Thursday, May 28, 2015

Sunday Circles - Water Baptism

Sunday Circles
        Building Your Family With Friends
Church On The Rock
Gtcotr/sc053115

Prayer
Hymn: Come Thou Fount
Memory Verse: Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Lesson: Water Baptism

                Pastor remarks and intro of first principle

First Principle: A Baptism of Deliverance
Character: Moses
Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
Question: What are some problems and/or addictions people may continue to deal with after being born again?
Follow Up Question: Have you ever known someone who was saved and yet needed help to be set free? 
Conclusion: The Children of Israel safely passed through the Red Sea while it closed on their enemies, drowning them so that they saw their enemies no more again forever. Water baptism provides the same deliverance for us in that it stops the haunting enemies of our past and their pursuits of us in our new day.

                Pastor remarks and intro of next principle

Second Principle: A Baptism of Repentance
Character: John the Baptist
Scripture Reference: Acts 19:4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
Question: What does repentance mean?
Follow Up Question: Do you think people ever need spiritual help to change their natural lives? If so, what are some provisions God offers the repentant heart?
Conclusion: People came to be baptized by John the Baptist because they wanted a change in their life and needed God’s help to make that change. Water baptism delivers us from our enemies and also provides a place for repentance so that we receive power to change our lives and line up with God’s will.

                Pastor remarks and intro of next principle

Third Principle: A Baptism of Identification
Scripture Reference: Matthew 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Character: Jesus
Question: What are some reasons people may not want to publicly identify themselves with Jesus?
Follow Up Question: Should people allow these concerns to dictate their proper response to Jesus?
Follow Up Question: What are some benefits to our public identification with Christ?
Conclusion:  Jesus was not water baptized to become the Son of God but rather to fulfill the will of God for His life. A voice from heaven spoke declaring to the world that Jesus was the Son of God. Our water baptism is also a point of identification…we identify with Christ and heaven identifies with us.

          Pastor closing remarks and the rest of the story

·        Connect Cards; Offering and Prayer
·        Memory Verse

·        Pre-Praise & Worship Prayer will be hosted in the Sanctuary Studio. Worship will begin in just a few minutes.