pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: baptism


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Transform and Lead

John came to prepare the way for the Lord.  In the desert he preached a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”  He came to bring a message that would transform people’s hearts and make them ready for Jesus.

The radical changes to the earth that Isaiah wrote about and Luke quotes are very dramatic – valleys are filled in, mountains laid low, and crooked paths made straight.  Powerful things that only God could do.  But John called for and calls today for us to undertake such radical transformations in our lives as well.

As we seek to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ this Advent season, what valleys or low spots in or lives do we need God to lift us out of?  What mountains or pedestals do we need to step down off of to allow humility in and God to be the one lifted up high?  What crooked paths do we sometimes walk that we need the Holy Spirit to turn us from and to walk alongside us on the narrow path?

We anticipate a time of celebration as we remember Christ’s birth.  We also need to be transformed by and made right with God.  May we allow God to transform us and to lead us in a life that knows His saving grace.  May we prepare Him room in our hearts.

Scripture reference: Luke 3: 3-6


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Unity and Love

To live in unity and peace as the community of faith can be a challenge.  It takes effort.  Paul reminds us of our call as the body of Christ to work together for the common good.  To best accomplish this he offers three key characteristics to strive for: humility, gentleness, and patience.  When this is how we each walk, unity is much easier to accomplish.

Paul also calls for us to bear one another up in love.  What does this look like?  It looks like coming alongside a brother or sister in Christ when they have lost a loved one.  It looks like showing up when a single mom needs a hand around the house.  It means showing up to babysit a young couple’s children so they can have a date night.

At first glance maybe it seems unity may be hard because we appear to be quite diverse.  But diversity is good.  When we are diverse we all have unique gifts, perspectives, and thoughts that we can offer to each other.  Paul reminds us, though, that we do have much in common.  We worship one Lord and are guided by one Holy Spirit.  We share one common faith.  We practice one baptism.  We hold onto one hope.  We come together as one to worship one God and Father over all and through all and in all.

Together in unity we are strong and powerful and able to do much for God.

Scripture reference: Ephesians 4: 1-10


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Cleansed

One of the unique and powerful ideas found in the Christian faith is the idea of cleansing.  Early in the Bible God used water to cleanse the earth – only Noah and his family survived to flood.  The ides of water as cleansing agent is also picked up in the New Testament.  John the Baptist uses the waters of the Jordan River to baptize people.  People confessed their sins, were called to repentance, and were baptized.  The water washed them clean.

Our baptisms cleanse us too, but more so they mark us as members of God’s family.  For most Christian denominations baptism represents the formal declaration of belonging to Christ.  For many denominations it is also the point at which God’s grace starts to work in and shape our lives.

God’s grace becomes what washes us clean.  Through His death on the cross, Jesus conquered sin and death.  In His resurrection He showed all that sin and death hold no power over His followers.

Through our baptism and the inflowing of grace that follows, we are called to walk as children of the light.  Our call in the midst of a world that pursues so much else is to share our story of faith and the story of what He can do for all of mankind.  As we learn to surrender more and more to His good will, we grow to live more and more into the life we were first called to in our baptism.

Scripture reference: 2 Peter 3: 18-22


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Remember and Be Glad

Inherent in our nature as human being is our pull toward sin.  As creatures who can sense pleasure, we are drawn to sin in a variety of ways.  Also inherent in us is the conscious that tells us right from wrong.  Some sin simply occurs – think about the word that slips out when you stub your toe really bad.  But most sin has been mulled over and the consequences weighed.

Present in our world is also God.  God was before the first word was spoken that began the process of creation.  God has been present in every death and in every birth and in every moment in between.  Each and every day of our lives, God has been present in our worlds.

For all of us, God was present in the delivery room in the miracle of our birth.  A short time later most of us were initiated into the family of God as we were baptized.  for most of us, this was a decision made for us, but a decision made nonetheless.  And just like all else with God, He does not force us to continue to choose faith and to walk daily with Him.  He allows us to zig and zag, to wander and to return back.  We are always welcome when we return back home to God.

When we reconnect back to God, we are renewing those vows made for us long ago, but each time as a choice we are making when we return.  We return and accept faith, believing that He will go with us each day forward.  On this “Baptism of the Lord” Sunday, may we too remember our baptism and be glad.

Scripture reference: Mark 1: 4-11


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Baptism into the Family

As Paul baptizes the twelve men in Ephesus, the Holy spirit comes upon then and they are filled with its presence.  They cannot deny the change that has occurred in themselves.  Outwardly there are signs as well – they begin to speak in tongues and to prophecy.  Much like the first Pentecost, this is a powerful moment.  It is also a great example of the power of the risen Christ.

Baptism remains a powerful experience.  It is s huge moment in each believer’s life and walk of faith.  As we are baptized, we are formally welcomed into the family of God and we are marked by Him.  All of our lives we carry this mark – child of God.  As part of our church family we are also part of the larger family of God, a huge network of believers past, present, and future.  Many will pray for you as needs arise just as we in turn intercede for others.

Baptism is also our first step towards our eternal destination with the risen Christ.  As the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us, the Spirit guides, leads, nudges, convicts, and prompts us to live a life worthy of our calling as a child of God and as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Our new internal compass is always present and active in our lives.  May we tune into the Spirit’s presence in our lives so that we more closely walk with Christ, our hope and our salvation.

Scripture reference: Acts 29: 1-7


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Baptism and the Holy Spirit

Baptism is both an individual and a communal experience.  Whether it is the parents during an infant baptism or the individual in a believer’s baptism, when on is baptized there is a claiming of the personal connection to God through His son Jesus.  At the same time, in both baptisms, there is a communal component as well.  With baptism one is welcomed into the community of faith.  As a community we love, care for, and encourage one another as well as guiding, correcting, teaching, and holding each other accountable.

In Acts 19, when Paul offered Christ’s baptism to some new believers, the Holy Spirit came upon them.  The Holy Spirit is also part of the communal and individual aspects of entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ through our baptism.  The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in each of us and begins to lead and guide us in many ways as we live out our day to day lives.  The Holy Spirit is also present in community as well.  The presence of the Holy Spirit can be felt in worship, in times of prayer, in the sharing of the message, and in the singing of songs.

Through our baptism we connect to Jesus and we become connected to our community of faith.  The Holy Spirit enters and works in our lives to develop and grow our faith and to deepen our relationships with Christ and with our fellow believers.  May we allow and seek the Spirit’s presence in our lives.  May we be sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit as it seeks to live in, to breathe through, and to gently guide us day by day.

Scripture reference: Acts 19: 1-7


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The Rock and the Call

This past Sunday in church we had a ‘remembrance of your baptism’ during each service. The message was “New Promise” and PastorKeihwan Ryoo spoke both of what baptism is and what it promises. He also spoke of our call as Christians.

In case you were not there, Keihwan set two bowls of water on a small table in the front of the church. Within each bowl were many smallish rocks. Folks came forward and selected a rock and some spent time at the altar rail. The rock that I selected remains in my pocket and I encourage you to keep yours there as well.

Toward the end of the message, Keihwan defined the challenge – to serve God, one person at a time, one moment at a time. This is our call as Christians. In our baptism we became part of God’s family and the work of the Spirit began in our lives. At some point each of us made (or will make) the decision to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus. As this relationship grows, so too grows our realization of the call.

So why tote around the rock? Not because it is small and easy to carry – if it were truly symbolic it would be large and would take an effort. In part, the rock from the water symbolizes God’s promise and provision. When the 12 tribes crossed the sea, they selected 12 stones from the seabed and made an altar – to remember what God had just done for them. You rock can mean that too – a tangible sign to remember all that God does for you. BUT it can be more!!

The rock can also be a tangibe sign of God’s call in your life that began way back at your baptism and grows as your relationship with Jesus grows. It can be a reminder of that call to make a difference in our worlds – one person at a time, one moment at a time. SO as you feel that opportunity to be that difference, slip your hand into your pocket and feel God’s spirit enveloping you to guide and empower you as you step forward in obedience to the call!

[No rock? Missed church Sunday? Stop by this Sunday and visit the chapel. Take some time to thank God for your baptism and His love. Grab a rock.]