Baptism is not a magical act or the culmination of a journey but rather a divine gift that signifies the beginning of a lifelong relationship with God. Adoption into God's family is a transformative process, allowing individuals to become his children and part of a church community. A true Christian experience involves a personal transformation and commitment, guided by grace rather than religious legalism.

1. BaptismBeyond Belief...

2. Baptism… is not magical!
… is not about you!
… is not the end of the journey!

3. Baptism… is a gift (love) initiated by God
… is an outward sign of an inward spiritual reality.
… is a beginning (covenant) of a lifelong relationship.

4. … is a gift (love) initiated by God.
… is an outward sign of an inward spiritual reality.
… is the beginning (covenant) of a lifelong relationship.

7. Adoption
“Adoption is the legal process by which a person leaves
his own family and enters the family of another.”

8. Adoption
“Adoption is the legal process by which a person leaves
his own family and enters the family of another.”

9. Adoption
You can tell for sure that you are now fully
adopted as his own children because God sent
the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out,
“Papa! Father!”

10. Family
See how very much our heavenly Father loves
us, for he allows us to be called his children—
think of it—and we really are! 1 John 3

11. Family
A Christian without a church
family is an orphan.” Rick Warren

12. Family
Church isn’t just a place you go,
It’s who you become.

13. Creating
When someone becomes a Christian, they
become a brand-new person inside. They are
not the same anymore. A new life has begun!
2 Cor. 5:17

14. Creating
Lifelong Covenant: You cannot follow
Jesus and remain where you are.

15. Creating
Do not conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

16. Heart of a Pharisee
TRIVIALIZE It
“My Heavenly Ticket”

17. LEGALIZE It
“for people like me”
Heart of a Pharisee

18. CONTROL It
“I want an experience!”
Heart of a Pharisee

19. It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so
that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created
in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do. Eph 2:8-10
Heart of a Disciple

20. BaptismBeyond Belief...