Celebrating Faith: The Power of Prayer and Baptism
Summary
### Summary
Over the past 28 days, our church has been deeply focused on prayer, emphasizing the importance of making it a daily practice. Our mission is to make disciples, spread the good news of Jesus, and baptize believers. Today, we celebrate this mission through the testimonies and baptisms of individuals who declare Jesus as their Lord. It's inspiring to see how God is working in various places, from local high schools to sports teams, and how faith is being lived out in everyday life.
We reflected on the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20, where Jesus commands us to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe His commands. This mission has been the cornerstone of our church since its inception in 1871, and it remains unchanged. Following Christ involves admitting our need for Him, believing in His death and resurrection, and confessing Him as Lord. Baptism is a public declaration of this faith, symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
We also discussed the significance of baptism, noting that while it doesn't save us, it is an act of obedience that pleases God. Baptism is a powerful testimony of our faith, and sometimes, miraculous things happen as a result. We shared the story of James Drain, who regained his sight after being baptized, illustrating that while physical healing is extraordinary, the greatest miracle is the transformation of our hearts.
Today, we witness Kevin's baptism, a beautiful representation of his new life in Christ. Kevin's journey of faith, from drifting away to experiencing a renewed commitment to Jesus, is a testament to God's transformative power. As we celebrate his baptism, we are reminded of the importance of obedience and the joy of living out our faith.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Daily Prayer and Mission: Prayer should be a daily focus, not just a seasonal emphasis. Our mission is to make disciples, spread the good news of Jesus, and baptize believers. This mission is lived out in various aspects of life, from schools to sports teams, showing that faith is active and pervasive. [01:07]
2. The Great Commission: Jesus' command in Matthew 28:18-20 is clear: we are to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe His commands. This mission has been the foundation of our church for over 150 years and remains our guiding principle. [04:31]
3. Admitting, Believing, and Confessing: Following Christ involves admitting our need for Him, believing in His death and resurrection, and confessing Him as Lord. This ABC approach simplifies the profound steps of faith and underscores the importance of personal commitment to Jesus. [06:24]
4. The Significance of Baptism: Baptism is a public declaration of faith, symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. While it doesn't save us, it is an act of obedience that pleases God and can sometimes lead to extraordinary experiences, as seen in the story of James Drain. [08:36]
5. Transformation Through Obedience: Kevin's journey of faith, from drifting away to a renewed commitment to Jesus, highlights the transformative power of obedience. Baptism is a powerful testimony of this transformation, representing the washing away of the old life and the beginning of a new one in Christ. [13:51]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - Faith in Everyday Life
[02:07] - Bold Stands for Christ
[02:58] - Living the Gospel
[03:47] - The Great Commission
[04:31] - Mission of the Church
[05:43] - Following Christ: ABCs
[06:24] - Believing and Confessing
[07:02] - Significance of Baptism
[07:50] - Baptism as Obedience
[08:36] - Jesus' Example of Baptism
[09:29] - Testimonies of Faith
[10:02] - Miracles and Baptism
[10:52] - Story of James Drain
[12:28] - Greatest Healing
[13:10] - Kevin's Baptism
[13:51] - Kevin's Journey of Faith
[14:54] - Symbolism of Baptism
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
> "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'"
2. Romans 10:9 (ESV)
> "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
> "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the key components of the Great Commission as described in Matthew 28:18-20? [04:31]
2. According to the sermon, what does the ABC approach to following Christ stand for? [06:24]
3. How does the story of James Drain illustrate the significance of baptism? [10:52]
4. What transformation did Kevin experience in his journey of faith, and how is it symbolized through baptism? [13:51]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is daily prayer emphasized as an essential practice for Christians, and how does it relate to the mission of making disciples? [01:07]
2. How does the Great Commission serve as a foundational mission for the church, and why is it important to maintain this focus? [04:31]
3. What does it mean to confess Jesus as Lord, and why is this confession significant in the life of a believer? [07:02]
4. In what ways can baptism be seen as both an act of obedience and a public declaration of faith? [08:36]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily prayer life. How can you make prayer a more consistent and integral part of your daily routine? [01:07]
2. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples of all nations. Identify one person in your life who you can share the gospel with this week. How will you approach this conversation? [04:31]
3. The ABC approach simplifies the steps of faith. Which of these steps (Admit, Believe, Confess) do you find most challenging, and why? How can you work on this area in your spiritual journey? [06:24]
4. Baptism is a public declaration of faith. If you have been baptized, how did it impact your faith journey? If you haven't, what is holding you back from taking this step? [08:36]
5. Kevin's story highlights the transformative power of obedience. Can you recall a time when obedience to God led to a significant change in your life? Share this experience with the group. [13:51]
6. The story of James Drain shows that miraculous things can happen through acts of faith. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a miracle? How did it affect your faith? [10:52]
7. How can you actively live out your faith in everyday situations, such as at work, school, or in your community? Share specific examples or ideas with the group. [02:58]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Daily Prayer and Mission
Description: Prayer is not just a seasonal activity but a daily practice that fuels our mission to make disciples, spread the good news of Jesus, and baptize believers. This mission is lived out in various aspects of life, from schools to sports teams, showing that faith is active and pervasive. When we commit to daily prayer, we align ourselves with God's will and become more attuned to His guidance in our everyday interactions. This daily focus on prayer and mission helps us to see opportunities to share our faith and live out the gospel in tangible ways. [01:07]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: Think about your daily routine. How can you incorporate intentional moments of prayer throughout your day to stay connected with God's mission for your life?
Day 2: Embracing the Great Commission
Description: Jesus' command in Matthew 28:18-20 is clear: we are to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe His commands. This mission has been the foundation of our church for over 150 years and remains our guiding principle. Embracing the Great Commission means actively seeking opportunities to share the gospel and disciple others, whether in our local communities or across the globe. It is a call to action that requires us to step out of our comfort zones and trust in God's power to work through us. [04:31]
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who does not know Jesus. How can you take a step this week to share the love of Christ with them?
Day 3: The ABCs of Following Christ
Description: Following Christ involves admitting our need for Him, believing in His death and resurrection, and confessing Him as Lord. This ABC approach simplifies the profound steps of faith and underscores the importance of personal commitment to Jesus. Admitting our need for Jesus means recognizing our own sinfulness and inability to save ourselves. Believing in His death and resurrection is the foundation of our faith, and confessing Him as Lord is a public declaration of our allegiance to Him. These steps are essential for anyone who desires to follow Christ and experience the transformative power of His love. [06:24]
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV): "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Reflection: Reflect on your own faith journey. Have you fully admitted, believed, and confessed Jesus as Lord? What steps can you take to deepen your commitment to Him today?
Day 4: The Significance of Baptism
Description: Baptism is a public declaration of faith, symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. While it doesn't save us, it is an act of obedience that pleases God and can sometimes lead to extraordinary experiences, as seen in the story of James Drain. Baptism serves as a powerful testimony of our faith and a visible representation of our new life in Christ. It is an outward expression of an inward transformation and a step of obedience that demonstrates our commitment to follow Jesus. [08:36]
Colossians 2:12 (ESV): "Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead."
Reflection: If you have not been baptized, what is holding you back from taking this step of obedience? If you have been baptized, how can you share the significance of this act with others?
Day 5: Transformation Through Obedience
Description: Kevin's journey of faith, from drifting away to a renewed commitment to Jesus, highlights the transformative power of obedience. Baptism is a powerful testimony of this transformation, representing the washing away of the old life and the beginning of a new one in Christ. Obedience to God's commands leads to spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Him. As we witness Kevin's baptism, we are reminded of the importance of obedience and the joy of living out our faith. [13:51]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you have been resisting obedience to God. What steps can you take today to surrender this area to Him and experience His transformative power?
Quotes
1. "We just think the mission, this coming to church on Sunday is not all there is to the mission. The mission is, man, going back and sharing Jesus and being a witness wherever we are. There's something that happened Thursday night that we're pretty proud of. The First Academy, a great place. And God's doing a lot of really good stuff at the First Academy right now." [02:07] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The point is, it's not the score of the game. It's the way you live your life. And this Noah. Noah is living faith. He's living the gospel. Just praying over somebody. Now, I've got to be honest, you know, 6'2", 295, I'll do whatever he asks me to do. You want to pray, Pastor? Yes, sir. Let's pray. Whatever you say. Did you know that's exactly what the mission of the church as Jesus says it is?" [03:47] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So here's what we believe. Since 1871, this church has existed. It was started in 1871 because, the mission was to share Jesus with Central Florida. All these years, over 150 years later, guess what? The mission is still share Jesus with Central Florida and show them how to follow Christ. It's the same mission. And my prayer is we never lose that mission." [05:43] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So what does it mean to follow Christ? Because today is a beautiful picture you're going to see of what that is all about. I'll make it real simple. Let's do our ABCs. A, admit you need Jesus. As long as you think you've got your life under control, it's not going to work. But there comes a moment you realize this isn't working. I need Jesus. I realize I'm a sinner. The Bible says that all of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I can't save myself, so what do I do? I need Jesus." [06:24] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Baptism doesn't save you. Baptism isn't because, well, if I get baptized, I'll never say another cuss word. Nope. Sorry. You're still going to struggle with sin. You're still going to have issues. So then what does baptism do? Jesus said to John, you need to baptize me because this is the way to fulfill righteousness. And that's a beautiful way he says it. It's like this is the way it's supposed to be. I want to be righteous. I mean, Jesus is saying, I want to show the way how to be righteous." [08:36] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "And you know what? When you're baptized, something happens. I just got to tell you. And I got to be careful with this, okay? I need to be very careful. I'm not saying that when you're baptized, you're going to receive some. Miracle. You might. I'm not saying that when you're baptized, all of a sudden, you're going to get that job you've been praying about. Or your income is going to double. I'm not saying that. I wouldn't dare say that. But I will tell you that when you're baptized, it pleases the Lord. And sometimes things happen." [10:02] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If Jesus chooses to heal you in that moment of baptism, that's awesome. But what you need to know, he already has healed you. The greatest healing you will ever receive is when Jesus changes your heart that was broken and messed up. And he gives you new life. The Bible says if any man is in Christ, he's a new creature. Old things are passed away. And guess what? All things are made new." [12:28] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "So, first of all, Kevin, come on up, man. Hey, give it up for Kevin. So, Kevin started attending in 2001. Is that right, Kevin? Yeah, right here. 2001. Did I get that date right? That's a long time. And then he kind of, as he said, just slacked off and whatever. But then all of a sudden, how long ago? You all of a sudden started realizing? About two years ago. And God began to stir in him. Yeah, a different man. It happens. And today, he's going to show us a picture of that." [13:51] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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