Baptized Into God's Family

1. A Prayer For The People of God
Almighty God, in your goodness,
you provide for the needy.
Remove from your people the pride of place
and the pursuit of power that mocks humility.
Open our hearts in generosity and justice
to the neglected and lonely, that in showing esteem
for others, we may honor and please you;
through Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

4. BAPTIZED into GOD’S family – 9.1.19

5. I baptize you with water
for repentance, but one
who is more powerful
than I is coming after me;
I am not worthy
to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with
the holy spirit and fire.
(Matthew 3:11)

6. Now when all the people were
baptized, and when Jesus also had
been baptized and was praying, the
heavens were opened, and the holy
spirit descended upon him in bodily
form like a dove. And a voice came
from heaven, “You are my beloved
Son; with you I am well pleased…”
Jesus, full of the holy spirit, returned
from the Jordan and was led by the
spirit into the wilderness, where…
he was tempted… (Luke 3, 4)

7. BAPTISM by WATER
FOR REPENTANCE: DEAD TO SIN,
ALIVE IN JESUS
- We acknowledge our sin, and turn to Jesus
- We consciously choose to faithfully follow
- We receive God’s cleansing and blessing
- We enter into God’s kingdom family

8. BAPTISM by SPIRIT
FOR RENEWAL, etc. : DEAD TO MY
OWN STRENGTH, ALIVE IN JESUS
- We acknowledge our insufficiency
- We make ourselves available
- We receive God’s empowering grace
- We enter the world with more resources

9. BAPTISM by FIRE
FOR REFINEMENT: DEAD TO MY
OLD LIFE, ALIVE IN JESUS
- We enter a time of testing and trial
- We (hopefully) choose to see it through
- We (hopefully) receive new hope/life
- We (hopefully) develop more grace/mercy

10. BAPTISM by FIRE
Lord, purify me…I receive
your strength, and I give my
fear and doubt to you
BAPTISM by THE SPIRIT
Lord, fill me…I receive your grace,
and I make myself available to you
BAPTISM by WATER
Lord, forgive me…I receive your love,
and I choose to live for you

11. BAPTIZED into GOD’S family – 9.1.19

12. 1. To please/appease other’s desires/expectations
BAD reasons to be BAPTIZED

13. 1. To please/appease other’s desires/expectations
2. To get God to like/love you, or be less mad at you
BAD reasons to be BAPTIZED

14. 1. To please/appease other’s desires/expectations
2. To get God to like/love you, or be less mad at you
3. To baptize your current way of living/thinking
BAD reasons to be BAPTIZED

15. Greg Boyd
“To get the kingdom of God
into someone, you first have
to get America* out of them,
or it just becomes another
American* thing.”
* or WHATEVER national/tribal
interests you might be
tempted to idolize and
prioritize above the
kingdom of God

16. 1. To please/appease other’s desires/expectations
2. To get God to like/love you, or be less mad at you
3. To baptize your current way of living/thinking
4. To check off a religious box
BAD reasons to be BAPTIZED

17. 1. To renounce Satan and all spiritual forces
of wickedness that rebel against God
2. To renounce the evil powers of the world
which corrupt and destroy God’s creatures
3. To renounce all sinful desires that
draw you from the love of God
GOOD reasons to be BAPTIZED

18. 4. To receive/trust in the grace and love of God
5. To publicly declare you’ve received Jesus
as Savior and acknowledge him as Lord
6. To become a citizen in the kingdom of God
7. To join God’s global, historical family
GOOD reasons to be BAPTIZED

20. BAPTIZED into GOD’S family – 9.1.19

21. TOPIC
A 401-Level Seminar on
Sexuality & the Church
DAY & TIME
Wednesdays
6:30 – 8:00pm
DATES
Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Nov. 6

22. Benediction
Redeeming Sustainer,
visit your people
and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
that we may hurry to make you welcome
not only in our concern for others,
but by serving them
generously and faithfully
in your name.
Amen.