Acts: baptism

Speaker: Jo Crawford

Notes

If we believe that Jesus died and rose again to make a way for us to get to God the Father, repent our sins, ask God to take control of our lives, and so make friends with God – then it is time to be baptised, too.

In Acts 8, a load of people believe the good news about Jesus and get baptised. One of them is an Ethiopian man who Philip meets on the road.

We baptise by lowering someone under the water and up again. You need someone else to do it for you, just like you need Jesus to get saved. We do it in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – with the authority of God.

Reasons to be baptised - because Jesus told us to, because Jesus got baptised, because that’s what they did in the early church. Also, it shows what has happened inside us. Like Jesus, we die to sin and come up to a new life that pleases God.

Application

Lots of ideas to choose from. Don't try to do the lot! Pick something that seems appropriate for your group.

• If you haven't been baptised, what's stopping you? (Acts 22:16)

• How do you remember your baptism? What does it mean to you now?

• How do you talk to your children about baptism? What do they need to know or do or say before you think they would be ready?

• Are you living out the truth that is symbolised by baptism – we have been crucified with Christ; it is not us that live but Christ that lives in us (Gal 2:20). See Rom 6:1-14 too.

• Imagine a friend is asking why you don't have your babies christened, since you're a Christian and that's what Christians do. What do you say?

• Read about Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8. What happens if you get baptised when you have not repented and believed the gospel and asked Jesus into your life?

• Study 1 Pet 3:18-22. What do you think it all means?

Posted: 21 Sep 2008