Understanding Baptism

Understanding baptism

Request for baptism

A natural response to the Gospel

“What hinders me?”

Requirements for baptism

•         Water – “see here is water”

•         Commitment to follow Jesus      – “I believe”

Results of baptism

•         confirmation

•         identification

Should you?

•         if committed to Jesus, but have never – YES!

•         If “on the wrong side of salvation” – yes

•         If constant doubts of your salvation – maybe

100 for 100 - A Plan for Evangelism

A plan for evangelism

Matthew 28: 16-20

The Great Commission is:

•         an urgent command

•         a complete plan

Key words:

“all authority” – “with you always”

“go therefore”

“make disciples … observing”

“baptizing” – evangelism

“teaching” all commands

The struggles to effective evangelism:

the failure to develop healthy, growing spiritual life

•         no hatred of sin or awe of hell

•         no “Jesus inspired” passion  

•         failure to understand our identity in Jesus

Materialism has destroyed vibrancy – greatest drain on people/financial resources

Pastoral/church leadership not casting gospel vision/orientation – no missions, no invitation/focus for calling people to Christ

Breakdown of the family – God’s bedrock strategy for evangelism

God’s plan is effective

Identity: who we are in Christ

Going: Jesus’ passion = our passion

Baptizing: our primary focus

Discipleship: produces vibrant, fruit bearing, spiritual lives

How we implement that strategy:

1. prioritize around the Gospel first and foremost
2. build healthy, vibrant spiritual lives
3. establishing the family as our first strategy
4. evangelistic events specifically designed for training and focus
5. equipping and challenge to believers on personal evangelism

100 for 100

100 for 100

100 more in Lifegroups .....reaching

100 new servants ....serving

100 families committing to give $100 more per month .....gving

100 on first time mission trip .....going

How are we transformed?

1. Set expectations
2. Involve EVERYONE
3. Engage the growth process
4. Encouraging environment 

Set Expectations

Transformation to Jesus’ image

Involve EVERYONE in evaluation and transformative service.

Without EVERYONE, the entire Body breaks down

Growth Process

•         Commitment

•         Self-evaluation

•         Renewing your mind

•         Serving as a faith step

Encouraging Environment

a cause AND a result of everyone’s transformation

Verses 9-16

How transformed are you?

Spiritual Preparation for the November Elections

Spiritual Preparation for the November Elections - Romans 13

Principle 1

Governments are instituted by God.

 The role of government is protection of innocent citizens and judgment for wrongdoers.

Principle 2

Christians are commanded to submit to government as an instrument of God.

Voting constitutes biblical submission in our form of government.

Principle 3

Voting, as a commanded behavior, is a spiritual exercise – especially in areas of clear biblical mandates and our “salt & light” influence.

Abortion

Bible: Life is formed at conception and every life is God ordained as precious.

Psalm 139

Ephesians 1 & 2

Proverbs 31: 8-9

(those who have no voice)

Republican Party Platform

Protect all life from conception and outlaw abortion.

Democratic Party Platform

Abortion on demand. Taxpayer support of abortion. Mandatory payment for “morning after pills” by all employer health care plans, including churches, Ouachita and Williams, ABSC.

Definition of Marriage

Bible: Marriage is defined as one man married to one woman for life.

Genesis 2

Romans 1

Ephesians 5

Republican Party Platform

Constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man to one woman.

Defense of DOMA.

Democratic Party Platform

Legalize gay marriage. Repeal of DOMA.

Biblical analysis of “social justice” approach to poverty.

Social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality and involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution.

These policies aim to achieve what developmental economists refer to as more equality of opportunity than may currently exist in some societies, and to manufacture equality of outcome in cases where incidental inequalities appear in a procedurally just system.

Luke 4: 16-21

Isaiah’s messages were Messianic prophecies

“preach” “good news” = salvation

           

“poor” equally symbolic of life condition, not solely economic

Ministry to the poor, such as

•         First Care

•         Christmas Alliance

•         A Woman’s Place

provides an effective opportunity to “preach the good news” and to reflect Christ’s love.

Relation between Church & State

Bible: Christians are mandated to evangelize, model biblical behavior as “salt & light”,            and be involved in government.

Matt 28: 16-20

Matt 6-8

Romans 1

Republican Party Platform

Protect First Amendment rights of people of faith.

Democratic Party Platform

Removal of God references/speech from public discourse as a “private” matter; require tax payer money to support behavior prohibited by clear biblical teaching; and use government to “secularize” society through legalizing personal morality decisions such as marijuana/drug use, abortion, and homosexual marriage.

We must…

1. Vote biblically
2. Pray for the election of leaders with the most biblical policies
3. 40 Days of Prayer – FB daily prayer emphasis