Baptism Sunday
1 Corinthians 11:23-32, Matthew 28:19-20
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Discuss how resolutions made last week in “growing more like Jesus” worked themselves out— what did God do in and through you (Phil 2:13)? Celebrate those together!
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Review:
This Sunday was Baptism Sunday, and the sermon revolved around the sacrament of Communion and the act of Baptism.
The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…
o What did you learn about God?
o What did you learn about people?
o What did you learn about yourself?
o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?
Reflect:
Read Matthew 26:26-28 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Jesus called the new reality He was creating a “New Covenant”. What did He mean by that?
o If a child were to ask you, “Why did Jesus have to die for us?”, How would you respond?
o In 1 Cor 11:29, Paul calls us to examine ourselves so we do not come under judgement (as some in the church had already!). Why does God require this?
o Communion is an act of remembrance, obedience and worship— we acknowledge Who Jesus Is and what He accomplished. Take some time to pray together and thank Him!
Baptism is an outward act that declares an inward change!
o Read Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus commissioned His disciples to make the act of baptism one that transcends cultures around the world— everyone is to do this! What is it about a public action like this that make this so important— why can’t we just believe quietly, without telling anyone?
o Read Mark1:4-5: Baptism is a public declaration of repentance from sin, trusting ourselves to the forgiveness of God (not our own acts of righteousness). Why is God so clear about the need for repentance— why not just say, “Jesus died for me… so now I can live as I want to!” (Read Romans 6:1-14)
o Read John 1:33 and Acts 11:16. Jesus was the One Who would “baptize with the Holy Spirit!” In your own words, what does that mean?
o We baptize with water to declare our repentance from sin and our own efforts to be right before God— declaring our allegiance to Him, our trust in Him for salvation… but He does something completely supernatural: Freedom from the reign of sin in our lives (Romans 7:21-8:13) and supernatural gifts that build up the church (1:corinthians 12:1-13). Discuss these passages.
Respond:
o Take communion together. Spend some time praying for those who were baptized this Sunday, praying that the Lord would continue to strengthen them and draw them closer and closer to Himself!
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