Baptism

Today we rejoice in the Lord because we will witness the baptism of a baby boy. His parents have heard and obeyed the call of the Lord Jesus Christ to let this little child come to him and be baptized with water in the name of the triune God.

It is fitting that this baptism is taking place today on the Sunday after Ascension day. Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven where he now sits at the right hand of God the Father.

The apostle Peter connects Christian baptism with the Ascension of Jesus.

In 1 Peter 3 he says,

Baptism, which corresponds to the flood-water, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as a dramatized prayer request to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Peter's point is that just Noah and his household were saved from the flood by being lifted up above the waters in the ark, so we and our households may be saved by being lifted up in the true and better ark which is Jesus Christ.

To be clear: Baptism saves us, but it is not our savior. It is a means of grace that God uses to put us in the Savior and to lift us up on the cross, to lift us up from death to life, and to lift us up from earth to heaven with Jesus.

Now, as you witness this Christian baptism, I encourage you to remember your baptism and renew your devotion to the Lord.

If you have never received baptism, and you believe Jesus is the Son of God, crucified for your sins and raised from the dead for your life, I urge to you to receive the grace of baptism without delay.

Levi, hear the good news: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners — He is your refuge and strength. Jesus was crucified for sins — His blood cleanses; His wounds heal. Jesus was raised to life — His love is stronger than death. Jesus promises to be with you always, even to the end of the world — He will never leave you or forsake you.

It will take you a lifetime to learn, know, and understand the good news of God’s glorious grace. Even then you will only know a tiny little bit of all that can be known. But that’s okay. In Christ, faith working through love is the only thing that counts.

So, put your trust in Jesus and love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.

Vows

Now, I must ask the parents of these children to answer the following questions: Rob and Rebecca,

1. Do you acknowledge your child’s need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?

2. Do you claim God’s covenant promises in his behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for his salvation, as you do for your own?

3. Do you now unreservedly devote your child to God?

4. Do you promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before him a godly example, that you will pray with him and for him, that you will teach them the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

Now, I want to ask the congregation to stand — and answer the following question:

Do you, as a congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, undertake the responsibility of assisting these parents in the Christian nurture of their child? If so, signify by saying “Amen!”

Water Baptism

Levi Aldridge, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

A Pastoral Message for Children about Christ and the Corona Virus.

Now, the passage from Isaiah that Paul quoted comes from the Book of Isaiah chapter 6. You heard it read before the sermon.

It describes the mission of Isaiah the prophet to his own people. It also describes the mission of the apostle to his kinsmen.

Five years ago, my two sons and I went to see the WW2 movie Fury along with some of you guys.

One scene that stands out to me involves the tank crew sitting in the belly of a tank on the brink of a terrible battle.

The crew is a cross-cultural community — Anglo and Hispanic. The tank is a sanctuary. A crewman preaches the word of God from Isaiah 6. “Here’s a Bible verse I think about sometimes. Many times. It goes: ‘Then I heard the voice of Lord saying: Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And — I said: Here am I, send me!'” A bottle of spirits gets passed around from man to man. They “christen” a young crewman Machine. They offer shouts of praise. A cloud of smoke fills the tank.

The tank crew identify themselves with Isaiah the prophet. They related their mission with his mission.

They know their mission will not be complete until buildings are laid waste, houses are vacated, and the land is desolated.

They understand the dangerous call of duty and respond: Here am I, send me.

The crewmen look around at their sanctuary, look at one another, look at their own hearts.

The scene ends with a responsive benediction.

The leader takes a deep breath and says: “I love it in here. I sure do. Best job I ever had.”

And the crew responds: “Best job I ever had. Best job I ever had.”

When I think about my life and ministry with you, I echo those words with all my heart.

“I love it in here. I sure do. Best job I ever had.”

Reformation Sunday -- To misquote Tolkien, together through stages of this congregation’s life “we have fought the long defeat.” And yet we are not defeated.

This beautiful piece was performed by Jadera during our communion service.

Matthew 21:16 embodied

Where there is no vision of the Lord Jesus Christ the people cast off restraint and perish. #beatificvision

“The two hardest things to say in life are hello for the first time and goodbye for the last.” (Moira Rogers)

Acts 19:1-10 follows Jesus' Commission from Matthew 28:18-20.

Go - Acts 19:1

Make disciples - 19:1b-4

Baptizing them - 19:5-7

Teaching them - 19:8-9

I will be with you always - 19:10

How did Paul disciplize? By baptizing, catechizing, and evangelizing with the power of the Spirit and the presence of Christ.