YOU ASKED ABOUT BAPTISM FOR YOUR CHILD. A course to help you consider your child s Christian upbringing Coromandel Valley Uniting Church

YOU ASKED ABOUT BAPTISM FOR YOUR CHILD A course to help you consider your child s Christian upbringing Coromandel Valley Uniting Church Minister: Greg Pearce

BEFORE WE START... Having a child... How does it make you feel? Excited? Scared? Privileged? One thing you can be sure of: You have really been blessed by God! It usually takes about 9 months to have a child. That's quite a time for preparation. So when you ask for Baptism, we ask you to do some further preparation, because Baptism is really important. To prepare for it, you need to think about your child s whole life with God, not just the one day. In this course we ll talk about things like: Loving God as parents Helping our child to grow in the Christian faith Enjoying the life of the church and being part of it. You can work through the pages here for yourself before we meet, to be comfortable with what we ll talk about. It will take a couple of meetings, or more if there are more things you want to discuss. If you feel Baptism is asking more of you than you are ready for, why not talk to our Minister about a service of blessing for your child? This can be a really great celebration which you can help plan.

WELCOME TO YOUR CHILD! Having a child must be one of the most life-challenging things that has happened to you! Have you thought about what you want for your child as he or she grows up? Write down 4 things you really want for your child: 1. 2. 3. 4. Nathan: I want my son... To be happy, healthy & sheltered I'd like him to have a good education for living To know all his life that his parents love him To know that Jesus loves him, and died for him, and is his way to God - I hope he knows that all his life Sharon: I want my children... To be loving and caring people who will make a difference in the lives of others To be able to persevere in hard times and grow through the difficulties they re bound to have To grow and love God and accept Jesus as their Saviour To reach their own potential in life Jim: I want my children... To be able to be themselves To enjoy God, to enjoy working with God To be the best that they can be To be able to talk to anybody and not be out of place When we bring our child for Baptism it's a life-changing decision we make for them (if we're serious). We are really asking, not just What do I want for my child? but...

WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR THIS CHILD? Well, if we want to know what God wants, or what God is like, we look at Jesus. That's where God has made himself known. And there is a simple story about Jesus and kids. Here s the story: Mark 10:13-16 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don t push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very centre of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child you II never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them. Imagine you can see all this happening: What do you think Jesus looks like as the incident unfolds? If you were carrying your child in the crowd and Jesus spoke to you, what do you think he would say? Write down here some of the things you think of when you think of Jesus

WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR EVERYONE, YOUNG AND OLD? Sometimes God seems a long way away. And it s true, even the Bible says we don t even see God. But that doesn t mean we can t know God. Not at all! Here s what the Bible says and what makes all the difference to Christians. John 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known. So the better we know Jesus, the better we know God! Jot down 2 or 3 times when you have felt close to God. In fact, we don't always live very close to God. Sometimes we're nothing like the people God wants us to be. We could go on and on about this, and about the whole world being in a mess, too. It's true, what the Bible says, we've all sinned and fallen short of what God wants. (Romans 3:23)

BUT! That hasn t stopped God loving us! Jesus said: The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them (John 15:13). That is what he did. He died to take our wrongs and our death, to take them from us. He took responsibility for us at our worst. He suffered for us. He died then rose to life, bringing us to share life with God. If you believe this, what does it make you want to do? Knowing God loves you like that, and trusting Jesus personally opens the way to a great new life! Jesus follower, Peter, said: Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God s gift, the Holy Spirit. What is promised to the person who turns to Jesus and is baptised? A PRAYER YOU CAN PRAY Dear Lord, thank you for loving me. Thank you that Jesus died for me, to forgive me. I acknowledge all the wrong things I have done. Thank you that he is alive to befriend me, to lead me into a new life. I invite your Spirit to come into my life. May I trust you and live with you today. Amen [You can pray this each day]

WHAT DOES BAPTISM MEAN? It is a simple action that puts what God has done for us, the Gospel, in a nutshell. We do it at the beginning of the Christian s life. 1. Read Romans 6:3-4 The apostle Paul said: Do you know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. We have died with We have been raised to a new life with 2. So the Bible says we are in Christ. This means we are also in the church when we are baptised, because the church is called the body of Christ. 3. The washing of water. What does it mean to you? 4. The flowing water reminds us of the Holy Spirit, poured out on us, to help us live with Jesus. ADD THESE THINGS UP: 1. Jesus died for me - to forgive my wrongs, to wash me clean. + 2. Jesus rose for me - to give me a new life + 3. To join me to his family - as an adopted child and heir + 4. To fill us all with his Spirit - to live together for him and with him THIS SUM ADDS UP TO: THE GOSPEL!

WHAT ABOUT THE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN? A baby doesn t know what s happening. Shouldn t we wait for our child to make their own decision? Many families make this choice. The Bible doesn t settle the question of when Baptism is right, but it does give us a clear understanding that the children of believing Christian parents are also regarded as set apart for God. 1 Corinthians 7:14 Your husband or wife who isn t a follower is made holy by having you as a mate. This also makes your children holy and keeps them from being unclean in God s sight. If you are truly following Jesus, how should you think of your child? Christians see that God has chosen to be our Father before we were made or the world was made. He chose to send Jesus to bring us to himself without us asking him to. Ephesians 1:4-5, 7-8 Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God s own adopted children. Christ sacrificed his life s blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us. So, when the jailer in Philippi became a Christian, he had his whole household baptised (Acts 16). If you have your child baptised before they know what s happening, whose decision is it? IF YOU WANTED YOUR CHILD BAPTISED YOU D NEED TO BE SURE OF YOUR OWN FAITH IN GOD THROUGH INVITING JESUS INTO YOUR LIFE. Have you done this? (That is, at this stage we re not thinking of your child s faith, but yours. It wouldn t be right to have your child baptised until you d settled this matter with God)

ABOUT THE CHURCH When you think of the Church, what do you think of? (Tick as many as you like). Nice people, but a bit out of date Where you go for weddings, baptisms and funerals All the people who have ever been baptised The people who meet on Sunday mornings The building Christians worship in The real followers of Jesus Other It s important that we know what the church is, because when a person is baptised, even a little child, they are joining the Church and becoming disciples of Jesus! Here s an account of the first Christian Church at Jerusalem, just after Jesus rose from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:42-47 They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers. Many miracles and wonders were being done through the apostles, and everyone was filled with awe. All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed. Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts, praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. What would you like the church to be like today?

At our church we also do very similar things... Meet to praise God Share fellowship - including meals and home groups (connection groups) Learn about Jesus and the difference he makes to our lives Encourage others to get involved, participate and to make friends We provide special time for children. We also do many things together as families. So we have: Various age-specific programs for our kids on Sunday mornings where they can have fun together as they learn about God Family Services where the whole time of worship is shared with our families and kids involved throughout Family Communion Sundays once a month where kids are included in the shared time of communion Camps for the whole family Children s Holiday Programs Various social family activities throughout the year When we baptise anyone, Jesus said we need to teach them all we know about him. Before he left his first followers, Jesus said: Matthew 28:18b-20 "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: Baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age." If you haven't been coming to Church yet, this will take some thought. Changing your routine is often difficult. People are busy. But the rewards for you and your child will be really great! So, in the service of Baptism we ll ask you: Will you encourage your child to grow within the fellowship of the church, so that he/she will come to faith in Christ? and you will be expected to say: With God's help, we will. This is something we want to take seriously. The church will also promise to encourage your child s Christian growth. Think about how you plan to involve your child in the Church family and as he or she grows. Write down what you plan to do

WHAT ABOUT PARENTS? HOW CAN WE HELP OUR CHILD GROW GOD S WAY? In the baptism service you re also asked: Will you set before your child the example of a Christian life, and will you pray that he/she will learn the way of Christ? Put a tick beside those things below that you would like to start doing: Join the Church Family When we come here I feel comfortable. I feel accepted unconditionally. I believe my child can feel the love and compassion of Christ through the people. Dianne Reading Bible Stories We have two Children's Bible story books. We include them in what we read at bed time. I like doing this because I know my child's getting to hear the Bible Story. Then we often discuss if there's a message for us. Paula Praying with them We pray at meal times, thanking God for our food. I pray with the children when they are worried or troubled. We also pray before we leave on long trips in the car. Susan Living how God wants, and talking to my children about life issues Our kids have hassles, like feeling out of it at school, or not feeling valued. I tell them they are valued. God values them. I say God knows how you feel. God wants them to talk to him about that. Jim

Well, that s the course. I hope you've found filling in this booklet enjoyable. It may also have been challenging. You may have thought about new things. You may have seen for the first time that baptism is designed by God to bring us into a whole new life with him through Jesus. It's a new life lived in the family of God, the church. It's called being in Christ. You will have seen that you need a plan for your child s Christian upbringing. Are you ready for this? If so, ring me and we ll talk through what you ve discovered and what you plan. What if you feel you re not ready for this? It may be quite a mature decision to feel you re not ready to have your child baptised. Nevertheless, I still invite you to contact me and we'll go through what you think you are ready for. This could involve having a service of blessing and thanksgiving, a beautiful way to thank God for the gift of your child and to celebrate your child s life. I look forward to hearing from you. Greg Pearce