Jesus shares his joy

Receiving the divine joy that delights (John 15)

Join the vine – connect to Jesus by faith

Remain in the vine – obey Jesus to live out your status as his beloved

Be nurtured by the gardener – know a full joy despite the pain, temptations and distractions of life

The Trinity and joy: Father = source; Son = sharer; Spirit = sustainer.

Pursue delight in God through growing your faith in him

Turn to the Word (Psalm 119:105; John 6:68; 17:13-14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Prayerful dependence (John 16:24; Philippians 4:6)

Celebrate grace (Ephesians 1:3-6; Colossians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 4:15)

Receive comfort from the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17; Romans 8:15-17)

Commit to Christian community (Acts 2:42; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Hebrews 3:12-13; 10:24-25)

Growing up as a church

The continuing mission of Jesus’ church (Matthew 28:16-20)

Make disciples of all nations (evangelism)

Teach and train disciples (discipleship)

Helping people meet Jesus at DPC

A life-changing encounter with Jesus the Messiah

At DPC, we want to introduce people to Jesus

Helping people follow Jesus together at DPC

The call to discipleship is costly and challenging (Matthew 16:24-26)

At DPC, we want disciples to journey together

Working towards the future

Implement our strategic plan

Get involved

Rely on Jesus who helps us

1. “The minister wants to baptise our baby!”

2. God’s salvation plan consists of a series of covenants

— A biblical covenant is a solemn agreement between two parties with blessings and curses attached (Deuteronomy 29; Genesis 9:8-11; Genesis 17:3-11)

— There is one covenant of grace administered differently across time (Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6-18; Jeremiah 31:31-32)

— God has provided covenant signs to symbolise and guarantee his promises

—- Noahic = Rainbow; Abrahamic = Circumcision; Mosaic (Old) = Circumcision and Passover and more; New = Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

2. Baptism replaced circumcision as a sign of belonging to the people of God – Colossians 2:11-12; Romans 4:9-12

- Both point to the same reality

- Both are a rite of initiation

- Baptism entails an expansion of who receives the sign

- There is no command to stop giving the covenantal sign to children

- Not everyone who receives covenant signs is saved (Romans 2:28-29; 4:9-11; 9:6-8; Hebrews 6:4-6)

- The children of Christians are viewed as insiders not outsiders (1 Corinthians 7:12-14)

4. How do we respond?

Parents: Let’s do a baptism or thanksgiving spot for your child

Everyone: Let’s welcome the children of believers as young disciples

RESOURCES

Why Do We Baptize Infants? – a booklet (32 pages) by Bryan Chapell

- A brief summary of the key arguments.

How Our Children Come to Faith – a booklet (28 pages) by Stephen Smallman

- A brief and thought-provoking book that will encourage parents in their efforts to disciple their children. He speaks of conversion as the point when a regenerate person personally takes hold of Christ by faith.

Covenantal Baptism – book by Jason Helopolous.

- Great explanation of covenants and baptism and God’s kindness! Helpful on baptism in general but also for those wondering about baptising the children of believers.

What is Coventantal Baptism – article by Gabriel D

- A brief article on an apologetics website which gives a good overview of covenantal baptism.

https://trinityapologetics.com/covenantal-baptism/

Why You Should Remember Your Baptism – article by Christopher David

- A great article from Gospel Coalition, India on how baptism is an ongoing means of grace

https://in.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/road-goes-ever-on/why-you-should-remember-your-baptism/

Getting Baptised at DPC – paper by Adam Humphries

- A summary of DPC’s position and how to work towards baptism.

https://darebinpc.elvanto.com.au/file/87d97797-3114-4671-95bd-7fadd0808ada/

Bringing You Child to God at DPC - paper by Adam Humphries

- An overview of options for your child: baptism or a thanksgiving spot

https://darebinpc.elvanto.com.au/file/ff359bec-492a-42c6-ba96-2ca860773369/

1. The trees of Christmas

2. God promised a Branch who would renew King David’s dynasty and usher in righteousness

Isaiah prophesied a Branch and a Root from the stump of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-10)

Jeremiah prophesied a righteous saviour Branch (Jeremiah 33:14-18)

3. A thousand years of disappointment

Zedekiah – Failed to bring righteousness (King – 597-586 BC)

He did not rule with righteousness so Judah was conquered (2 Kings, 25:1-12; 2 Chronicles 36:11-14)

Zerubbabel – failed to bring renewal (Governor – 538-515 BC)

Governor of Judea after the exile (Ezra 3:8; Haggai 1:12)

Helped rebuild the Temple but didn’t bring the hoped for renewal (Zech. 4:9; 6:11-12; 3:8)

4. Jesus is the Branch!

A Branch who renewed the line of David

A descendant of David who will receive the throne (Matthew 1; Luke 1:32-33)

An inhabitant of Nazareth (Matthew 2:23)

A Nazarene who lived in a town named for branch (Netzer in Hebrew), with descendants of David living there

Is Matthew's appeal to "the prophets" a broad reference to the many Old Testament promises of a messiah descended from David, but with a particular play on the word netzer, “branch,” from Isaiah 11:1? Though the royal line was hacked down to a stump, from that stump a shoot or branch would one day spring up. Matthew may be saying of Jesus, “He shall be called that ‘branch’ of David,” that is, his long awaited son, the Messiah of Israel.
Paul Barnett, Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity, 92-93

A Root who secured righteousness (Rev. 5:5; 22:16; Romans 15:12; cf. Isaiah 11:1, 10; 4:2)

5. Find renewal and righteousness in Jesus the Branch this Christmas

Shelter under the loving rule of Jesus

Seek to live a righteous life under Jesus