Summer School Sessions: Baptism

Aug 16, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Authority of the Riverbank Command

The story of a confused man dunked in the river reveals how baptism’s power comes not from human effort, but from Jesus’ direct command. Baptism isn’t a ritual invented by churches or traditions—it’s rooted in Christ’s authority as the resurrected King. When Jesus said, “Go… baptize,” He tied baptism to discipleship, making it a non-negotiable step for those choosing to follow Him. The early church obeyed this command immediately, baptizing new believers as a public declaration of allegiance to Christ. This authority transcends denominations, relying solely on Scripture’s clarity. [20:44]

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 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 28:19–20, NIV)

Reflection: What practices or traditions in your faith journey have you assumed were “non-negotiable” that might not actually align with Jesus’ direct commands? How does His authority, not human habit, shape your obedience?

Day 2: Plenty of Water, No Bucket Needed

John the Baptist chose a river with “plenty of water” because baptism’s method matters. Immersion—not sprinkling or pouring—visually reenacts Jesus’ burial and resurrection. Going fully under the water symbolizes dying to sin; rising up embodies new life in Christ. The Ethiopian eunuch didn’t ask for a handful of water—he stopped his chariot at the first sign of enough water to submerge himself. Baptism’s physicality isn’t incidental—it’s a divine object lesson, a flesh-and-blood sermon about grace. [28:49]

“Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.” (John 3:23, NIV)

Reflection: Have you ever minimized baptism’s physical act as “just symbolism”? How might embracing its tangible nature deepen your understanding of being “buried and raised” with Christ?

Day 3: Believers, Not Babies, in the Baptismal Waters

Baptism requires a heart able to repent and a voice willing to confess. Babies can’t repent of sin they don’t understand, nor can they profess faith in a Savior they don’t yet know. The Ethiopian eunuch’s question—“What can stand in the way?”—presupposed his conscious choice to follow Jesus. Baptism isn’t a passive ritual done to someone, but an active response by someone. It’s the moment a believer stops spectating and steps into the water, owning their faith publicly. [30:30]

“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?’ […] Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” (Acts 8:36, 38, NIV)

Reflection: When did your faith move from being inherited or assumed to becoming your own conscious choice? How does baptism reflect that shift from passive tradition to active discipleship?

Day 4: Signing God’s Contract in the Water

Baptism is the “signature” on God’s salvation contract—the moment we accept His terms. Just as a legal document requires a signature to activate its promises, baptism activates our access to Christ’s righteousness. Peter clarifies it’s “not the removal of dirt” but the “pledge of a clear conscience,” a binding agreement with God. This isn’t earning salvation—it’s claiming it, like signing for an already-paid inheritance. The water is the ink; your body is the pen. [53:30]

“This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21, NIV)

Reflection: Have you treated baptism as a “recommendation” rather than a vital step in God’s salvation process? What might holding back your “signature” reveal about trusting His terms?

Day 5: Monday Baptisms and the Urgency of Obedience

The early church baptized converts immediately—no classes, no delays, no “perfect timing.” They understood salvation’s urgency, baptizing on roadsides, in prisons, at midnight. Lakeshore’s readiness to baptize any day mirrors this urgency—obedience can’t wait for Sunday. Like the Philippian jailer washed wounds at midnight before being baptized, God’s invitation isn’t limited by schedules. When the heart is ready, the water is ready. [56:35]

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’” (Acts 2:38–39, NIV)

Reflection: What excuses have you made for delaying baptism? How does the early church’s immediacy challenge your view of “waiting for the right moment”?

Sermon Summary

Baptism gets cleared up by going back to the Bible instead of starting with denominations, traditions, or what different groups have taught. Jesus himself gives the authority for baptism in Matthew 28 when he says all authority has been given to him and then commands disciples to be made by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The phrase “in the name of” means “by the authority of,” so baptism rests on the authority of Jesus, not on a church label or human leader.

The early church practiced baptism exactly the way Jesus commanded it. Acts 2 shows Peter preaching the first gospel proclamation, and when the people were cut to the heart and asked what to do, Peter answered, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Every recorded conversion in Acts includes baptism, and it happens right when people decide to follow Jesus, not as some delayed add-on.

The method of baptism also gets settled by Scripture. John baptized where there was “plenty of water,” and Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch both went down into the water. The symbolism in Romans 6 points to death, burial, and resurrection, and immersion is the only form that pictures that. The Greek word baptizo means to dip under, plunge under, or immerse, not sprinkle or pour.

The candidate for baptism must be someone who can hear the message, believe in Jesus, repent of sin, and publicly profess faith. Mark 16 says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,” which means belief comes before baptism. Acts 2 adds repentance, and Romans 10 adds profession. That rules out baptizing babies, not because babies lack value, but because they cannot yet believe, repent, or profess faith.

The purpose of baptism is not just getting wet or joining a religious group. Acts 2 connects baptism with forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Romans 6 and Galatians 3 say baptism brings a person into Christ and clothes that person with Christ, so that standing before God is not based on personal righteousness but on the righteousness of Jesus. First Peter 3 says baptism now saves, not by removing dirt from the body, but as the pledge of a clear conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is not earning salvation. Baptism is signing the name to God’s offer, accepting the free gift on his terms with faith, repentance, surrender, and obedience.

Key Takeaways

1. Baptism rests on Jesus’ authority Baptism does not draw its meaning from tradition, preference, or church background. Jesus says all authority belongs to him, and then he commands baptism as part of making disciples. A disciple does not get to treat baptism as optional when the risen Christ has placed his own authority behind it. [21:56]
2. Immersion pictures death and resurrection Baptism is not an empty religious symbol with whatever meaning a person wants to give it. Romans 6 ties it to being buried with Christ and raised to live a new life. Immersion carries the shape of the gospel in the body, going under as burial and coming up as resurrection. [31:47]
3. Faith must become obedient surrender The candidate for baptism must be able to hear, believe, repent, and profess Jesus openly. Baptism without faith is just getting wet, but faith that refuses obedience is not the kind of trust Jesus calls for. The act requires humility because a person must stop controlling the moment and surrender under the authority of Christ. [36:27]
4. Baptism signs God’s offered promise First Peter calls baptism the pledge of a clear conscience toward God, not the washing of dirt from the body. The picture is like signing a legal document, accepting the terms of the offer that God has made through Jesus. Baptism does not purchase salvation, but it receives God’s promise on God’s terms. [53:09]
5. Obedience should not be postponed The New Testament pattern never treats baptism as something to delay after a person is ready. When faith, repentance, and confession are present, baptism follows right then because the decision belongs first before God. Waiting can turn clarity into hesitation when Jesus has already made the next step plain. [56:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:04] - Why Baptism Needs Clarity
[21:34] - Jesus Gives Baptism Authority
[24:07] - The Early Church Practiced Baptism
[27:56] - The Method of Baptism
[31:22] - Baptism Pictures Burial and Resurrection
[33:12] - What Baptizo Means
[35:29] - Who Should Be Baptized
[38:51] - Repentance Comes Before Baptism
[42:20] - Baptism and Being Added to the Church
[43:16] - The Purpose of Baptism
[47:31] - Baptized Into Christ
[50:32] - Baptism as a Clear Conscience Pledge
[54:26] - Baptism Requires Surrender
[56:06] - Why Baptism Should Not Wait

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 28:18-20
“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, baptizing 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.’” [21:45]

Acts 2:38
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” [25:17]

Romans 6:3-4
“Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” [31:29]

1 Peter 3:21
“and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” [50:29]

Mark 16:16
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” [36:14]

Observation questions

In Matthew 28:18-20, what reasons are given for taking baptism seriously as part of making disciples? [23:03]
In Acts 2:38, what two responses does Peter call for, and what two promises are connected to that response?
In Romans 6:3-4, what parts of Jesus’ saving work are pictured in baptism? [32:23]
According to Mark 16:16 and the pattern described in Acts, what seems to come before baptism in a person’s response to Jesus? [37:13]

Interpretation questions

If baptism is commanded under the authority of Jesus, what does that suggest about treating baptism as optional for someone who wants to follow him? [22:48]
Romans 6 connects baptism to death, burial, and resurrection. Why does that make immersion such a fitting picture of the gospel? [32:30]
Acts 2:38 joins repentance and baptism together. What does that show about baptism being more than joining a church or taking part in a religious ceremony? [38:47]
First Peter 3:21 says baptism is not about washing dirt off the body but about the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. How does that help explain the difference between outward action and real surrender? [52:33]

Application questions

Jesus has all authority, and baptism rests on his authority, not on family tradition or church background. Is there any place where tradition, preference, or fear has had more weight than Jesus’ command in this area? [22:17]
Belief, repentance, and public confession come before baptism. Which part of that response feels most clear in life right now, and which part feels hardest to walk out honestly? [42:07]
Baptism pictures dying to sin and rising to a new life. Where is there a need right now for that “new life” to become more visible in everyday choices, habits, or relationships? [32:06]
Baptism is a pledge of a clear conscience toward God, like signing one’s name to God’s offered promise. Has there been a point of hesitation in fully surrendering to God on his terms rather than trying to stay in control? [53:34]
Some people were sprinkled earlier in life and later came to see believer’s immersion in Scripture. If that is part of someone’s story, what questions or emotions tend to come up, and how can those be handled with both honesty and humility? [34:23]
The New Testament pattern does not treat baptism as something to put off once a person is ready. If someone knows they believe, are willing to repent, and are ready to confess Christ, what usually causes delay? [56:30]
Many people around us are confused about baptism. Who in life might need a simple, loving conversation about what Scripture says, and what would make that conversation gentle instead of argumentative? [57:02]

Sermon Clips

34s

#BaptismPledge

“``Baptism is signing your name to the offer and agreement God offers you to be saved by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's that simple. It's not any more complicated than that. It doesn't take away from how important faith is. It doesn't take away from how important repentance is. It's not a work that earns your salvation. It is an acceptance. It's a pledge that you accept God's offer of the free gift of salvation on his terms, not on our terms.”

53s

#ClothedInChrist

“Remember last week we talked about the fact that there is a judge and we're gonna stand before a judge in judgment? When we stand before God in judgment, if we're not covered by Jesus, we're condemned. But if we're covered by Jesus, we're saved. So we go through this process of believing and repenting and confessing and being baptized into Christ so we're clothed with Christ so that when we stand before God, we don't stand in our own righteousness. Whose righteousness are we clothed with now? The righteousness of Jesus. You see, it's a part of that process. It's not the only part, but it is a part of that process the forgiveness of sins so that we could stand before God covered by the blood of Jesus.”

43s

#DontDelayBaptism

“Because in the New Testament, when somebody made that decision, it didn't matter what day of the week it was. It didn't matter if it was a Sunday with an assembled worship service or not. They baptized them wherever they were, wherever the water was they could get to, whatever day it was that they made that decision because it's the most important decision you'll ever make in your life, and you shouldn't put it off if you know you're ready, that you do believe, you're willing to profess that faith, you're truly willing to repent and turn from your sin, and start following the teachings of Jesus Christ. That next step then would be to be obedient in Christian baptism.”

48s

#SurrenderAndVulnerability

“Why particularly baptism do you think God said is a step that he wants you to take? And I don't know all those answers. We can ask God when we see him in heaven and get even more clarification on this. But I I, as a pastor, I've seen this over and over again. In order for us to surrender to letting ourselves have somebody else dunk us under the water in the name of Jesus, we gotta get our pride out of the way. We've gotta quit thinking we're the ones in control. We have to really surrender some of ourselves and be vulnerable to take a step like this. And that's exactly what God wants from all of us. That kind of surrender, that kind of vulnerability.”

37s

#ImmersionRepresentsResurrection

“So baptism pictures a death, a burial, and a resurrection. The only form of baptism that represents, that visualizes, that demonstrates a burial and a resurrection is what form? It's immersion. That's the only form of baptism that god has the symbolism that goes along with the purpose of baptism. So it makes sense then that that if we're going to picture the death, burial, and resurrection, it needs to be done in that method that really pictures that, that symbolizes that for us.”

54s

#BaptizedIntoChrist

“Now what is it that saves us? The death of Jesus. So how do we move from being outside of Jesus and the effects of his death to being in Jesus? And the effects of his death by remember, you gotta believe, you gotta repent, you gotta be willing to profess, but also as a part of that process, it's being baptized into Jesus Christ, into his death. In Galatians three, he uses the same terminology, verse twenty six and twenty seven. So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith. K? That everybody agrees faith is essential. For all of you who were, what, baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. In other words, that's how you put on Christ. That's how you get into Christ, and you are clothed with Christ. Now here's why that's so important.”

49s

#FaithThenBaptism

“it says clearly in scripture, baptism is connected to us being saved. If you look at Mark sixteen sixteen again, whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. So he makes it like matter of fact, if you believe, what would you do? You would be what? Baptized. There's no example in the New Testament of believers in Christ who didn't get baptized. Not a single example. You say, what about the thief on the cross? Well, that's before the new covenant is in place yet. That's not part of that process. After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, this is the process that's commanded in response to our faith in Jesus. But if you don't believe, you wouldn't be baptized anyway. There's no reason to be. It serves no purpose whatsoever.”

40s

#BaptismPartOfProcess

“You can't just dunk people out of the water and think that's gonna save people. And too many churches, all they count is baptism, but they don't count. Did they really have faith? Did they really repent of their sins? Right? Did they are they professing their faith? They it's not just about dunking people under the water. But it is a part of the process that's directly connected to coming to a place of faith and repentance and profession of your faith. Baptism is a part of that process that brings us into a right relationship with the father through our sins being removed, taken away from us, never to be held against us again.”

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