& Discipleship! Matthew 28:16-20!

Article 20 - Ordinances 20-1 Bap)sm. Water bap*sm, the immersion of the believer, is a visible tes*mony to the work of regenera*on and a mark of iden*fica*on and union with Christ. It has no saving or cleansing power, but it is the answer of a good conscience before God; hence, it should be administered only to those who have, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, realized the forgiveness of sins and possess the assurance of acceptance with God.

Article 20 - Ordinances 20-2 The Lord s Supper The Lord s Supper is an ordinance of the New Testament, in which, by the giving and receiving of bread and wine, according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, His death is proclaimed. Those who worthily partake in this remembrance of Him feed upon Him to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace, have their union and communion with Him confirmed, and tes*fy and renew their thankfulness and commitment to God and their mutual love and fellowship each with the other as members of the same mys*cal body.

Article 20 - Ordinances 20-2 The Lord s Supper The Scriptures direct that each one spiritually examine himself before partaking of the bread and the cup un*l He comes.

Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

MaM. 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all na*ons, bap*zing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

I. Purpose of the Disciple MaM. 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all na*ons

II. Process of Discipleship MaM. 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all na*ons, bap*zing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

II. Process of Discipleship A. Baptism B. Instruction

III. Power for Discipleship MaM. 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all na*ons,... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Three Big Questions 1. The Meaning 2. The Subjects 3. The Mode

II. The Process of Discipleship A. Baptism

The meaning-mark of identification

Water bap*sm, the immersion of the believer, is a visible tes*mony to the work of regenera*on and a mark of iden*fica*on and union with Christ.

1Pet. 3:21-22 Bap)sm,..., now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrec)on of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authori*es, and powers having been subjected to him.

Water bap*sm, the immersion of the believer is a visible tes*mony to the work of regenera*on and a mark of iden*fica*on and union with Christ. It has no saving or cleansing power, but it is the answer of a good conscience before God;

II. The Process of Discipleship A. Baptism 1. Practice of the NT a. Pattern Belief then baptism

People of Samaria Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were bap*zed, both men and women.

Lydia Acts 16:14-15 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thya*ra, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay amen*on to what was said by Paul. And a_er she was bap*zed, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. And she prevailed upon us.

Philippian Jailer Acts 16:31-33 And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was bap*zed at once, he and all his family.

Water bap*sm, the immersion of the believer,... it should be administered only to those who have, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, realized the forgiveness of sins and possess the assurance of acceptance with God.

II. Process of Discipleship A. Baptism 1. Practice of NT a. Pattern b. Mode

Water bap)sm, the immersion of the believer [mode],...

Why immersion? Immersion is the most plain meaning baptizo-to dip, plunge, immerse Immersion follows Jesus example

MaM. 3:16-17 And when Jesus was bap*zed, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

Why immersion? Immersion accurately depicts the symbolism of the Christian s union with Jesus death and resurrection

Rom. 6:4-5 We were buried therefore with him by bap*sm into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrec*on like his.

Next Steps 1. Commit to take the plunge. 2. Celebrate!