THE
BAPTISM OF JESUS
SERMON
TITLE: THE LIFE GIVING POWER OF WATER
SERMON
THEME: A RITE OF INITIATION
BAPTISM IS BOTH A SAVING MOMENT AND A TIME OF CHANGE FOR A NEW BEGINNING.
LUKE
3:15-17
15 The
people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if
John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John
answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more
powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to
untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to
clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will
burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
·
BAPTISM IS A
MOMENT IN WHICH YOU RECIEVE THE LOVE AND FORGIVENESS OF GOD.
LUKE
3:21-22
21 When all
the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was
praying, heaven was opened 22 and
the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice
came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well
pleased.”
·
BAPTISM IS A NEW BEGINNING EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I) BAPTISM IS A FRESH START THAT TELLS US WHOSE WE ARE.
MATTHEW
3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from
Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But
John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come
to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it
be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At
that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of
God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This
is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
·
A CHRISTIAN LIFE
IS AN ONGOING TRANSFORMATION SHAPED BY
THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ROMANS
6:4
4 We were therefore buried
with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was
raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a
new life.
BAPTISM IS AN OUTWARD AND VISIBLE SIGN OF AN INWARD SPIRITUAL CHANGE INTO A NEW LIFE.
EPHESIANS
4:29-32
29 Do not
let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful
for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those
who listen. 30 And
do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for
the day of redemption. 31 Get
rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with
every form of malice. 32 Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in
Christ God forgave you.
·
BAPTISM MARKS YOU WITH GOD'S SIGNATURE.
II) BAPTISM BRINGS YOU INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST.
I
CORINTHIANS 12:12-13
12 Just as
a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form
one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For
we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or
Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
·
BAPTISM IS PERSONAL, BUT IT IS NOT
PRIVATE, YOU ARE ONE IN CHRIST.
III) BAPTISM IS
YOUR ORDINATION INTO MINISTRY.
I PETER
2:9
9 But you are a chosen
people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special
possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness into his wonderful light.
·
GOD CALLS YOU TO
USE YOUR GIFTS TO BUILD UP THE BODY OF CHRIST.
I PETER
4:10-11
10 Each of
you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as
faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one
who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with
the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be
praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever
and ever. Amen.
CONCLUSION: BAPTISM COMES WITH A VOCATION,
AND IT IS NOT A BURDEN.
IT IS A JOYFUL RESPONSE TO THE LOVE OF GOD, AND SERVICE
TO HIS KINGDOM.