Faith, Family, and the Power of Baptism

Devotional

Day 1: The Role of Faith Community

Our faith journey often begins with our biological families but extends to a broader faith community. This community is not just about shared beliefs but about being connected to God and each other. It is within this context that we experience and learn about God's incredible love for us. The faith community supports us, encourages us, and helps us grow in our relationship with God. It is a place where we can share our joys and struggles, knowing that we are not alone.

In a faith community, we find people who will pray for us, hold us accountable, and walk with us through life's challenges. This community is a tangible expression of God's love and care for us. It reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves and that we have a role to play in God's kingdom. [18:18]

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: Think of a time when your faith community supported you in a significant way. How can you be that support for someone else in your community this week?

Day 2: Baptism as a Divine Act

Baptism is more than a ritual; it is a divine act where God marks us as His own. It symbolizes the cleansing power of Jesus' blood, which washes away our sins, and signifies our entry into a covenant relationship with God. This relationship calls for our active participation and response. Baptism is a public declaration of our faith and commitment to follow Jesus. It is a moment of profound spiritual significance, where we acknowledge God's claim on our lives and our desire to live for Him.

Through baptism, we are reminded of God's grace and mercy. It is a powerful symbol of our new identity in Christ and our inclusion in the family of God. As we witness baptisms, we are reminded of our own baptism and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [20:32]

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: Reflect on your own baptism or a baptism you have witnessed. How does this sacrament remind you of your identity in Christ and your commitment to follow Him?

Day 3: Faith Over Fear

The story of Jesus calming the storm teaches us about the importance of faith over fear. The disciples' fear during the storm revealed their lack of trust in Jesus' presence. Jesus calls us to a bold faith that trusts in Him even in the midst of life's storms, recognizing that His presence makes a difference. When we face challenges and uncertainties, it is easy to be overwhelmed by fear. However, Jesus invites us to trust in His power and presence, knowing that He is with us and will see us through.

Faith over fear means choosing to believe in God's promises and His ability to work all things for our good. It means surrendering our anxieties to Him and allowing His peace to guard our hearts and minds. [49:30]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Identify a current fear or anxiety in your life. How can you actively choose to trust Jesus in this situation and experience His peace?

Day 4: God's Unfailing Presence

Even when we falter in our faith, God does not abandon us. Jesus' interactions with His disciples, even when they failed to stay awake in Gethsemane, show that He convicts but does not condemn. He calls us to get up, fix our eyes on Him, and keep going, trusting in His unfailing presence. God's presence is a constant source of comfort and strength, reminding us that we are never alone.

In moments of doubt or failure, we can take heart knowing that God's love for us is unwavering. He is patient with us, guiding us back to Him and encouraging us to persevere in our faith journey. [56:45]

Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV): "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt distant from God. How did you experience His presence and guidance during that time? How can you remind yourself of His unfailing presence today?

Day 5: Living Out Our Faith

Faith is not just about what we believe or confess; it is about living out those beliefs in every aspect of our lives. This means recognizing Jesus' presence in our daily lives and allowing that presence to guide and sustain us through all circumstances. Living out our faith involves practical actions that reflect our commitment to Jesus, such as loving our neighbors, serving others, and seeking justice.

Our faith should be evident in how we treat others, how we make decisions, and how we respond to challenges. It is a continuous journey of growing in our relationship with God and allowing His Spirit to transform us. [01:00:26]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: Consider one specific area of your life where you can more fully live out your faith. What practical steps can you take this week to demonstrate your commitment to Jesus in that area?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to witness and celebrate the public profession of faith and baptism of Kathleen and Brett, along with their children, Emberly and Mason. This moment is a profound reminder of the importance of community and family in our faith journey. It begins with our biological families who introduce us to faith, but it extends to our faith family, a community connected not just by shared beliefs but by our relationship with God. Baptism symbolizes God's claim on us, marking us as His own and reminding us of the cleansing power of Jesus' blood, which washes away our sins. This sacrament is a divine act where God initiates a covenant relationship, calling us to respond with faith and commitment.

Kathleen and Brett's journey to this day has been marked by God's faithfulness and their own commitment to follow Him. Their public profession of faith is a testament to God's enduring love and their desire to live out their faith in community. As they answered the four questions affirming their belief in Jesus Christ, the Bible, and their commitment to the church, they also promised to raise their children in the faith, relying on the Holy Spirit and the support of the Christian community.

The story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4 was also shared, illustrating the importance of faith over fear. The disciples, despite witnessing Jesus' miracles and teachings, were filled with fear during the storm. Jesus rebuked their fear, calling them to a bold faith that trusts in His presence even in the midst of life's storms. This story challenges us to live out our faith courageously, recognizing that Jesus is with us in every situation, guiding and sustaining us.

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Key Takeaways

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2. Baptism as a Divine Act: Baptism is more than a ritual; it is a divine act where God marks us as His own. It symbolizes the cleansing power of Jesus' blood, which washes away our sins, and signifies our entry into a covenant relationship with God. This relationship calls for our active participation and response.

3. Faith Over Fear: The story of Jesus calming the storm teaches us about the importance of faith over fear. The disciples' fear during the storm revealed their lack of trust in Jesus' presence. Jesus calls us to a bold faith that trusts in Him even in the midst of life's storms, recognizing that His presence makes a difference.

4. God's Unfailing Presence: Even when we falter in our faith, God does not abandon us. Jesus' interactions with His disciples, even when they failed to stay awake in Gethsemane, show that He convicts but does not condemn. He calls us to get up, fix our eyes on Him, and keep going, trusting in His unfailing presence.

5. Living Out Our Faith: Faith is not just about what we believe or confess; it is about living out those beliefs in every aspect of our lives. This means recognizing Jesus' presence in our daily lives and allowing that presence to guide and sustain us through all circumstances.

### [18:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[18:18] - The Importance of Faith Community
[19:28] - God's Desire for Relationship
[20:32] - Baptism as a Divine Act
[21:23] - Covenant Relationship and Response
[22:39] - Four Questions of Faith
[23:43] - Kathleen and Brett's Profession of Faith
[24:52] - Brett's Faith Journey
[25:58] - Welcoming to Full Communion
[26:49] - Baptism of Emberly and Mason
[27:36] - Congregation's Commitment
[28:20] - Baptism Ceremony
[29:34] - Presentation of Gifts
[30:24] - Children's Message
[35:21] - Night Light Analogy
[44:58] - Jesus Calms the Storm
[49:30] - Faith Over Fear
[56:45] - God's Unfailing Presence
[60:26] - Living Out Our Faith
[62:28] - Prayer and Song
[63:50] - Parting Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In the story of Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41), what was the reaction of the disciples when the storm hit? How did Jesus respond to their fear? [49:30]
What are the four questions of faith that Kathleen and Brett answered during their public profession? [22:39]
According to the sermon, what does baptism symbolize and signify in the life of a believer? [20:32]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the disciples were so afraid during the storm despite having witnessed Jesus' miracles and teachings? What does this reveal about their faith? [49:30]
How does the story of Jesus calming the storm challenge us to live out our faith courageously in the midst of life's storms? [49:30]
What does it mean to "fix our eyes on Jesus" as mentioned in Hebrews 12:1-3, and how can this practice impact our daily lives? [24:52]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by a "storm" in your life. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently now, knowing that Jesus is with you? [49:30]
Kathleen and Brett made a public profession of faith and committed to raising their children in the faith. How can you support and encourage families in your faith community to do the same? [22:39]
Baptism is described as a divine act where God marks us as His own. How does this understanding of baptism influence your view of your own baptism or the baptism of others? [20:32]
The sermon emphasized the importance of a faith community. How can you actively contribute to building and strengthening your faith community? [18:18]
Jesus rebuked the disciples for their fear and called them to a bold faith. What steps can you take to cultivate a bold faith that trusts in Jesus' presence, even in difficult situations? [49:30]
The sermon mentioned that God convicts but does not condemn us. How can this truth help you deal with feelings of guilt or failure in your spiritual journey? [56:45]
Living out our faith means recognizing Jesus' presence in our daily lives. Identify one specific area of your life where you can be more mindful of Jesus' presence and allow it to guide your actions. [01:00:26]

Sermon Clips

1. "At the heart of it, it's about who we are with God and who that God is with us. And that makes it about. It's about a faith family that isn't just connected to each other, about some religious things that we may agree on or share. It's about us being connected with each other to this God. And it's in that context that we discover and learn what it means, this incredible love that God has for people." [19:28] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Baptism is a way in which God marks us. He marks us as his family, where he promises to be our God and reminds us that he will be at work in our lives through the Holy Spirit, which takes up residence in our hearts, as the way we describe it. Part of God's way of making this relationship work." [20:32] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Faith does not hide from the storms. It does not try to rationalize them away. Faith stares right into the face of all storms and then says, but I also see Jesus and I trust him to care for me. And so we confess that Jesus does not necessarily deliver us from the storm, but Jesus delivers us through the storm they will come." [01:00:26] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus wakes up, hears their question, rebukes the wind and the waves with a word about peace and quiet, and then it gets more interesting. Because Jesus' first question to them is not about their faith, it's about their fear. And the word Jesus uses here is the Greek word deloi. It's a word that's rarely used in the New Testament, and what it makes stands out is not just what it means, which I'll get to in a minute, but the fact that the far, more common word for fear, phobeo, from which we get our word phobia and the like from, is not the word that's used." [51:12] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If faith is what you live with Jesus in your boat, and not just what you confess, then we might see why Jesus connects deloi, fear, with not having faith, which is about following. And it's the kind of thing that happens when we don't confess, or when we don't connect what we confess with the reality that Jesus is not just out on the mountains teaching, or in the churches being proclaimed. The reality is having Jesus in the boat, our boat, with us." [53:00] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Jesus does not go to them and return their question and ask, do you not care that I am about to die and suffer hell? Nor is Jesus cowardly in what he faces. Jesus keeps going on the journey to the cross because it's them he cares about. But Jesus does rebuke them, like he did in the boat, and he asks them, could you not stay awake with me even for one hour? But what's striking is that while rebuking, what Jesus doesn't do, and what we don't hear Jesus doing with his people, is he doesn't condemn them. He convicts them, but he doesn't condemn them. And he doesn't abandon them." [56:45] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God wants us and not just our behavior. But we have to be clear on what that means, because it will not be the same if Jesus is in the boat. Even if it seems like he is sleeping, it means being aware that the one who created the world is in the boat. It means that the one who created the world is in the boat. It means that the one who created the world and controls the forces of nature and has overcome sin and even overcome death, that that one is there and we are to fix our eyes on him in every part and every step of the walk of our life, no matter what those steps may be." [58:28] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Faith is not simply about the things you learn, the things you believe. As we noted last week, it's about living with Jesus and having Jesus live with you. Having Jesus not just in the safe place of a sanctuary where you can say and do things, but having Jesus in your boat, which means out on the water if you ever go, or at your workplace, or in your bedroom, or in the classroom." [49:30] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "And so we confess that Jesus does not necessarily deliver us from the storm, but Jesus delivers us through the storm they will come. Our health, death, or the threat of death, brokenness in relationship, economic concern that may be personal or more personal, the fear, the fear even of, if I can use that phrase, of missing the boat with Jesus. And you can fill in the blank. But Jesus is with us. And the question is, do I know who he is? And will I live the faith which he calls me to live?" [01:00:26] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "God never sends us out into the world with a little good luck message or a pat on the back hoping it goes okay. God sends us out into the world with a blessing and promises to go with us as we heard again this morning. And so we receive that blessing from God. The God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will. And may he work in us that which is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. And we say, Amen." [01:03:50] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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