirety of
our lives. It should work it’s way into daily repentance
and obedience to Christ. If it doesn’t make its way into
daily living, the baptism has not had its effect.
This is why Christians throughout history stressed to
such a great degree the difference between the outward
element of water, and the inward reality of being
cleansed by the Holy Spirit. It’s easy for water to be
poured on the head. It’s supernatural for the water to
make its way to our hearts. Baptism must be believed
and received; claimed in faith by the recipient.
Otherwise it has no effect.
Consequently this is why many of the Reformation
confessions speak of baptism having its effect later in
life as the child believes and receives the graces offered in
baptism. The Westminster Confession states,
“The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of
time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by
the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not
only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the
Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that
grace belongs unto, according to the counsel of God's own
will, in his appointed time.” (WCF 28.6)
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Notice the wording: baptism’s efficacy is not “tied to the
moment” of its administration, but according to God’s
“appointed time”. What the confession means to say is
that baptism’s saving efficacy is not bound to the
moment the water hits someone’s head. Water doesn’t
have that sort of power! Rather, baptism has its effect
through God’s Spirit, who confers the graces of baptism
when he pleases. Baptism, properly, does not look back
(OK, I’ve been baptized) but forward to God’s continued
work to establish faith and holiness in the recipient.
Why infants?
After reading this, one might ask: if baptism doesn’t
automatically save--if it must be received and believed-why baptize infants? Why not wait for them to make a
decision for Christ, and subsequently baptize? A first
thing to note is that Anglicans do not exclusively
baptize infants. We also baptize adults believers too!
Anglicans have always been keen to the reality that the
church exists to make disciples, and this includes adults
as well as children. Nevertheless, it is important to
consider: why baptize infants? If infants cannot make a
commitment to Christ, why not just wait until they are
of age to do so?
The reality is, God has always embraced the children of
believers into his fold. It is not simply a New Testament
practice, but also a practice found in the Old Testament!
In fact, during every era in history, God has graciously
included believers and their children into his saving
graces. But where do we find this in the scriptures?
Let’s look briefly at Peter’s sermon the Jewish leaders in
Acts 2. Toward the end of his sermon, the Jewish
leaders ask what they must do to be saved. Peter
responds by saying,
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“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. For the promise is for
you and for your children and for all who are far off,
everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself” (v. 3839).
Peter commands the Jewish people to repent and be
baptized, and promises that through this baptism, they
will receive the Holy Spirit. What is important for us to
note, however, is that this promise is not simply for the
believing adults. It is, as Peter says, “for you and for your
children”. This presumes that the children of these new
believers were admitted to baptism, and that the same
promises given to their parents were given to them. In
other words, children of believers were included along
with their parents into God’s gracious embrace.
Another important thing to note in this passage is that
when Peter says, “this promise is to you and your
children”, he is quoting from the Old Testament. In
Genesis 17, God says the exact same thing to Abraham.
However, the context is not baptism but circumcision.
Circumcision, not baptism, was the initiatory sacrament
in the Old Testament. If someone desired to become
part of God’s people, they had to be circumcised.
However, circumcision wasn’t simply given to adult
converts. Rather, as God commanded, it was given to
every male adult and his children. In fact, every male
child was commanded to be circumcised at the eighth
day. What that meant for the Jews was that it was
commonplace for children to be included in God’s
people.
Peter quotes Genesis 17 in his sermon to signify that
now that Christ has come, there is a new initiatory
sacrament, baptism; and this sacrament is given to
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adult believers, and also their children, just as it was in
the Old Testament.
What all of this means is that God included the children
of believers in the old covenant, and he does the same
in the new! Children are graciously received by God and
included in Christ’s covenant people.
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An Outline for meeting with Baptismal
Candidates, Parents and Sponsors
I. Four (not-so) dumb questions:
(Please note - these questions might sound silly at first,
but humor me - you'll see why I asked them, as you
finish this teaching.
1. Are you a baptized Christian?
2. Do you want to be a sponsor for this child?
3. Are you now active in a church (denomination
doesn't matter) or will you become active in a
church immediately?
4. Will you do all in your power to see that the
child you sponsor is raised in a Christian church?
(Again, denomination doesn't matter, but we
expect it to be right here!)
II. Baptism - why we do it, and what it is.
1. Why do we baptize? There are two main sacraments
in the Church - Baptism and Communion. We call them
“the Gospel Sacraments” because they are both
responses to the Gospel – the Good News.
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What is the Good News?
§ God is the loving ruler of the world
§ He made the world
§ He made us the rulers of the world, under him
Genesis 1:31 Revelation 4:11
The first point of the Christian message is that God is in charge of the
world. Unlike human rulers, however, God always does what is best for
his subjects. He also made us like himself, and put us in charge of the
world—to rule it, to care for it, and to enjoy all its beauty and goodness.
But everything is obviously not right—with the world or us. What
happened??
§ We all reject the ruler
§ We want God’s job
§ We fail in ruling ourselves or the world.
Romans 3:1-12; 23
People everywhere reject God by doing things their
own way. We don’t like someone telling us what to do
or how to live—least of all God—and so we rebel
against him. This rebellious, self-sufficient attitude is
what the Bible calls ‘sin’. The trouble is, if everyone
does their own thing… the result is misery. By
rebelling against God, we’ve made a terrible mess of
things.
The question is: what will God do about it?
§ God won’t let us rebel forever
§ God’s punishment for rebellion is death and judgment.
Romans 6:23 Hebrews 9:27
God cares enough about humanity to take our
rebellion seriously. In rebellion we are saying to God,
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“Go away. I don’t want you telling me what to do.
Leave me alone.” God’s judgment on rebels is to
withdraw from them—permanently. But since God is
the source of life and all good things, being cut off
from him means death and hell. Is that it then? Are
we all destined for death and everlasting ruin?
§ Because of His love, God sent His Son
§ Jesus always lived under God’s rule
§ By dying He took our punishment and brought forgiveness
Romans 5:8
1 Peter 3:18
Because of his great love, God did not leave us to
suffer the consequences of our foolish rebellion. He
did something to save us. He sent his own divine son
into our world to become a man—Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus didn’t rebel and did not deserve death.
Yet Jesus did die. Why? Although he had the power
to heal the sick, walk on water and even raise the
dead, Jesus allowed himself to be executed on a
cross. Jesus died as a substitute for rebels like us.
The debt that we owed God, Jesus paid by dying in
our place, so that forgiveness and pardon might be
available to us.
It is a generous gift, from start to finish.
§ God raised Jesus to life again as ruler of all
§ Jesus conquered death and now offers life
1 Peter 1:3 John 3:16-17
God accepted Jesus’ death as payment in full for our
sins, and raised him from the dead. The risen Jesus
is now what humanity was always meant to be: God’s
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ruler of the world. As God’s ruler, Jesus offers us new
life, both now and eternally. Now, our sins can be
forgiven through Jesus’ death, and we can make a
fresh start with God, no longer as rebels but as
friends.
Two ways to live
A. Our way
§ Reject the ruler – God
§ Try to run our own life
Result? Separation from God
B. God’s way (John 3:36)
§ Admit you can’t be the ruler
§ Believe that Jesus died in your place
§ Confess publicly that He’s in charge
Result? Forgiveness and Eternal Life
We can continue in our rebellion against God, and, in
the end God will give us what we ask for... the messy
consequences of a rebellious life, and an eternity of
separation from him. However, if we turn back to
God and appeal for mercy, trusting in Jesus’ death
and resurrection, then everything changes. God
wipes our slate clean and gives us new life… forever.
We are no longer rebels, but family. God adopts us as
His own and we live with Jesus as our ruler.
So ask yourself… Which way do I want to live?
If this makes sense to you… then take the next step:
Pray – Take a couple of moments to pray the ABC’s .
Dear God, I admit that I can’t be the ruler of my life… and I’m sorry for
trying. I believe that Jesus died in my place because of my rebellion.
Thank you! I confess that I want you to be the ruler of my life. Please
forgive me and change me so that I can live with you forever. Amen
If you have any questions please call Christ Community Church at 303-521-6852 © Matthias
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How did the Disciples respond to the Good News? They
baptized people! Why? Read Matthew 28:16-20. Why
does the Church baptize people? (Answer: Jesus
commanded us to do so! – that’s why!)
a. Some doubted (v.17)
b. v.19 – therefore go and make disciples of all
nations
1. “Disciples, make disciples. – Photocopy
yourself.” It is our job description as
Christians to replicate ourselves.
2. You’re here today because someone
told you. Someone obeyed the Great
Commission and told you.
What if the Disciples had decided to keep
their small group just as it was?
c. Do note that Jesus made a promise here - verse
20. ("I will be with you always...") He is, even today,
through the Holy Spirit.
1. We are given gifts for ministry – gifts to
enable us to carry out the Great Commission when we
receive the Holy Spirit in our lives.
How do we get the Holy Spirit? (read Acts 2:37-42)
(Here, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples while
they were hiding in the upper room - When they
realized that Jesus had indeed kept his promise, and
was indeed with them and in them, They were so
excited they rushed put into the streets and started
proclaiming the good news to everyone who would
listen. St. Peter preached the very first Christian sermon
that day, and you see what happened when the people
heard it ... verse 37...)
2. Verse 38 - What did Peter say was necessary before
Baptism? (repent) (repent - the word means "turn
around 180 degrees" - what you were doing, you quit
doing, and you start anew.)
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3. According to the passage what will you receive when
you are baptized? (see v.38)
(the Holy Spirit)
4. Verse 39 - For whom is this promise of the Holy
Spirit?
(To you AND to your children...)
5. Verse 42 - Remember this verse! This is perhaps the
clearest vision of how life was in the Early Christian
Church. It is who they were, and what they did.
a. What did those who had been baptized do?
They devoted themselves. This was not a
passive group. They didn't just come to church when
they felt like it, they were dedicated, DEVOTED
followers of Christ.
b. To what did they devote themselves? Four
things:
1)...to the apostles teaching - now, what would
that be? And what would be a modern equivalent of
the apostles teaching? (sermons and Bible studies, etc.)
2)...the fellowship - the word here in the
original Greek is KOINONIA - this is one of
those
Biblical words which English simply cannot do justice
to. The word means
fellowship, friendship,
brotherhood, loving each other, caring for each other,
and general devotion to each other all rolled into one.
And remember that they didn't just do this e very now
and then - they DEVOTED themselves to the practice of
KOINONIA!
3)...The breaking of the bread. What would
that be? (Communion). Again, it wasn't something
they did only once and a while. They were DEVOTED to
the breaking of bread.
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4)...the prayers. In the Greek, there is a definite
article before the word prayer - So we're
talking about "The Prayers." In other words
we're talking about written prayers which
they
all knew and said together. Prayers said in common.
Prayers like we say in a Sunday
worship
service. Common Prayer. That's what the passage is
talking about.
So - after they were baptized, what did they do?
They devoted themselves to the apostles'
teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of
bread, and the prayers. In other words, after they were
baptized, they came to Church! They WERE the Church!!
Let's look at this in action - another Baptism from the
Early Church times.
Acts 16:22-34.
St. Paul and Silas were following their Lord's orders to
go into the world preaching and teaching (Mat. 28), but
they ran into trouble in this town in Macedonia.
(Read it)
6. Here they were - Paul and Silas, locked into maximum
security chained in stocks, and what were they doing
about midnight? (v.25) Would we? I wonder...
7. What gave them the ability to sing and praise God
under these trying circumstances? It's not a what, but a
Who! (The Holy Spirit!)
Remember our Lord's promise in Matthew 28:20? What
did he say?
8. The jailer was impressed that neither Paul and Silas
nor any of the prisoners tried to escape.
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It blew him away! So what did he say to Paul and Silas?
(v.30)
We're not talking about eternal salvation here as
much as we are talking about everyday salvation being made whole - having peace and security and the
calm assurance that even when everything is going
wrong, God is still in charge.
That's what the jailer meant. Literally, if I could
paraphrase, what the jailer said was, "I don't know
what you guys have, but I sure want it!"
9. And what was the reply? How do you get it? (v.31)
10. Note the actions of the jailer in verses 33 and 34.
What did he do? This is the same man who had
previously thrown Paul and Silas into prison with no
regard at all to their condition.
His action now is 180 degrees different from before,
right?
He REPENTED!
11. And after he was baptized, verse 34 shows he had
that salvation he was looking for - with what was he
filled? (Joy)
Joy is the outward sign of the Holy Spirit having an
active role within us.
Let's review so far - Why do we baptize?
What is required before one can be baptized?
(Repent, make Jesus Lord (Boss) and savior.)
What do you receive when you are baptized?
III. Baptism also does something else for you - it
makes you a member of the Church.
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A member of Christ's Body. Let's look at that.
(Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 )
1. We were baptized by how many Spirits? (one - the
HOLY Spirit)
2. We were baptized into how many bodies? (one. This
is what we call the Holy Catholic Church, catholic means
universal.)
So, when we are baptized, we become members of the
church. God adopts us into his family. He becomes our
Heavenly Father, and Jesus becomes our brother.
IV. Baptism also gives us forgiveness of our sins. It
wipes the slate clean, and starts us anew. Look at
Romans 6:3-11
Note verse 4. We were buried with him through
baptism. The symbolism is that when we are baptized,
our old self drowns, and a brand new self is raised up
out of the water.
(see verses 6-8)
So at Baptism our sins are forgiven.
V. We also receive new life. We are indeed reborn born for a second time. We touched on this in the
Romans passage, but Jesus himself says it even clearer
in John 3:1-8. But to set that up, let’s go to John, Chapter
1.
(Read John 1: 1, and then 1:10-13.)
Verse 12 – Yet to all who received him – to those who
what? (Believed in his name) He gave the power to
become what? (Children of God.)
So we become a child of God when we what? (Believe in
Jesus Christ.)
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Please note what is being said here – we are adopted
into God’s family. We are not, by nature, Children of
God. There’s a nice sentimental saying out there that
says we are all children of God. We are not! We become
children of God when we are adopted into His family.
We can not be adopted in his family if we don’t believe
in His one and only Son.
Reminder – we are all “made in God’s Image” (…male
and female in His Image- Genesis 1) so we all have
inherent worth. But we do not become a child of God
until we make Jesus our Lord.
(If you don’t like this, don’t take it out on me – take it up
with the One who wrote it!)
Now let’s go to John 3.
(read John 3:1-8)
Note very carefully verse 5. What is Christ's
requirement to enter into the kingdom of God?
(To be born of water and the Spirit)
Reading on we see that Nicodemus doesn’t understand
this (Verse 9), So Jesus says, “Nick you are Israel’s
teacher. Don’t you see? It’s because “God so loved the
world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.”
That’s John 3:16 – now you’ve seen it in context. And
look at what follows!
(read 3:17 – 21)
In Summary:
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* Jesus himself ordered us to baptize until he comes
again.
* In order to be baptized, you must repent, and trust in
Jesus Christ as (1) savior and (2) Lord. And as a
baptized Christian you vow that you will continue in the
apostles teaching, the breaking of the bread and the
prayers.
* When you are baptized you:
a. Receive the Holy Spirit
b. Are forgiven for your sins.
c. Began a new life as members of a new family – God's
family.
(By the way, this is where the term "Christening" came
from - because the early Church Christians really felt
like they were new people, they took a new name when
they were baptized. African Christians still do this when
they are baptized. In the early Church you were born
with a first name, and got a second first name when you
were "Christianed.")
Now - if all this is true - (and it is) - How do we get off
baptizing infants? How can an infant repent? How can
an infant announce that he or she accepts Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior, and how can an infant promise that
he or she will go to church on a regular basis?
He or she can't - and that's where the sponsors come
in. The sponsors make a pledge on behalf of the infant,
pledging that they repent, and that they trust Jesus as
Lord and Savior, and that they will come to church on a
regular basis, and that they will bring up the child
knowing what his or her responsibilities are as a
Christian.
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Eventually the child will reach an age where he or she
will be old enough to know whether he or she wants to
be a member of the God's family, and at that point the
child confirms that he or she is a Christian and that he
or she trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and at that
point the child is CONFIRMED.
But it is up to the parents and godparents to live the life
for the child until he or she makes the confirmation. To
be the example for him or her to follow. To go to
church; to live a Christian life, trusting in Jesus Christ as
both Savior AND Lord; to model what a Christian should
be. (making disciples!)
Remember that the child won’t learn what it means to
be a Christian 45 minutes, once a week in Sunday
School. She or he will learn what it means to be a
Christian from her parents and Godparents. That's why
the sponsor's job is so vitally important, and that's why
this instruction is required, and that's why the dumb
questions were asked in the beginning!
VII. Prayer book – Go over rubrics and the service.
* Practice the presentation
* Please note well the vows you will make
I will look straight at you and ask you these questions.
If you don't answer, I'll ask you again, individually. It's
that important.
Thank You! And May God bless you in your role as a
sponsor of your child
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Sharing the Gospel – Making Disciples – Equipping
Ambassadors
WORSHIP WITH US AT:
3000 N. King’s Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
www.TrinityMyrtleBeach.org
MAILING ADDRESS:
1229 38th Ave N #231
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
WWW.TRINITYMYRTLEBEACH.ORG
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