Hey! We re so glad you have decided to take this opportunity to explore baptism and membership, and it s our hope that you will find this booklet helpful as we journey together, discovering what the Bible says. Take it and use it - we encourage you to take as many notes as possible, scribble down questions you wish to explore and use the space to think about your response. No matter what you decide, we re praying that you will continue to prioritise your relationship with God, engage in church, tell others of your faith in Jesus and lean into all that your Heavenly Father has for you. Enjoy discovering more!
Q: WHAT is baptism? EXPLORE > Luke 3:3 (cross reference. Matthew 3 / Mark 1 / John 1) Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. EXPLORE MORE > John 1:12-13 Baptism is a public declaration of a new association - embracing Jesus and his teachings / his values / his way of life. BOTTOM LINE > Baptism is going public with your faith in Jesus. 2
Q: WHO do we baptise? EXPLORE > Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. EXPLORE MORE > Acts 2:38 (Equally Luke 3:3) CHEW ON > Acts 9:18 Acts 18:8 Galatians 3:26-27 Romans 6:4-6 BOTTOM LINE > Anyone who has repented of their sin, turned to God and put their faith in Jesus. 3
Q: WHY do we baptise? EXPLORE > Matthew 3:13-17 13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. I am the one who needs to be baptized by you, he said, so why are you coming to me? 15 But Jesus said, It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. EXPLORE MORE > Matthew 28:18-20 CHEW ON > Colossians 2:12 Acts 19:4-5 Acts 22:16 Romans 6:2-3 BOTTOM LINE > Because Jesus did it and has told his followers to do it in obedience. 4
Q: HOW do we baptise? EXPLORE > 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. Old life New life EXPLORE MORE > Romans 6:3-4 BOTTOM LINE > By immersing in water - identifying with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. 5
Q: WHEN do we baptise? EXPLORE > Acts 16:29-33 29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.30 Then he brought them out and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household. 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. EXPLORE MORE > Acts 8:36-39 CHEW ON > Acts 8:12-13 Acts 19:3-5 Acts 16:14-15 BOTTOM LINE > When someone puts their faith in Jesus. 6
TO SUMMARISE Baptism is a PUBLIC DECLARATION OF A NEW ASSOCIATION - embracing Jesus and all of who He is. Baptism is a PERSONAL DECLARATION OF A NEW ASSOCIATION - personal choice to follow Jesus. Baptism is NOT A CONDITION OF SALVATION, IT S EVIDENCE OF SALVATION (Ephesians 2:8,9) BOTTOM LINE > If you are a Christian, then obey Christ and be baptised. 7
// SPACE TO THINK WANT TO EXPLORE FURTHER? Watch a message on baptism at: http://www.northpoint.org/messages/going-public 8
* HEALTHY HABITS Paul refers to baptism in Romans 6 as dying to sin and becoming a slave to righteousness / right living. Baptism doesn t mean that we will never sin again but it highlights a clear commitment to tackling sin and choosing God s way, not our own. EXPLORE > Romans 3:10-12 - John 3:3 - Ephesians 2:1-2 - John 1:12-13 - 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Romans 7:14-25 - EXPLORE MORE > Our Position (Justified) - Our Progress (Santification) - HEALTHY HABITS > ENGAGE : Discipline of Prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) TOGETHER OUTWARD INWARD READ : Discipline of Study (Psalm 119:11) LISTEN : Discipline of Meditation (Psalm 46:10) REFRAIN : Discipline of Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) LESS : Discipline of Simplicity (1 Timothy 6:6-9) ALONE : Discipline of Solitude (Luke 5:16) LAST : Discipline of Submission (Ephesians 5:21) GIVE : Discipline of Service (John 13:35) CHOOSE : Discipline of Worship (John 4:23-24) PARTY : Discipline of Celebration (Philippians 4:4) 10
MEMBERSHIP - what the Bible says. Q: WHAT is the church? Romans 16:5 / 2 Thessalonians 1:4 - Galatians 1:13 / 1 Corinthians 15:9-1 Corinthians 12:27 - Ephesians 5:27-1 Corinthians 3:16 - Romans 8:14-17 - John 10:10-16 - Q: WHO is the church (Ekklesia)? Romans 1:7-1 Peter 1:1-2 - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2 Peter 1:1 - Q: WHY is there church? Matthew 28:18-20 - Acts 2:42-47 - Acts 13:1-5 - Ephesians 4:11-16 - Hebrews 3:12-13 - Q: WHY bother with the church? Acts 2:41-47 11
MEMBERSHIP - what it means for us. OUR RESPONSIBILITIES Acceptance into membership is acceptance into the fellowship of the church. The Greek word for fellowship in the New Testament reflects different aspects of the meaning... 1 John 1:3-1 Corinthians 1:9-2 Corinthians 13:14 - Acts 2:42 - Romans 12:13-2 Corinthians 1:7-2 Corinthians 8:23 - Romans 15:27 - Philippians 1:5 - Hebrews 2:14 - Hebrews 10:33-1 John 1:3-7 - THE HAND SHAKE Galatians 2:6-10 (ESV v9) THE STRUCTURE Acts 6:1-7 Acts 15:1-29 EXPLORE THE DIFFERENCE IN ROLES: Elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7 / Titus 1:5-9) Deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13 / Acts 6:1-4) The Nature of Leadership (Mark 10:32-45 / Acts 20:28 / 1 Peter 5:1-4) 12
COMMUNION an opportunity to remember, renew and celebrate WHAT is Communion? Communion (or The Lord s Supper) was started by Jesus on the night before his crucifixion. The disciples were gather in the upper room. He took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave to them, saying This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way... he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:19,20). It is an opportunity for his followers today to remember him and his death for them. It s an opportunity to renew our commitment to follow him and it s an opportunity to celebrate all that he has done for us through his death and resurrection. Various titles are used to describe this ordinance: The Lord s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20), Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16), the Lord s Table (1Corinthians 10:21), the Breaking of Bread (Acts 2:42), and Eucharist comes from the Greek word which means thanksgiving (1 Corinthians 11:24). Christ was sacrificed ONCE to take away the sins of many people (Hebrews 9:28). We do not believe that the Lord s Supper is a sacrifice. It s simply an opportunity to remember, renew and celebrate. WHAT happens at Communion? In Windsor, we have Communion every week as part of either the morning or evening service. There is normally a time of worship where we sing songs to God, we read from God s Word and the person leading the service may share a thought or pray giving thanks for the bread and wine. The bread is then taken to the congregation and each person breaks off a small piece. The same happens with the wine: each person takes a small glass of juice. Communion is a simple ceremony in which the bread and the wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus. We do not believe that the bread and wine change into the body and blood of the Lord. WHO can take part in Communion? Communion is for anyone (of any age) who know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and are trying to live for Him everyday. You don t need to be baptist or be a member of this church, you simply need to be following after Jesus. 13