Celebrating New Life: The Journey of Faith

Today is a day of celebration, a day to lift our voices and hearts in worship, rejoicing in who God is and the new life He brings. We witnessed baptisms—outward expressions of an inward decision to follow Jesus—reminding us that faith is not just a private journey but a public declaration of belonging to Christ. Baptism is like putting on a team jersey, showing the world that we are committed to Jesus, much like a wedding ring symbolizes commitment in marriage. This adventure of following Jesus is filled with both joy and challenge, and we are called to hold the tension of both the hard and the good, trusting that God is present in every season.

As we walk this journey, we are not left to navigate it alone. Just as a guide is essential for an adventure in the wilderness, Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit as our guide. The Holy Spirit leads us into truth, comforts us, and reminds us of Jesus’ words. This guidance is not just for the first disciples but for all who choose to follow Jesus today. Alongside the Spirit, God has given us the Bible—a guidebook inspired and breathed out by God Himself. The Spirit and the Word work together: the Spirit helps us understand and apply Scripture, while the Bible grounds and confirms what the Spirit whispers to our hearts.

We are invited to cultivate a posture of listening, paying attention to the Spirit’s whispers, our questions, and the barriers that keep us from hearing. This is a communal journey, best lived out with others, but even when we feel alone, we are never truly by ourselves. God has chosen us, the Spirit is making us holy, and Jesus is shaping us through His love and sacrifice. Today, as we celebrate baptisms and new life, we are reminded that God’s presence is an open door, His promises are sure, and where His Spirit is, there is freedom.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward commitment to Jesus, much like a wedding ring or a team jersey. It does not make us Christians but publicly declares our decision to follow Christ, marking the beginning of a lifelong adventure with Him. This act is a powerful reminder to all of us to continually live out our faith with boldness and joy. [13:58]
• 2. The journey of following Jesus is filled with both joy and hardship, and we are called to hold the tension of both. God invites us to bring our grief and our celebration into His presence, trusting that He is at work in all circumstances. Embracing both the hard and the good is part of authentic faith and spiritual maturity. [11:20]
• 3. God has not left us to navigate life alone; He has given us the Holy Spirit as our guide. The Spirit leads us into truth, comforts us, and helps us discern the path ahead, much like a trusted guide in unfamiliar territory. This guidance is personal, ongoing, and available to every believer who seeks to listen. [20:12]
• 4. The Bible is our God-breathed guidebook, working in tandem with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit illuminates Scripture, helping us move from head knowledge to heart transformation and practical action. Likewise, Scripture grounds our spiritual experiences, ensuring that what we sense from the Spirit aligns with God’s revealed truth. [24:40]
• 5. Listening to the Holy Spirit is a learned practice that requires intentionality and community. We are invited to pay attention to the Spirit’s whispers, our questions, and the barriers we encounter, journaling our journey and sharing it with others. Even when God seems silent, we can trust that He is present, shaping us and leading us forward. [27:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:27] - Opening Worship: Celebrating New Life
• [06:58] - Community Welcome and Announcements
• [08:16] - Baptism Sunday: Why We Celebrate Together
• [10:41] - Holding the Tension: Joy and Hardship
• [12:43] - The Adventure of Following Jesus
• [13:20] - The Meaning of Baptism
• [15:12] - Life as an Adventure: The Need for a Guide
• [17:43] - Jesus’ Promise: The Holy Spirit as Our Guide
• [19:33] - The Spirit Guides Us Into Truth
• [22:10] - The Bible: Our Guidebook
• [24:00] - How the Spirit and the Word Work Together
• [26:32] - Practicing Listening: 40 Days of Paying Attention
• [29:03] - You Are Not Alone: God’s Presence in the Journey
• [32:09] - Stories of Faith: Baptism Testimonies
• [34:02] - Worship and Celebration: New Life in Christ
• [53:29] - Freedom in the Spirit: Continuing the Celebration
• [58:07] - Closing and Sending Forth

Bible Reading

John 16:5-13 (ESV) — > But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) — > All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Observation Questions

1. According to John 16, what does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will do for his followers after he leaves? [19:33]
2. In the sermon, what are some of the ways baptism is described as an outward sign of an inward decision? [13:58]
3. What does 2 Timothy 3:16-17 say about the purpose of Scripture in the life of a believer?
4. The sermon mentions that following Jesus is an adventure with both joy and hardship. What examples are given to illustrate this tension? [11:20]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might Jesus say it is “to your advantage” that he goes away and sends the Holy Spirit instead? How would this have sounded to the disciples? [18:17]
2. The sermon compares baptism to putting on a team jersey or a wedding ring. What does this suggest about the public nature of faith, and why might that be important? [13:58]
3. How do the Holy Spirit and the Bible work together in guiding a believer, according to both the sermon and the passages read? [24:40]
4. The sermon talks about “holding the tension” between joy and hardship. Why is it important for Christians to bring both their grief and their celebration to God? [11:20]

Application Questions

1. Baptism is described as a public declaration of faith, like putting on a team jersey. If you have been baptized, how did that experience impact your faith journey? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about it? [13:58]
2. The sermon encourages us to “hold the tension” of both the hard and the good in life. Think about a recent season of joy or hardship—how did you experience God’s presence in that time? Did you find it easy or hard to trust God in both? [11:20]
3. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as our guide. Can you recall a time when you sensed the Holy Spirit guiding, comforting, or prompting you? What did that look or feel like? [20:12]
4. The Bible is called our “God-breathed guidebook.” What is one way you can make reading or listening to Scripture a more regular part of your week? Is there a specific passage you want to focus on? [24:40]
5. The sermon suggests that listening to the Holy Spirit is a learned practice that requires intentionality. What are some practical steps you could take this week to pay attention to the Spirit’s whispers? (For example: journaling, quiet time, asking questions, or talking with a friend.) [27:12]
6. The pastor mentioned that this journey is best lived out with others, but even when we feel alone, God is with us. Who are some people you can invite into your faith journey for encouragement and accountability? [29:03]
7. The sermon says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Are there any areas in your life where you feel stuck or in need of freedom? How might you invite the Holy Spirit to work in those areas? [54:34]