Embracing Unity and Mission Through Baptism

Devotional

Day 1: Baptism as a New Beginning

Baptism is a profound act of obedience and a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. It symbolizes our identification with His death, burial, and resurrection, marking the beginning of a new life in Him. This outward expression of an inward change is a powerful testimony to the transformative power of Jesus in our lives. Mary Lynn Peter and Jonathan Vasquez's baptisms are beautiful examples of this commitment. Their decision to be baptized is a testament to their desire to follow Christ and live according to His teachings. This act of faith not only strengthens their personal relationship with Jesus but also serves as an inspiration to the entire church community. [04:56]

Romans 6:3-4 (ESV): "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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."

Reflection: Think about your own baptism or the moment you decided to follow Jesus. How has your life changed since then? What steps can you take today to deepen your commitment to Christ?

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Day 2: Unity in the Church

True unity goes beyond mere physical togetherness; it involves being of one heart and soul, as seen in the early church. This unity allows us to experience God's power and grace in extraordinary ways, leading to growth and the meeting of every need within the community. The early believers in Acts 4 exemplified this unity by sharing everything they had and supporting one another. This kind of unity is essential for the church to fulfill its mission effectively. When we are united in purpose and spirit, we can overcome any challenge and witness the transformative power of God in our midst. [40:14]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: Reflect on your role in fostering unity within your church. Are there any relationships that need healing or areas where you can contribute more to the community's unity? What practical steps can you take today to promote unity?

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Day 3: Supporting New Leadership

As the church transitions to new leadership, it is crucial to support the incoming pastor with love and encouragement. Each leader brings unique gifts and vision, and it is important to give them the freedom to lead as God directs. This support extends to the deacons, who will take on additional responsibilities during this time. Transition periods can be challenging, but they also offer opportunities for growth and renewal. By supporting new leadership, we ensure that the church continues to thrive and fulfill its mission. [36:17]

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (ESV): "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves."

Reflection: How can you actively support your new pastor and church leaders during this transition? Consider writing a note of encouragement or offering to help with specific tasks. What can you do today to show your support?

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Day 4: Focus on the Mission

Our primary mission is to be disciples and make disciples of Jesus Christ. This mission unites us and keeps us grounded in our purpose. By staying focused on this mission, we will continue to see God's power and grace at work in our church, leading to the salvation of many and the growth of our community. This focus helps us to prioritize our efforts and resources, ensuring that everything we do aligns with our ultimate goal of spreading the Gospel. [41:04]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to contribute to the mission of making disciples? Is there someone in your life who needs to hear about Jesus? How can you share the Gospel with them in a loving and effective way?

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Day 5: Experiencing God's Power and Grace

When the church is unified and focused on its mission, it experiences the power and grace of God in remarkable ways. This includes radical growth, the meeting of every need, and the salvation of many. God's power is most evident when His people are united in purpose and committed to His will. By working together and supporting one another, we create an environment where God's presence is felt, and His work is accomplished. [55:19]

Acts 4:33-34 (ESV): "And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold."

Reflection: Reflect on how you have experienced God's power and grace in your life and within your church community. What can you do to foster an environment where God's power and grace can be more fully experienced? How can you contribute to the growth and well-being of your church today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we celebrated the beautiful act of baptism, a powerful symbol of our faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. Mary Lynn Peter and Jonathan Vasquez publicly declared their faith through baptism, demonstrating their obedience to Christ's teachings and their desire to follow Him. This act of baptism is a testament to the transformative power of Jesus in our lives, symbolizing His death, burial, and resurrection.

We also took a moment to reflect on the importance of unity within our church. Unity is not just about being together physically but being of one heart and soul, as exemplified by the early church in Acts 4. The early believers were unified in purpose, sharing everything they had and supporting one another. This unity allowed them to experience the power and grace of God in extraordinary ways, leading to radical growth and the meeting of every need within the community.

As I prepare to transition out of my role as your pastor, I urge you to support the next leader with the same love and encouragement you have shown me. Remember, the new pastor will bring his own unique gifts and vision, and it is crucial to give him the freedom to lead as God directs him. Our deacons will also play a vital role during this transition, and I encourage you to support and pray for them as they take on additional responsibilities.

Finally, we must remain focused on our mission: to be disciples and make disciples of Jesus Christ. This mission unites us and keeps us grounded in our purpose. By staying unified and committed to this mission, we will continue to see God's power and grace at work in our church, leading to the salvation of many and the growth of our community.

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Key Takeaways

1. Baptism as a Symbol of Faith: Baptism is a profound act of obedience and a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. It symbolizes our identification with His death, burial, and resurrection, marking the beginning of a new life in Him. This outward expression of an inward change is a powerful testimony to the transformative power of Jesus in our lives. [04:56]
2. Unity in the Church: True unity goes beyond mere physical togetherness; it involves being of one heart and soul, as seen in the early church. This unity allows us to experience God's power and grace in extraordinary ways, leading to growth and the meeting of every need within the community. Unity is essential for the church to fulfill its mission effectively. [40:14]
3. Supporting New Leadership: As the church transitions to new leadership, it is crucial to support the incoming pastor with love and encouragement. Each leader brings unique gifts and vision, and it is important to give them the freedom to lead as God directs. This support extends to the deacons, who will take on additional responsibilities during this time. [36:17]
4. Focus on the Mission: Our primary mission is to be disciples and make disciples of Jesus Christ. This mission unites us and keeps us grounded in our purpose. By staying focused on this mission, we will continue to see God's power and grace at work in our church, leading to the salvation of many and the growth of our community. [41:04]
5. Experiencing God's Power and Grace: When the church is unified and focused on its mission, it experiences the power and grace of God in remarkable ways. This includes radical growth, the meeting of every need, and the salvation of many. God's power is most evident when His people are united in purpose and committed to His will. [55:19]
### [55:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:56] - Mary Lynn's Baptism
[06:34] - Jonathan's Baptism
[33:41] - Family Sunday and Children's Message
[34:43] - Mexico Mission Church Update
[35:31] - Transition and New Leadership
[36:17] - Supporting the New Pastor
[37:40] - Role of Deacons
[38:16] - Importance of Unity
[40:14] - Unity in the Early Church
[41:04] - Focus on the Mission
[42:40] - Acts 4:32-37
[45:31] - Power of Unity
[55:19] - Experiencing God's Power
[61:44] - Knowing God's Grace
[65:26] - Reaching the Lost
[69:37] - Jesus' Prayer for Unity
[74:02] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does baptism symbolize according to the sermon? ([04:56])
How did the early church in Acts 4 demonstrate unity? ([42:40])
What role do the deacons play during the church's transition to new leadership? ([37:40])
What is the primary mission of the church as emphasized in the sermon? ([41:04])

Interpretation Questions

How does the act of baptism serve as a public declaration of faith and obedience to Jesus Christ? ([04:56])
In what ways did the unity of the early church in Acts 4 lead to the experience of God's power and grace? ([42:40])
Why is it important to support new leadership with love and encouragement during a transition period? ([36:17])
How does focusing on the mission of making disciples help maintain unity within the church? ([41:04])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own baptism or the baptisms you have witnessed. How did it impact your faith journey or the faith journey of others? ([04:56])
What are some practical ways you can contribute to the unity of your church community, especially during times of transition? ([36:17])
How can you support and pray for your church's deacons as they take on additional responsibilities? ([37:40])
Identify one specific way you can stay focused on the mission of making disciples this week. How will you implement it? ([41:04])
Think of a time when you experienced God's power and grace in your life. How did unity with other believers play a role in that experience? ([55:19])
How can you encourage and support the new pastor in their unique vision and leadership style? ([36:17])
What steps can you take to ensure that your personal preferences do not hinder the unity and mission of the church? ([41:45])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The moment we place our faith and our trust in Christ as our Lord and Savior, we're saved. We're sealed. We begin that process of sanctification. But there's an outward way that we can identify with other Christians and with our Lord. We're identifying with His death and His burial, but also with His resurrection." [04:56] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I've just been so excited. I've been telling everybody that I can about God, isn't that proof that God's working in somebody's life? And likewise, Manor, Jonathan, I know you're a Christian based on the things that you've told me you believe, and today, that's just an honor to be able to baptize you." [06:34] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Our mission is to be disciples and to make disciples of Jesus Christ. If nothing else, we can definitely be unified on that today. Right, church? Okay. So when the building grounds comes in and they say, we've got to order new carpet, we've got to be careful that we order new carpet. We don't get all upset about preferences on the color, or the style of carpet, or the date of installation, or which company's going to do it, that we forget in the grand scheme of things, carpet is not even necessary to being disciples and making disciples of Jesus Christ." [41:04] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The greatest miracle in all the Bible is that God would take a sinner destined to spend eternity separated from Him in hell. To take a person who is lost in darkness without life and to give them instead new purpose. Give them life. Put light into their life. That He would take a person who was once dead and make them alive. That's the greatest miracle. A spiritual rebirth. And don't you ever forget it, church." [58:29] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The gospel message is so simple. It says this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. I know you've told lies. I know you've taken things or taken credit for things that you shouldn't have. I know that you have done things that don't measure up to God's perfect law. I know that because the Bible says that everybody has done that. I also know that the Bible says that because we don't meet God's perfect standard, we don't deserve to spend eternity in heaven with Him. We don't deserve heaven. But the good news is that even though we're sinners, Jesus died for us." [01:11:12] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "There can be union without unity. And they give an example. Tie two cats together by their tails and throw them over a clothesline. Is that the kind of relationship that you would want to be in? You wouldn't want to be anywhere near it. It is so important that we have unity in our lives. I would say that it is impossible to achieve harmony in your marriage, in any relationship, even within our church, if we don't have unity." [39:02] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Unity is not where we round everybody up and steer them in the same direction. Unity is when God's Spirit has control of everyone and moves them in the same direction. We become as one. Secondly today, and this flows out of the fact that they were unified, the church knew the power of God. They knew it. I mean they experienced it, they felt it, they witnessed it, they saw it, they operated in it. They knew all about it." [54:52] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The early church was unified. Everyone. Now I don't think we need to skip over, where it says the full number of those who believed. The Bible does not say, that all these great things began to happen because, the leadership was unified. Because the deacons were unified. Because people of a certain age group were unified. Of a certain political party were unified. A certain demographic. People from a certain region. It just says the full number of those who believed. It means every believer was, of the same heart, and the same soul." [44:54] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We have other things that are even less significant than the carpet, and we get all rustled up and all upset, we get mad, and we start at each other, and we don't realize in that moment we have become not an agent of Jesus Christ, but an agent of the evil one. We are standing in opposition to unity that God's called us to. A unity that sacrifices preferences that don't matter, that never, not a unity that ever steps away from the truth of God's word, but a unity that keeps us focused on our foundation of Jesus and building on that." [41:45] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The church began to know the power of God and they experienced radical, radical growth. The church started in the upper room and eventually it moved to every room in Jerusalem. There was not a family that was not affected by this move of Christianity. Even the unbelievers were affected. It shook their world. I don't see Christianity today shaking the world. But I believe it's because Christians are not one heart and one soul the way that we ought to be." [57:16] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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