Becoming Like Jesus: Time with Him, Baptism, Mission

Jun 28, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Wearing Down Granite Through Daily Surrender

The slow erosion of water cutting through stone mirrors how Christ shapes believers through consistent time together. Just as Yosemite’s falls carve granite over centuries, Jesus spent months with his disciples in Judea’s wilderness—not rushing miracles but deepening relationship. Spiritual transformation isn’t instant oatmeal but a lifelong journey of abiding. Moses’ glowing face after meeting God shows how proximity to Christ changes us imperceptibly. True discipleship requires showing up daily, not chasing spiritual shortcuts. [44:18]

“Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai…the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him…but Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone.” (Exodus 34:29-30, NASB)

Reflection: What daily rhythm could you establish to sit with Jesus longer? How might your hurriedness be resisting His patient sculpting of your heart?

Day 2: Baptism’s Gritty Confession at Death’s Doorstep

Jesus baptized near the Dead Sea’s edge—the lowest point on earth—to declare hope for those drowning in sin. Like the thief on the cross, baptism shouts “I’m His” even when life feels irredeemable. This public plunge isn’t about getting clean but admitting we’re dirty, like prisoners finding freedom through prison ministry. The Jordan’s current still calls believers to die daily, trading stagnant self-sufficiency for resurrection flow. [12:35]

“Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…’” (Acts 2:38, NASB)

Reflection: When did you last grieve over sin like Kay wept for hippies? What deadness in others’ lives stirs you to offer living water?

Day 3: Sheep Smell and Shepherd’s Presence

Fellowship isn’t coffee hour—it’s tracking the Shepherd through His flock’s trail. Early believers met daily, not for programs but to encounter Christ together. Like Moses needing Aaron, we need others to notice God’s glow on our faces. Isolation hardens hearts; shared meals soften them. True koinonia happens when two gather around Jesus, not just potluck tables. [58:05]

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42, NASB)

Reflection: Who in your circle needs you to “smell like sheep” this week? When has community kept your heart from callusing?

Day 4: Prayer’s Arrhythmia and Heaven’s Rhythm

Jesus’ predawn prayers weren’t divine nagging but heart synchronization. Like Moses’ mountain conversations, prayer realigns our chaotic pulses with God’s steady beat. The transfiguration reveals prayer’s power to metamorphose—not by our eloquence but through exposure to Glory. Kay’s beachside tears birthed revival because prayer isn’t a wishlist but a transfusion. [51:13]

“But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your faithfulness in the morning…” (Psalm 59:16, NASB)

Reflection: What spiritual arrhythmia keeps you from praying like oxygen? How might morning whispers reshape your day’s heartbeat?

Day 5: Lifeboat 14 and Unclenched Hands

Disciples didn’t just watch Jesus baptize—they got wet helping others surface. Like Philip sprinting to the Ethiopian’s chariot, mission starts when we release self focus. The Dead Sea dies by hoarding; Galilee lives by releasing. Pearl gates remind us Christ turns irritations into beauty through time. Our hands become His when we stop writing tickets to the dead. [36:36]

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19, NASB)

Reflection: When did you last pull someone from drowning waters? What “treasure” are you clutching that Jesus wants to multiply through open hands?

Sermon Summary

John sets the scene with a small line that carries a lot of weight: Jesus came into Judea, spent time with his disciples, and was baptizing. The Spirit does not write filler. That one verse lays out Jesus’ discipleship plan in two verbs. First, Jesus lingers with his people. Then, Jesus leads his people into mission.

Jesus calls disciples not to like him, but to become like him. Matthew says it plain: it is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher. John insists that anyone who claims to abide in Christ ought to walk as he walked. Romans 8:29 brands the target on every believer’s life. The Father is conforming his children into the image of his Son. That does not happen by microwave. It happens by time. The term John uses pictures a worn path. Think Yosemite’s granite carved into a V. Water cuts stone through slow, steady contact. Christlikeness is more caught than taught, which is why Mark records the order: he appointed twelve so that they would be with him before he sent them to preach.

Jesus models the secret of prayer as prayer in secret. He slips away while it is still dark, shuts the door, and seeks the Father. There is no instant maturity, but there is unveiled transformation. Moses’ face shines because he talks with God. Jesus is transfigured while praying. Paul calls it beholding the Lord’s glory and being metamorphosed from one degree to another. Prayer is less about getting things and more about getting a heart synchronized to his.

That lingering with Jesus grows best both alone and together. Solitude matters, but so does fellowship that isn’t optional. The church is a body, not a club. Daily encouragement keeps hearts from hardening. Acts 2 shows a church alive because it devotes itself to the apostles’ teaching, the shared life with Jesus, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. Where two or three gather in his name, he shows up. Want the Shepherd? Follow the trail of the flock. He is with his sheep.

Then the second verb: baptizing. The gospel comes as an emergency notice. Repent and believe. Baptism confesses, “I need cleansing.” Ezekiel promised clean water, a new heart, and the Spirit within. Saul heard it in Damascus: get up, be baptized, wash away your sins. Fittingly, Jesus baptizes near the Dead Sea’s doorstep, almost the lowest place on earth. Even there, it is not too late. And note how he does it. He has his disciples do the baptizing. He is already training representatives. Water does not save. Grace through faith does. But baptism is the God-given doorbell of repentance and the church stands there as his hands. Philip proves it with the eunuch. Lifeboat 14 still has seats. Row back.

Key Takeaways

1. Christlikeness grows through lingering presence Jesus forms disciples by proximity, not shortcuts. The verb in John 3:22 pictures time wearing a path, like water carving granite. Mark shows the order that matters: be with him before doing for him. Formation happens at the pace of friendship, not frenzy. [46:36]
2. Prayer is an invitation to transformation Secret prayer aligns a disordered heart to God’s rhythm. Moses glowed because he spoke with God, and believers behold the Lord to be changed from glory to glory. Prayer is less about transactions and more about transfusion, receiving his life into tired veins. [55:27]
3. Find Jesus where his sheep gather The Shepherd is found among the flock. Acts 2’s health flows from a stubborn devotion to word, shared life with Jesus, table, and corporate prayers. Two or three together in his name do not just meet; they host his promised presence. [61:31]
4. Baptism confesses need for cleansing The gospel calls for repentance that becomes visible in baptism. Ezekiel’s clean water, new heart, and Spirit land on real sinners who say, “Wash me.” Paul’s marching orders in Damascus were simple and urgent, and they still are. [74:13]
5. Every disciple joins Christ’s welcome Jesus delegated the baptizing to his disciples to make them ambassadors. The church does not save, but it does stand at the gates saying, “Your sins can be forgiven in his name.” Think Philip and the eunuch, and think lifeboats rowing back, not drifting away. [86:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:31] - John 3:22 read aloud
[39:29] - No filler: two verbs matter
[43:27] - Spending time: worn paths of presence
[47:36] - No microwave maturity
[50:21] - Secret prayer as priority
[54:38] - Prayer transfigures the heart
[58:05] - With him by being with his people
[62:21] - Acts 2: devoted and alive
[66:57] - From presence to mission
[70:50] - Repent and believe, then baptize
[75:32] - Bethany beyond Jordan: hope near dead end
[82:37] - Disciples baptize; Jesus delegates
[84:16] - Not saved by water
[95:11] - Lifeboat 14: row back

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
John 3:22 (NASB): After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.

Observation questions

What two specific actions does John 3:22 highlight about Jesus’ ministry with His disciples?
The sermon compares Christ’s discipleship process to water carving granite over time. What does this metaphor reveal about how spiritual growth happens?
According to the sermon, why did Jesus baptize near the Dead Sea, and what symbolic significance does this location hold? [01:15:32]

Interpretation questions

Why might Jesus have prioritized being with His disciples (Mark 3:14) before sending them out to preach? How does this order challenge modern approaches to ministry?
The sermon states, “Prayer is less about getting things and more about getting a heart synchronized to [God’s].” How does Moses’ transformed face (Exodus 34:29-35) illustrate this idea?
Acts 2:42 describes the early church’s devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Why are these communal practices foundational for spiritual health?

Application questions

The phrase “worn path” describes slow, steady growth through time with Jesus. What daily or weekly rhythms could you create to intentionally “linger” with Him?
Secret prayer is described as aligning our hearts with God’s rhythm. How might your prayer life change if you focused less on requests and more on listening and surrendering? [55:57]
The sermon emphasizes that “the Shepherd is found among the flock.” Are there areas where you’ve treated church community as optional? What step could you take to prioritize fellowship this week?
Baptism is called a “doorbell of repentance.” If you’ve never been baptized as a believer, what hesitations or questions do you need to address? If you have, how could you help others take this step?
The story of Lifeboat 14 challenges believers to “row back” to those drowning in sin. Who in your life needs to hear about Christ’s cleansing, and how could you initiate that conversation? [01:35:11]

Sermon Clips

24s

#RescueTheLost

“Folks, the bible says most people around us are dead in their transgressions and sins. It's not just the kid in the movie who says, I see dead people. You should be seeing them. Every person who doesn't know Lord God says they're dead. They don't need a citation. They need a savior.”

37s

#SeekGodsPresence

“God's presence, on the one hand, is a gift I don't deserve, but it's also a reward that involves some responsibility. will find me when you search for me with all of your heart. God says, I'll be found by you. It's not gonna be just like, oh, there he is. Proverbs says, if you want God's wisdom, I want God's wisdom. Then you have to you find it by digging for it as for hidden treasure. It's not effortless.”

38s

#GrowInCommunity

“We need to understand the implications of our relationship together. You will not, you cannot grow to maturity outside of a healthy relationship with God's people. Speaking the truth and love, Ephesians four fifteen, we are to grow up in all aspects into him who is the head even Christ. We become like him, but we don't do it just in private prayer. It won't work that way. But in relationship with his people.”

39s

#BaptismIsDeclaration

“Baptism is a God given way to admit that you're a sinner and to receive Christ cleansing publicly. Repent. That's internal, invisible resolution that you make. It's a changing of the mind about the way you're living your life and what you've done with Christ. Change your mind. Internal, can't see it. Repent, internal, be baptized, public, external, visible demonstration of what's going on inside.”

31s

#NoInstantSpirituality

“It's been said simply this way, godliness, Christ likeness is more caught than taught. Now I I like convenience. You do too. I don't like instant coffee, but we've had it for years now, Senka or whatever. You know? Well, I don't drink it, but just add water. Instant oatmeal. There's so many instant stuff. I you could make a huge list. There is no instant spirituality.”

44s

#BaptismShowsRepentance

“Baptism has this significance. Yes. There's other significance to baptism. There's clothing yourself in Christ. There's being placed into the body of Christ. There's death and resurrection for sure. But don't miss that it is saying, I need to be cleansed. I'm a sinner. Look, I go to a car wash and I get in line with my car. I'm making a public statement about my car. I don't go there just to socialize in the car wash. I'm not a social car washer.”

36s

#WeAreHisHands

“Afterwards, the people of that town and that church were going to reconstruct the statue, attach new arms to the statue, and they decided not to. They left it with the arms gone with this plaque that says he has no hands but ours. We are the body of Christ. And Jesus from the very beginning starts using his disciples to do the baptizing.”

33s

#FindTheShepherd

“Do you wanna be where he is? Let let me tell you where he is. The bride in the song of Solomon is looking for her beloved. He happens to be a shepherd. It's a type of Christ. Can't find him. Where is he? Follow the trail of the flock. You'll find the shepherd with the sheep. That's where shepherds hang out because they love the sheep. Maybe you're not so fond of sheep.”

21s

#LiveTheGreatCommission

“It's true for far, far too many Christians. The great commission is the great suggestion or the great omission, a description of the way they live their lives.”

33s

#SanctificationIsProcess

“Now he could do it much quicker. He could just kill you and then glorify you and job done. But his purpose in this life after regenerating you, after justifying you, happens at the moment of salvation is this process the bible calls sanctification. In the in the original language, it's kinda like holifying to make you more holy, more set apart, more like Christ, the holy one of Israel.”

29s

#CultivateFaithfulness

“How does that happen? How does water cut through granite? Takes time. Small amounts of sand and erosion. You know that. And I I just like that picture because the bible says dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. There's something about the the things that happen day to day that affect our our character, and the Lord spent time with his disciples. Look.”

32s

#JesusRetreatedToPray

“And we kind of expect at this point for him to launch out in a teaching tour or a healing hoe down. But instead, according to John, Jesus goes off grid for an extended season that could have been as much as six months. Why would Jesus and the first thing that's mentioned is he just he's spending time.”

25s

#PrayBecauseGodListens

“Listen, prayer is not some kind of spiritual obligation for the Christian. We are commanded to pray. It doesn't come natural. Why? Because you have to believe that someone's listening. You have to believe it. Otherwise, you're just talking to yourself.”

28s

#PublicBaptism

“Baptism is your public ceremony of saying, I'm his, and he's mine. Amen. And I want the world to know. You don't do it in private. Hey, pastor. Could you come over and baptize me in the backyard? No. Unless you're gonna invite some folks over. I don't want anybody to no. Always public.”

25s

#ReceiveAndBeSent

“I want you to have a deeper relationship with me, and I want you to be representing me. See, he's getting ready to leave even though he's just beginning his ministry. He knows they don't. It's gonna be a short time, and I'm going back to heaven. And he'll say to them, he'll breathe on them and say, receive you the holy ghost as the father has sent me so send I you.”

49s

#BringOthersToChrist

“Folks, we gotta go back to where we got saved. And remember, are people who still need it, who are crying out though they may not use their voice. They're doing it in a zillion different ways, oblivious to the reality that you know because they've never been where you are as a safe person, but you've been where they are now as a condemned person. We gotta roll back. Jesus taught his disciples, I'm gonna get you involved in the greatest privilege there is, bringing people into my kingdom. Not just telling them that they need to repent, but how they can repent and be forgiven.”

37s

#ValueEveryVerse

“But I'm one who's convinced the holy spirit doesn't give filler. Like, well, that book's gonna be too short, so we need a transition verse. Throw this in, John. No. I I'm convinced if if the bible is god's eternal word and it is gonna be used for eternity, there's value in every facet of it, and we do well to not rush through it. And so I I just want to spend one Sunday on John three in verse 22.”

29s

#GospelIsUrgent

“Repent and believe. Listen, the gospel is good news, but it's more than God loves you. You can go to heaven when you die and enjoy an abundant life right now. It includes all of that, but it's much more than that. The gospel is is more like an emergency evacuation notice that a wildfire is heading your way.”

37s

#PrayWithoutCeasing

“First Thessalonians chapter five verse 17 says this, we are to pray without ceasing and maybe that versus always bug you. It's like, well, I definitely failing that. ceasing to ever pray. You know? I'm I don't pray enough. I don't pray hardly ever. And if I were to pray, even on my best day, I can't pray. I fall asleep. So what am I supposed to do with that? I gotta go to work.”

30s

#PrayerReflectsGod

“Moses started reflecting. He didn't even know it, but he started reflecting the glory of God. Why? Because he had been spending time talking to the Lord. Jesus goes up onto the high mountain. We think it's Mount Hermon. We don't know. Doesn't matter. Doesn't say Mount Of Transfiguration at the bottom. Some high mountain up north. And he takes with him the three, Peter, James, and John, to go pray. We know that's why we're gonna go pray.”

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Calvary Chapel East Anaheim This sermon · AI assistant

How does extended time with Jesus transform disciples?

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Becoming Like Jesus: Time with Him, Baptism, Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Wearing Down Granite Through Daily Surrender

Day 2: Baptism’s Gritty Confession at Death’s Doorstep

Day 3: Sheep Smell and Shepherd’s Presence

Day 4: Prayer’s Arrhythmia and Heaven’s Rhythm

Day 5: Lifeboat 14 and Unclenched Hands

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Becoming Like Jesus: Time with Him, Baptism, Mission

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