Celebrating New Life: The Power of Baptism

Devotional

Day 1: New Creation in Christ—The Old Has Gone, the New Has Come

Baptism is a powerful symbol of the new life that Jesus offers to all who believe in Him. When someone steps into the waters of baptism, it is a public declaration that the old self, with its past mistakes and sins, has been left behind, and a new identity in Christ has begun. This transformation is not just a fresh start, but a spiritual rebirth—what Jesus described as being “born again.” The act of baptism marks a spiritual birthday, a moment to remember that in Christ, you are made new, forgiven, and welcomed into God’s family. [29:10]

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: What is one area of your life where you need to let go of the “old” and embrace the new identity Christ has given you? How can you mark this change today?

Day 2: Baptism—A Bold Response to Jesus’ Sacrifice

Baptism is not just a ceremony; it is a courageous response to the love and sacrifice of Jesus. Just as Jesus endured the cross publicly for the sake of the world, baptism is a public act of obedience and gratitude, declaring, “If He did that for me, I can do this for Him.” It is a moment to set aside fear or awkwardness and step forward in faith, knowing that Jesus calls each of us to follow Him openly and without shame. [30:58]

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.

Reflection: Is there a step of faith you’ve been hesitant to take because of fear or discomfort? What would it look like to boldly say “yes” to Jesus today?

Day 3: The Power of Scripture in Leading to Faith

The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch shows how God uses Scripture to open hearts and lead people to faith in Jesus. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do for someone is simply to read the Bible with them, trusting that God’s Word will do its work. The Holy Spirit often orchestrates these moments, sending people like Philip to help others understand the good news. As you engage with Scripture, remember that God may be preparing you to help someone else encounter Christ. [32:47]

Acts 8:26-39 (ESV)
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Reflection: Who is someone in your life you could invite to read Scripture with you this week? Pray for an opportunity to share God’s Word with them.

Day 4: Baptism—A Symbol of Salvation and Belonging

Baptism is a visible sign of salvation, much like Noah’s ark was a place of rescue and safety. The water does not magically remove sin, but it symbolizes being brought into God’s saving grace and protection. Just as those in the ark were saved from the flood, those who are baptized are declaring their desire to be “in Christ,” safe from judgment and united with Him. It is also a pledge—a commitment to walk with a clear conscience and to live in the power of Jesus’ resurrection. [41:02]

1 Peter 3:21 (ESV)
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Reflection: How does remembering your baptism (or considering baptism) encourage you to live with a clear conscience and a sense of belonging in Christ today?

Day 5: The Church—Supporting and Celebrating New Life Together

Baptism is not just a personal milestone; it is an entry into the community of faith. The church is called to support, encourage, and disciple those who are baptized, walking alongside them as they grow in Christ. This shared commitment is a reminder that no one follows Jesus alone—we are called to be a family that celebrates, prays for, and invests in one another’s spiritual journey. As a church, our greatest calling is to make room for more people to encounter Jesus and to rejoice together as lives are transformed. [47:24]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can encourage or support someone in your church family this week as they take steps in their faith?

Sermon Summary

Tonight, we gathered as a church family to celebrate a profound milestone: the baptism of eight individuals, each stepping into the waters as a public declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism is not just a ceremony or a tradition; it is a powerful symbol of new birth, echoing the words of Scripture: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone, the new is here.” This act is a visible sign of an inward transformation, a second birthday marking the beginning of a new life in Christ. Just as Jesus told Nicodemus, we must be born again—not of flesh, but of the Spirit.

Reflecting on the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, we see how God orchestrates moments of faith. The eunuch’s question, “What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” challenges us to consider not why we should be baptized, but why we wouldn’t. Baptism is a response to the good news of Jesus, a step of obedience, and a public confession that echoes through eternity. It is not the water that saves, but what it represents: the cleansing from sin and the pledge of a clear conscience toward God, made possible by the resurrection of Jesus.

Heaven plays an active role in every story of faith. Just as God sent Philip to the eunuch, so too has He sent people into each of our lives—parents, friends, teachers—to help us understand the gospel. Our response should be one of deep gratitude, recognizing that belief is always a gift from above. The power of Scripture is central in leading people to Christ; often, the most transformative thing we can do is simply read the Bible with someone and let God’s Word do its work.

Baptism is also a call to community. Those who are baptized are not meant to walk alone; the church is called to support, disciple, and encourage them as they grow in faith. As we witnessed these baptisms, we were reminded of our own journey and the ongoing mission to make room for more in God’s family. Just as Noah’s ark was a place of salvation, so too is life in Christ—a safe haven from judgment and a promise of new beginnings.

Tonight, we rejoice with those who have taken this step, and we recommit ourselves to the work of sharing the gospel, supporting one another, and filling heaven with the redeemed. May we never tire of investing our lives in what matters most: leading people to Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. Baptism as a Second Birth and Public Declaration Baptism is not merely a ritual but a profound symbol of being born again—a second birthday that marks the beginning of a new life in Christ. It is a public declaration that the old self has died and a new creation has emerged, echoing Jesus’ call to be born of the Spirit. This act is a visible testimony to the transformative power of the gospel and a reminder that following Jesus is a step of obedience and faith. [29:10]
2. The Better Question: Why Not Be Baptized? The Ethiopian eunuch’s story in Acts 8 reframes the question from “Why should I be baptized?” to “Why shouldn’t I?” When confronted with the truth of Jesus, the natural response is to step forward in faith. Baptism is not about the water or the ceremony, but about responding to Christ’s invitation and publicly aligning oneself with Him, regardless of personal hesitation or fear. [34:56]
3. Heaven’s Initiative in Our Faith Journey Faith is never a solo endeavor; it is always initiated by God. Just as the angel sent Philip to the eunuch, God orchestrates people and circumstances in our lives to draw us to Himself. Recognizing this should lead us to humility and gratitude, knowing that our belief is a result of divine intervention and the faithful witness of others sent by God. [36:18]
4. The Transformative Power of Scripture in Evangelism The story of the eunuch highlights the central role of Scripture in leading people to Christ. Rather than relying on persuasive arguments or pressure, inviting others to read and explore the Bible together allows God’s Word to speak for itself. This approach honors the Spirit’s work and often leads to genuine, lasting faith. [37:56]
5. Baptism as a Call to Community and Lifelong Discipleship Baptism is not the end of the journey but the beginning of life in the body of Christ. The church is called to support, disciple, and encourage those who are baptized, ensuring they are not left to walk alone. Our mission is to make room for more in God’s family, investing our lives in prayer, service, and evangelism so that heaven may be filled with those who have found new life in Christ.

** [41:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:10] - Baptism as a Second Birthday
[30:58] - Overcoming Hesitation: Why Not Now?
[32:47] - The Ethiopian Eunuch’s Story
[33:54] - The Good News and Immediate Response
[34:56] - Why Not Be Baptized?
[36:18] - Heaven’s Role in Faith
[37:56] - The Power of Scripture in Salvation
[39:57] - Being Sent Like Philip
[41:02] - Baptism and the Ark: Symbolism of Salvation
[42:00] - Public Confession and Jesus’ Promise
[47:24] - Baptism Stories: Herschel
[49:07] - Baptism Stories: Griffin
[51:52] - Baptism Stories: Anna
[54:14] - Baptism Stories: Jarex
[55:23] - Worship and More Baptisms
[66:07] - Baptism Stories: Celine and Jack
[70:47] - Burning the Ships: No Turning Back
[74:17] - Closing Reflections and Call to Mission

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1. 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.

2. Acts 8:26–39 (ESV) — > Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

3. Romans 6:4 (ESV) — > We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Observation Questions

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, what does Paul say happens to someone who is “in Christ”?
According to Acts 8, what role did Philip play in the Ethiopian eunuch’s journey to faith and baptism? [32:47]
What question did the Ethiopian eunuch ask when he saw water, and how did Philip respond? [33:54]
In Romans 6:4, what does Paul say baptism symbolizes for believers?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon described baptism as a “second birthday” and a public declaration of faith. Why is it important for this new beginning to be public and celebrated by the church community? [29:10]
The Ethiopian eunuch asked, “What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” How does this question challenge the way people sometimes think about baptism or delay it? [33:54]
The sermon emphasized that faith is always initiated by God, and that God sends people into our lives to help us understand the gospel. How does this shape the way we view our own faith stories and the people who influenced us? [36:18]
The story in Acts 8 shows the power of simply reading Scripture with someone. Why might reading the Bible together be more effective than trying to convince someone with arguments? [37:56]

Application Questions

The sermon compared baptism to a second birthday and encouraged the church to celebrate it. If you have been baptized, do you remember your baptism as a “second birthday”? How could you mark or remember that day in a meaningful way? [29:10]
The Ethiopian eunuch’s question was not “Why should I be baptized?” but “Why shouldn’t I?” Are there any hesitations or fears that have kept you or someone you know from being baptized? What would it look like to move past those barriers? [34:56]
The sermon talked about how God sends people—parents, friends, teachers—into our lives to help us understand the gospel. Who are the people God used in your life to help you know Jesus? Have you ever thanked them or shared your story with them? [36:18]
The pastor suggested that one of the most powerful things we can do is simply invite someone to read the Bible with us. Is there someone in your life you could invite to read Scripture with you? What might be a first step? [37:56]
Baptism is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of life in the church. How can our small group or church better support and encourage those who are newly baptized? Are there specific ways you can reach out to someone who is new in their faith? [41:02]
The sermon used the image of Noah’s ark as a place of salvation and safety. In what ways does being part of the church feel like being in a “safe haven” for you? Are there ways you could help make the church a more welcoming place for others? [41:02]
The pastor closed by reminding the church that there is “no greater thing to invest our life in” than leading people to Jesus. What is one practical way you can invest in sharing the gospel or supporting someone’s faith journey this month? [01:14:17]

Sermon Clips

Baptism, friends, represents a second birth, a new birth, a new beginning. So I want to spend just a few moments with you thinking about this. Why should a person do this? Eight people from within our church have said, it's time for me to get in the water. The question is, why? [00:30:27]

Yeah, Tony, it might be a little awkward to stand in front of all those people, but I bet it was pretty awkward for Jesus to get on the cross in front of all of Jerusalem and his mother and everybody watching as well. And I said, good point, dad. Why not now? And he said, Tony, if he can do that for you, you can do this for him. [00:31:20]

When you hear about Jesus, when you know who he is and you hear his name and you hear the story that the eunuch asks the better question. I've heard people say in my life before, you know what? I don't need to do that because it's just a ceremony. You know what? It is just a ceremony. And there's nothing magic, you know, about the water that's in this little portable hot tub right here. But it is symbolic of something that Jesus offers every single human being that's ever lived. [00:35:08]

The cleansing of sin by the washing of this water symbolizes that powerful thing that he did for us on the cross in removing sin from us. It's symbolic. It doesn't magically remove sin from your body if you get into these waters. But I love the question. It sort of reminds me of what my dad said to me. Why wouldn't you do this? All that he's done for us, if he has said and he has commanded us. [00:35:39]

Sometimes Jesus needs to be able to reserve the right to say, do it because I said so. Doesn't he? He asked us to do it. So really, we don't really even need to ask why. If he said it's important, that would be good enough. But there's also good reasons that he wants us to have these milestone moments. [00:36:08]

Friends, if you're a Christian today, I hope that today reminds you of your own baptism. And I want to remind you that heaven always is the origin place of belief. And so it's meant to make us go, praise God that he included me, that he helped me understand what Jesus has done. [00:37:02]

If you were baptized once upon a time, maybe as a baby, maybe as a believer where you understood what you were doing, but if you believe in Jesus, you had help from heaven. And heaven sent people to you to make sure you could understand the story of Jesus. Maybe your grandparents, maybe your parents, maybe a Sunday school teacher, maybe a pastor. But we are not meant to say, I'm smarter than everybody else. What's wrong with the rest of the world? No, we are meant to just show gratitude and say, God, I'm so thankful that you included me. [00:37:32]

Maybe today could be a day that all of us would thank God in a fresh way for including us in what baptism represents. Now, also don't miss the role of scripture. Sometimes it's hard to know what to do with the people in our lives that don't yet believe in Jesus, right? [00:38:16]

I just wanted you to see that maybe the most powerful thing you could ever do for somebody that you love is just invite them to read the scriptures with you. That's what leads this Ethiopian eunuch to Christ. He's reading Isaiah, and he needs somebody to read it with him. The power of scripture, friends, is usually what leads people to believe in Jesus. [00:38:51]

Wouldn't you like to be Philip in this story? I want to be Philip in Boulder. I want heaven to tap me on the shoulder and say, Anthony, catch up with that chariot and listen to what that guy's reading, what that woman is reading. And then I would, I just love it when I get to explain the amazing identity of the person of Christ. [00:39:55]

So as I close here, I just want to make sure you understand the symbolism of this water. I went to that place in Cincinnati. There's a life -size ark. That's a picture as you're walking up. And it makes it really easy to believe, once you get in there and see life -size replicas of the animal kingdom, that it actually could have happened just as the Bible said. [00:40:12]

Friends, this water is meant to represent salvation. Not that it has magic in and of itself, but it's one of the most powerful ways that a human being can raise their hand and say, Father, put me on the ark. I don't want to experience any of your wrath. I want to be safe from all of that. I want to be close to you and in you. We just sang in Christ alone. I want to be in Christ. I want to be in the boat. [00:41:14]

Jesus has, he's made a promise friends, if you will publicly open up your mouth and not be ashamed to say my name, I'll call your name in front of all the angels. Now that's quite a promise. He has said that if you will open up your mouth confess with your mouth Jesus is lord and believe in your heart god raised him from the dead you'll be saved. [00:42:29]

The promise to them I've shared with each one of them is that what you do tonight will echo through eternity and Jesus will never forget it and he's made quite a promise to these eight individuals what you're doing in front of your friends publicly boldly I'm going to do it in heaven I'm going to call your name and say you come up here I get to introduce you to the angels now as one of my friends that's quite a promise friends. [00:43:02]

That story reminds me of what the scriptures promise anyone who is in Christ is a new creation old things are gone and new things have come behold the power of baptism. [00:44:49]

Remember Pinocchio, the Disney version? That little puppet gets carried away into every which direction. And I can get pulled away from remembering that baptizing people and watching people come to know Jesus is the greatest thing to devote your life to. And there are so many ways you can contribute. [01:23:05]

There's no greater thing to invest our life in as a church. To pray. The last illustration in my head: How many of you, when you go to like Waterworld, you kind of hope the crowd is small? Or if you go to like Disneyland, you kind of hope you time it on a day where there's not that many people there? You know what? Heaven is not like that. Meaning God wants it full. He wants to make room and to keep making room for one more person in the world while there's time. [01:23:41]

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