Being baptised into a name meant to be under the authority and to revere the name. A Christian is baptised into the name of God and so belongs to God, serves God, loves God and is God’s special possession.
Readings and reflections
1. Christians are told to baptise into the name of the Trinity,
‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
What do you think about when you consider God as Father?
What does knowing Jesus mean for your salvation?
How does knowing the Holy Spirit change the way that you live?
To memorise this week
‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
To consider this week
Do you need to be baptised? If you’d like to discuss this, please contact the church office or talk to your Community Group leader.
COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY - GO AND BAPTISE
Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Suggested opener/Ice-breaker
Do any of you have a story of overcoming obstacles to your being baptised?
Introduction - please share in your group
On Sunday, we continued in our series on discipleship. Last week, we considered how disciples are those who say "yes" to Jesus. Specifically, we are those who want to be disciples and are actively seeking to be involved in helping others to grow in their faith.
This week, and in our devotionals, we will see that disciples get baptised and seek to be involved in bringing people to Jesus and seeing them baptised. The Great Commission speaks of baptism,
‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Baptism is an object lesson in what it means to be a Christian. It points to the sublime spiritual realities that 'Christians have been washed and made new.
Through faith in Christ, their sins are washed away.
In Christ, they have been made new, as our memory verse expresses it,
‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17)