Count Me In
It shouldn’t surprise us that through the centuries, superstitions arise and thrive even among well-meaning church people. Most of these superstitions are based on a desire for a kind of good luck charm in a life filled with uncertainty and hardship. Even the practice of baptism can be surrounded by all kinds of superstitions. If baptism doesn’t save us, what then is it for? Baptism is a way for a believer in Jesus to say, “Count me in! I want people to know that I identify with Jesus.” Maybe it’s time for all of us to engage with God in a fresh way as we identify with Jesus and the family called the Church.
What is superstition? Have you known anyone you would consider superstitious? Why do superstitions sometimes migrate into the God and church sphere?
Baptism was a regular practice in the early church. Read Acts 2:40-41. What happened after Peter preached the first sermon on the day the church began? What happened after Philip’s sermon (Acts 8:12-13)?
Read the account of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-38. What Old Testament passage was the Ethiopian official reading? What was the sequence of events leading to Philip’s baptizing of this man?
Baptism is an outward symbol of what’s taken place inside of us. Read the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20. What does Jesus command us to do?
What does the celebration of baptism do for the life of our church? Have you been baptized? Take a moment to recall your memories of that event.
To the Church Called LifePoint
It’s one thing for you to evaluate your own spiritual progress. It’s another thing altogether to have Jesus give His critique of how you’re doing. Sometimes the truth hurts. If Jesus were to write a letter to you about what He thinks of your devotion to Him, what...
The Abundant Church
Despite our romanticism about the early church, they had their fair share of problems - favoritism, theological arguments, and divisions (to name a few). Yet there remained a vision of an abundant church - full of energy, unity, and life. While the church today...
Who are you?
A believer's identity is in Christ. In Him we find true life, meaning, and purpose. Yet, it is common for believers to take their eyes off of Jesus and begin substituting other things in His place. We look for other ways to identify ourselves often choosing how we...
A Call to Action
It is great to gather as the church. But we are also told by Jesus to “go” as the church, sharing God’s word with others and making them disciples. Fulfilling the Great Commission is not an option or a suggestion. It is a command to each of us as believers to actively...
A Brand New Day
While God never changes in His nature, He does change the way He works with human beings. Jesus announced a significant change when He held up a cup and identified it with His blood that would establish a new covenant. After being raised from the dead, Jesus told His...