PASTORAL BAPTISM DECEMBER 2026
Sunday, December 13th, 10:15 A.M.
Baptism will take place at 10:15 a.m., between our 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Therefore you can attend any of the services and not miss baptism.
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
What a person does with Jesus is the most important decision they will ever make. Not only does Christ invite us into a relationship with Him through His gift of grace, He commands us as followers to be obedient to His ways and words. Christ commands us to be baptized as an act of obedience to Him. Baptism doesn't make a person holier or more spiritual. Baptism is a chance to be obedient to Christ. It's an opportunity to identify oneself as a believer and follower of Christ. It's proclaiming the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It's going public with your faith and confessing Jesus as Lord of your life! Baptism is a celebration of new life in Christ!
WHAT IT IS NOT
Although baptism is a part of salvation (I Peter 3:21), baptism does not save you. This means that it doesn't purchase your way to heaven, guarantee you a personal relationship with Jesus, or get rid of your sins. Salvation comes through God's grace, through our faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8). Baptism is a public declaration of that faith, a symbolic representation of what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. Baptism is an expression of faith by obedience to Christ (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41). Faith in Christ and repentance from sin are necessary to its validity (Matthew 3:8; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:37).
WHY DO IT?
Because Jesus did it (Matthew 3:13-17).
Because Jesus commands you to do it in obedience (Matthew 28:18-20)
Baptism identifies us with the burial of Jesus (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). It indicates we died to sin by repentance and are burying our past sins, the dominion of sin, and the sinful lifestyle.
Baptism is part of our spiritual circumcision (Colossians 2:11-13).
CHILDREN BAPTISM
We believe baptism is a personal decision that should be made with an understanding of its meaning and purpose. Therefore, we do not baptize infants or small children unless they are old enough to understand salvation, repentance, and the significance of baptism.
This is often referred to as the “age of accountability.” While the Bible does not specify an exact age, it teaches the importance of believing and responding to the Gospel.
Scripture References:
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Acts 2:38 – Repent and be baptized
Acts 8:12 – Those who believed the Gospel were baptized.
Mark 16:16 – Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved.
Our desire is for every baptism candidate, regardless of age, to understand the decision they are making and the commitment to follow Jesus Christ.
WHEN TO DO IT?
Followers of Jesus were baptized after repenting and committing their lives to Jesus (Acts 16:29-33).
THE SYMBOL OF BAPTISM
Baptism symbolizes Jesus death, burial and resurrection. It symbolizes your death to sin and your new life in Jesus (Romans 6:3-4). Baptism is a symbol of this new beginning, a fresh start in our walk with God.
HOW TO BAPTIZE
The original word in the bible for baptized is baptizo, it means to immerse in a body of water. Followers of Jesus in bible were plunged into water (Acts 8:35-38).
BAPTISM CLOTHING WILL BE PROVIDED.
