KEY. Watch a video When you see this icon, there is video content for you to watch before you go any further

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1 KEY Watch a video When you see this icon, there is video content for you to watch before you go any further Video Script Text highlighted with a pink bar is a direct transcript of the video. There s no need to read this aloud when using the video content. Read This Aloud Text highlighted with a blue bar is for you to read aloud to your group. Use Your Own Words Any text highlighed with a yellow bar is for you to summarise, using your own words. Let s Discuss There are Group Discussion points throughout this course. We recommend discussing the questions on the right wherever you see this icon.

2 AN OUTWARD DECLARATION OF AN INWARD TRUTH

3 STEP SIX Believe and be baptised WATCH VIDEO 17 We re not a traditional Church. You will have noticed we have the lights, the band, the smoke machines and the coffee shop. You might have also noticed there are lots of things we don t have! Stained glass, statues of saints or a crucifix - and we definitely don t have a graveyard out front! The trouble with doing things out of a sense of tradition is that something can start off well enough, but when it loses its meaning it loses its significance. Somehow along the way, baptism became a tradition, a religious observance or, worse still, a box to tick in order to get children into the right secondary school. We don t baptise or christen babies; not because that s bad, it s just not in the Bible. Jesus called children to Himself and blessed them (which we do here in Church.) Believers baptism, however, means you need to have had your own personal revelation of Jesus Christ and chosen to put your trust in Him. Otherwise it s just tradition with no meaning or power. So today we ll take some time to re-discover the power and significance of this amazing event. Baptism doesn t turn you into a Christian! It s not a secret magic ritual, but if you are a Christian then you should be baptised. Jesus said in Mark 16:16, Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved and in the first ever sermon preached by Peter in Acts 2:38 it says, Repent and be baptised, 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. So, it s not an optional extra. Baptism is an outward declaration of an inward truth; the truth that you have committed your life to Christ and have accepted Him as your saviour and Lord. It doesn t start the relationship, but it does mark it with a special moment that the relationship is for real. But what does it all mean? Well, the word itself comes from a Greek word baptizo which means to dip, dye or submerge (just like you would do to dye a piece of cloth in order to change it s colour). But don t worry we won t dye you a different colour! This is just symbolic, and that s why we baptise by full immersion. This is how it was done in the Bible, no sprinkles or sign of the cross on the forehead with a wet finger! 100% dunked! So let s look at what all this symbolism means. Step 1: As you stand in the water you identify with Christ on the cross. Although He died for the sins of the whole world, in this moment you recognise that He died for you specifically. Step 2: As you are lowered into the water, this represents burial. Your old life is buried with Christ; every sin and all it s guilt and shame are dead and gone and buried for good. Step 3: Just as Christ rose from the dead, triumphant over sin and proving he was God, you too are raised to a new life. When you are brought up out of the water it s a representation of that same new life. As Romans 6:3-4 says, don t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life Your sins were paid for by Jesus on the cross Your old life with all it s regrets are buried with Christ Your life is now brand new, full of hope and power Pretty powerful symbolism!

4 A COVENANT PROMISE When you are baptised, you enter into a covenant promise with God. Let s talk about what this means. We often make promises like I promise I won t be late! or we might sign a mobile phone contract for 18 months, or a job contract stipulating when you will and won t work. All of those things are easily re-negotiated, or altered to suit changing circumstances. A covenant is different. A covenant isn t an everyday occurrence. In fact, the only other time in our lives we enter into a covenant is in marriage. The wedding ceremony is actually a really helpful analogy. First of all, the ceremony is public. It s an opportunity to make a declaration of your love and your intentions towards each other. This is done in front of friends and family, your nearest and dearest. The relationship didn t start here; marriage takes an existing relationship and makes it official and binding. Then, of course, there are the vows; promises made between two parties that they will remain faithful to one another through thick and thin, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse, in sickness or in health, til death us do part. It s a promise based on a decision made in advance, that no matter what comes, the two will remain faithful to one another. Two people, two different lives coming together to make a living promise; not just for one day but for every day. With a foundation like that you have a firm footing to build a life together. Similarly, that s what is happening as you make your confession of faith at baptism. You are making a solemn promise to God to love, honour and obey Him. A covenant promise, however, isn t a one-off vow but a living promise we walk in day-by-day. The most exciting part about all this is that even when we have a bad day, when we are weak and our grip on God loosens, it s OK because His hand never lets us go. 2 Timothy 2:13 tells us if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. Baptism enters us into a covenant relationship with the living God. We become one with Him, and he cannot disown us. 3 GREAT REASONS TO GET BAPTISED 1. Jesus was baptised - In Matthew 3:13-17 we see Jesus getting baptised by his cousin John the Baptist. Here we have evidence of the Trinity; Jesus the Son in the river, the voice of God the Father saying This is my son in whom I am well pleased and the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus in the form of a dove. If baptism is good enough for the Son of God, then it s good enough for you! 2. Jesus commands it - Jesus parting words to the disciples before he ascended to the Father included instruction about baptism. He says in Matthew 28:19-20, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. 3. We join in a great heritage of faith - Baptism doesn t save you but it does mark you out as a follower of Christ. We join in the procession of believers that has existed since the beginning of the Church. Acts 2:41 shows us what happened after the very first gospel message was preached! Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. You are part of God s relay team about to run your leg of the race like all the other great heroes of the faith.

5 S O T H I S I S I T... Take a moment and think about your relationship with God. Everyone has a testimony, a personal account of how God became real to them and how they came to surrender their life to Christ and the difference that has made. Maybe you were brought up in a church and had heard the stories as a child, but what was the moment you realised your need for forgiveness? Perhaps you never went to church and you heard about God s love from a friend or family member or perhaps on the TV. Every person has a story and your story is important. Being able to communicate what life was like before Jesus, When Jesus became real to you and the difference God has made in your life is probably the most powerful story you will ever tell. Take some time to think you journey through and share it with someone. GROUP DISCUSSION How has your view towards God, faith and the Church changed over the last six sessions? How do you think this will make a difference to your life?

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