Baptism and Testimony Sunday!

Devotional

Day 1: Buried in Water, Raised in Praise

Finn stood waist-deep in the baptismal tank, hands clasped tight. The pastor asked if he believed Jesus was his Savior. “Yes,” he said. Water closed over him, then applause erupted. Across the room, Trenton wiped his eyes, waiting his turn. Baptism wasn’t a ritual—it was rebellion against silence. Each plunge declared, “Death couldn’t hold Jesus, and sin won’t hold me.” [46:30]

Jesus commanded baptism not to mark perfection but to proclaim surrender. The early church baptized new believers publicly, often in rivers or courtyards. Their wet clothes testified: “This one belongs to Christ.” God still uses ordinary water to announce eternal rebirth.

When did you last share your faith story? Baptism shouts what quiet gratitude whispers. Write down one moment God rescued you. Who needs to hear it this week?

“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.”
(Romans 6:4, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for the day you surrendered to Him. Ask for courage to tell your story.
Challenge: Text one person about your baptism date or spiritual birthday.

Day 2: Psalms in the Pew

Kenny gripped the mic, voice cracking. He thanked God for his daughter’s healed asthma. Three rows back, a woman whispered, “Amen.” Hands rose as others shared—a job found, a marriage restored. The room hummed with Psalm 105:1: “Make known among the nations what He has done.” [39:18]

God designed His people to be living testimonies. The Israelites rebuilt altars to remember deliverance. Paul urged believers to “teach and admonish one another” through stories. Every “God helped me” weakens despair’s grip.

Your testimony isn’t just for crusades. It’s for coffee shops and carpool lines. What miracle have you tucked away as “too small”?

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.”
(Psalm 105:1, NIV)

Prayer: Confess any hesitation to speak God’s works. Ask for eyes to see His daily interventions.
Challenge: Share one recent answer to prayer with a neighbor or coworker today.

Day 3: Broken Legs and New Cells

Corey lay under a tree, leg bent unnaturally. Paramedics stabilized him while his daughters prayed. In a hospital room, Naomi’s cells warred—old life fighting new. The church emailed both names, igniting a chain of intercession. [15:13]

Jesus never dismissed pain as “too minor.” He touched lepers, praised a widow’s coins, and noticed a bleeding woman’s brush against His robe. Your crisis matters because you matter to Him.

What ache feels too trivial to bring to God? His throne room has no “minor requests” sign.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them… And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.”
(James 5:14–15, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God for healing—physical or emotional—for yourself or someone on your heart.
Challenge: Call or visit someone facing illness. Read them James 5:14–15.

Day 4: Chickens Sold, Hearts Stirred

Rain soaked the youth group’s chicken fundraiser. Yet cars lined the street—families buying meals to send teens to camp. By dusk, only empty trays remained. The teens learned: God provides through His people’s hands. [13:55]

Service fuels thanksgiving. Nehemiah rebuilt walls with volunteers’ sweat. Jesus fed thousands through a boy’s lunch. Your time, skills, and casseroles become holy when offered to Him.

What task feels mundane that God might want to multiply?

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
(1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for someone who served you recently. Ask Him to show you where to labor today.
Challenge: Sign up for one church volunteer need (VBS, meals, etc.) before sundown.

Day 5: Emails to the Faithful

The pastor scanned the connection cards—prayers, VBS sign-ups, praises. He’d email the team later: “The Akins helped set chairs. Lois taught toddlers.” Gratitude flowed for unseen saints. [38:36]

Paul named Priscilla, Phoebe, and Epaphroditus—ordinary heroes. Your encouragement fuels others’ endurance. A text, note, or “I noticed” can be manna for weary servers.

Who in your life serves quietly, craving no spotlight?

“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you… Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for three people who serve your church or community.
Challenge: Email or call a church volunteer today. Name one specific way their work matters.

Sermon Summary

Colossians 3 sets the tone by calling God’s people to be thankful, to let the message of Christ dwell richly, and to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. That charge turns the gathering into a room full of teachers and singers, where psalms, hymns, and Spirit-given songs carry wisdom and gratitude. The fourfold confession of Jesus as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King names why this gratitude is not thin. The same God who redeemed then redeems now. The same Healer who touched bodies then is asked to touch bodies now.

Intercession takes its cues from that confession. Prayer carries Naomi through a hard medical road, steadies Corey and his family in the unknown, and asks care for Katie in treatment. Thanks is given for first responders and for doctors, because the Lord’s healing work often runs through faithful hands. Providence also shows up at street level. A rainy day did not keep God from providing for students heading to NTS camp. Chickens sold out and the Lord brought in what was needed to help fire up a new generation.

Testimony becomes a shared job. The mic gets turned over and the church is told, kindly, to keep it somewhere between “Jesus wept” and Psalm 119, because many have a story and time is short. That simple sharing obeys Psalm 105, which says to give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name, and make known among the nations what he has done. Gratitude for leaders and volunteers keeps surfacing, because ministry takes many hands. The body of Christ does the work together, and those many hands make space for many voices.

Baptism then puts the gospel on display. From nine years old to young adult, each one confesses Jesus as personal Savior and chooses believer’s baptism. The water does not create faith, but it does declare a clear yes. What the enemy intends for evil, God turns into good, and the public act draws a line in real time. The church gathers around, cheers them on, and asks the Lord to keep their yes steady for a lifetime. Mission never drops out of view. Travel mercies are sought for a brother serving in Haiti, and partners in the Dominican are lifted up, because the Lord has people in many places and is still reaching the nations.

Key Takeaways

1. Thanksgiving fuels word-filled worship [12:48] Gratitude is not a mood but a way of doing everything in Jesus’ name. When thanksgiving governs the heart, the message of Christ actually takes up residence and speaks through songs, Scripture, and wise admonition. That shared singing becomes real teaching because it is soaked in the word. Gratitude opens a congregation to be formed by Christ, not just entertained. [12:48]
2. God remains Healer then and now [13:55] Prayer trusts the same Lord who healed in the past to meet today’s fragile bodies and anxious families. Faith does not pretend certainty about outcomes, but it does ask boldly for peace, protection from infection, skill for caregivers, and mercy in pain. Dependence honors God by naming limits and asking for help. Healing, when it comes, often rides in with quiet courage and steady care. [13:55]
3. Testimony makes Jesus known publicly [39:18] Psalm 105 turns personal stories into proclamation, moving them from private relief to public praise. Telling what God has done stitches memory into mission and puts courage in others who are still waiting. Brief and honest witness keeps the attention on God’s action, not the storyteller’s polish. Over time, a community full of testimony becomes fluent in hope. [39:18]
4. Baptism announces a lifelong yes [45:38] The watery sign marks a person off as Christ’s, tying ordinary lives to Jesus’ death and rising. Confession with the mouth, before the church, builds a spine for confession in the world. The act is simple, but it teaches the body to cheer, pray, and walk with the newly declared. A public yes today trains a quiet yes tomorrow when no one is watching. [45:38]
5. The body carries ministry together [38:36] Shared leadership is not a luxury but the shape of the church. Many hands open many doors for praise, prayer, service, and mission. Gratitude for unseen labor keeps a congregation healthy and humble. When the church does the church’s work, the mic can move and the stories can multiply. [38:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:56] - Announcements and sign-ups
[12:48] - Prayer and Colossians 3 reading
[13:55] - Healing prayers and updates
[15:13] - Haiti travel and global workers
[15:49] - Anticipation for congregational praise
[25:26] - Testimony sharing instructions
[38:36] - Thanks for leaders and volunteers
[39:18] - Psalm 105 and public praise
[39:57] - Transition to baptisms
[45:38] - Finn’s confession and baptism
[46:30] - Margaret’s baptism
[48:30] - Trenton’s baptism
[51:12] - Taylor and Jacob introduced
[60:41] - Young adult baptisms
[61:29] - Closing prayer over the baptized

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV)
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Psalm 105:1-2 (ESV)
"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!"

Observation Questions

According to Colossians 3:16, how does gratitude connect to the way believers teach and sing together?
What specific examples of healing prayers and practical needs were mentioned in the sermon (e.g., Naomi’s medical journey, Corey’s accident)? [13:55]
How does Psalm 105:1-2 link personal stories of God’s faithfulness to public praise?
What practical instructions were given for sharing testimonies during the service (e.g., brevity, focus on God’s action)? [25:26]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Paul emphasize singing as a way to let Christ’s message “dwell richly” in believers (Colossians 3:16)? How does this differ from merely listening to a sermon?
The sermon described baptism as “declaring a clear yes” to Jesus. How does a public act like baptism strengthen both the individual and the church community? [45:38]
Psalm 105 says to “make known [God’s] deeds among the peoples.” How could sharing testimonies in a church setting prepare believers to share their faith beyond their community?
The sermon mentioned that healing “often rides in with quiet courage and steady care.” Why might God choose to work through ordinary means (e.g., doctors, caregivers) rather than only miraculous interventions? [13:55]

Application Questions

Gratitude is described as a way of life, not just a mood. What is one daily habit you could adopt to cultivate thankfulness in “whatever you do” (Colossians 3:17)?
Think of a time God answered a prayer or provided unexpectedly. How could you share that story briefly and clearly to encourage others this week? [39:18]
Baptism publicly declares faith in Jesus. Who in your life needs encouragement or prayer as they consider taking that step? How can you support them? [45:38]
The church body relies on “many hands” for ministry. What is one area of service (e.g., volunteering, prayer, encouragement) you feel called to step into, even if it’s unseen? [38:36]
The sermon highlighted praying for global workers and missionaries. How could you intentionally pray for or support someone serving in a difficult context this month? [15:13]
When facing a health crisis or uncertainty, the church prayed for peace, skill for caregivers, and mercy. Which of these do you need to prioritize asking God for in a current challenge?

Sermon Clips

Father, we thank you so much just for the songs we sang already and just that you are the same god, your healer, then your healer, now your savior, then your savior. Now all these things that are available to us. You know, Jesus, you're our savior, sanctifier, healer, coming king. We're excited to share, with some people in baptism, proclaiming that you're their savior and they're following you as part of the process to in believers' baptism. So we're excited for that this morning, Lord. We read in Colossians three, says, be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the spirit. [00:12:44] (38 seconds)

Lord, we lift up Corey Rosenberg right now, brother-in-law of the Akins and Handrich, who fell this morning while working on a tree about 20 feet, Lord. Possible broken leg and some cuts. So we just pray as he's probably at the hospital right now. Again, we're trusting you for for healer. We're trusting you for peace and comfort that only you can provide. We pray you'd be with his wife and his daughters, as they are in the unknown right now of what's happening or just not knowing what's the what's gonna happen. So let's just pray for the doctors that are they're overseeing that. We thank you for first responders, Lord, in this situation and all situations that they get there fast and and continue to provide work. [00:14:32] (41 seconds)

you for those that that shared. Alex and I are both thankful for we I think we thank you guys last week for when we hosted the district conference. It took many hands. They were very blessed by that. And that just makes me remember and think about all our leaders and volunteers that we have all throughout ministry. that we have all throughout ministry. Alex and I can't do it all on our own. So we have lots of staff, lots of volunteers that all make this run and, why we're able to stand up here, many of you, and and give praise and thanks to him. So I'd encourage you maybe just, send an email to the church email, and maybe we'll include some some praises in our weekly, email. If you still didn't hand in your thing, you wanna throw a praise on that and you're thankful for, we can include that in the emails we send out on Monday tomorrow. So let's pray, and then we'll move into a a special music song. [00:38:27] (46 seconds)

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