Session 10
The committments

Ice-breaker

Have you ever seen a believer's baptism? Talk about what happens.

Defining believer's baptism

The word 'baptism' means different things to different denominations. For instance, how many of you were baptised ('christened') as a child and maybe confirmed as a teenager? What significance did this have for you or your family?

What we are specifically looking at here is believer's baptism. This is the immersion of Christians in water 'in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit'. It demonstrates that they have become Christians and normally takes place near the beginning of their Christian lives.

Jesus gave his disciples a great commission. Read Matthew 28:19-20. What kind of priority was given to baptism?

The first Christians were baptised in rivers. But what is significant in baptism is not ultimately the amount of water used, but the reality of the a personal faith. of which the bBaptism is an outward sign of an inner spiritual event..

If you possibly can, watch a video of a baptism. What is your reaction to what you have just seen?

What needs to happen before baptism

When someone is baptised, they are declaring that they have already become a Christian. What are the processes that need to take place for someone to 'become a Christian'? Read Acts 16:31-34 and Acts 2:38-39.

Who should be baptised

The New Testament tells us about all kinds of people who were baptised. Read their stories and see how different they were, yet how much they had in common. Note especially the point in their Christian lives at which they were baptised.

• The Ethiopian eunuch -- Acts 8:26-38, especially verses 34-38
• Saul, later known as the apostle Paul -- Acts 9:1-19, especially verses 17-19
• Three thousand new believers -- Acts 2:41

Baptism is for every Christian!

The significance of baptism

Baptism is symbolic. It presents a number of pictures of what it means to become a Christian.

Work out some of the symbolism of water and the act of being immersed and raised out of it.

Read Romans 6:3-9. What are the key symbols that are being depicted here?

It may come as a surprise to see baptism described in this passage as a funeral. When you became a Christian, your 'old self' died. In baptism, you are laying it to rest and closing the door on your past life. You are symbolically buried with Christ and then, just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so you too rise from the water. You are now empowered to live a new life (verse 7).

A baptism is a dramatic occasion. Those watching are going to be affected by what they see and hear. Read Romans 10:9-10. Have you told anyone yet that Jesus is the Lord of your life? Being baptised would certainly do that!

Baptism and the Holy Spirit

Look at what happened in Acts 2:38. Similar events are reported in Acts 10:44-48 and Acts 19:5-6.

Is there a special connection between baptism and the Holy Spirit?

Expect to experience the Holy Spirit's presence again in a special way when you are baptised. Look at the way in which Paul prayed for new disciples in Acts 19:6.

Jesus himself was baptised. Read about this in Luke 3:21-23 and 4:1.

What was the significance of Jesus' baptism and the effect on his life and ministry?

In being baptised, we are simply following Jesus' own example.

The challenge

Is there is anything that worries you about baptism? Now may be a good time to talk it through.

Think about your spiritual journey since you started Foundations. Can you now confidently say that you are a Christian? If so, look at the challenge that motivated Paul to be baptised: 'And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on his name' (Acts 22:16). Is this speaking to you as well?

Christians have obeyed this command through the ages. Remember the Ethiopian eunuch, who saw some water and asked, 'Why shouldn't I be baptised?' (Acts 36-38). Is there any reason why you should not be baptised?

Church membership

When we are baptisedIn baptism, we symbolically identify with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. The next step is to identify with his local church. How this is expressed can vary, but most churches have some kind of formal commitment that practically demonstrates this.

Talk about the implications of 'becoming a church member'.

As you get more involved in the life of your local church, what will be your next step of commitment?

Your choice

Reflect on today's study, particularly the sections headed 'The challenge' and 'Church membership'.