In the world of the Church there are various views for baptism. In this sermon we explore the key reasons and positions in preparation to considering the many passages used to explain and teach baptism.

The prophet Amos delivers yet another oracle of judgment against the Northern Kingdom, turning the facet of God's judgment to reveal three signs of misplaced faith. In each instance, Amos strips back the defenses of a people caught in the throes of deception. Though the Northern Kingdom's judgment is secure and will not be pulled back, yet a glimmer of hope remains for individual repentance. If they are to escape the wrath to come, they must become a people known by their continual abundance of justice and righteousness.

Luke reintroduces us to John the Baptist who is now in prison. John hears the report of Jesus, but wonders if Jesus is the Messiah. This is a shockingly different attitude from the confident John we see in chapter 3. It is a section in which we see a genuine believer begin to doubt, but also what he does to remedy that doubt. There are important lessons for the Christian, but it's also another passage clearly revealing the truthfulness of Jesus' identity-- that He is God's true Messiah of salvation!

What is baptism? And how does it function and for what purpose? In Acts 2 the first Christians were told to be baptized in the name of Jesus and for the forgiveness of sin. So what is meant by those statements by the Apostle Peter? Is baptism the way to be forgiven? Are we to ignore the command of Jesus Himself when He said to baptize people in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? Is baptism even something that important or is it optional for believers? Is it something worth dividing over? These are the sort of issues this short series is designed to answer.

The sermon is done. The people are pricked. And now the call to repent

and believe is given. In this sermon we simply look at what are the normal steps to find full

forgiveness of our sin.

The prophet Amos takes up a funeral song to announce the death of Israel. Her lifeless corpse lay unnoticed in the land and there is no one to raise her up again. The nation may be doomed; God may be mourning over her death, but the Lord still grants the possibility for a remnant to be spared if they will turn to Him in genuine repentance and faith. Despite how bleak and hopeless things are for the Northern Kingdom of Israel, God bids them, "Seek Me and live."

Jesus travels to an obscure town to raise a widows only son from the dead. It is a story in which Jesus reveals that He is God by displaying His power over death. In this passage we see His providence, His power, and purpose for why He does what He does. We also see the humanity of Jesus, as His compassion moves Him to care for this women. The call of the passage is trust in the power of Jesus' saving Word. For in Jesus Christ, God has visited the dead sinner!

Peter’s opening sermon on the Day of Pentecost is a powerful declaration of two vital truths. First, that we are now living in the last days. And second, that Jesus was, and is, the Christ. That He died and rose again. And that He is returning to judge all His enemies. With those two points Peter confronts the Jews and us.

Peter stands and delivers a powerful and densely packed sermon to this crowd of Jews after the Holy Spirit filled and moved in the early Church. It is a sermon that explains what is happening, what happened to Jesus Christ, why it happened and their own responsibility and guilt in it. It is a call to repentance but it is not a man-centered message. It is designed to teach and explain while holding nothing back. The effect and the results are left to God and it is a mighty act God does in response.

Coming down from the Mountain after teaching that great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus now encounters a Roman Centurion. This man functions in the Gospel as the embodiment of all that Jesus just taught. In this centurion, we see that profile of a true disciple, and the very kind of person that Jesus will use to save sinners. He becomes a tremendous example to the church. His defining characteristic is one of incredible faith; an ongoing quality that must control the life of any true discipleship. For faith is the only reality that amazes Jesus and pleases the Father.