More New Creatures In Christ

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We serve a big God, loving and compassionate. Come see us a Beaverdam some Sunday and discover what these new creatures found out about this glorious God.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)



Kenzi

 I love those eyes and that smile!


Joseph

Father and Son

Brandon with Chris looking on

 Love that smile. Worth a thousand words, right there! (Brandon's smile is pretty cute, too!)

Chris

George Webster

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George; another new creature in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Even More Baptisms

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Two more came forward this Sunday. A father and son. I'm so proud of both of them. God is so good.

We will be scheduling these Baptisms soon. Pictures to follow!

More Baptisms

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The last three weeks we have had folks "walk the aisle" and come forward seeking baptism in celebration of their new found faith in Christ. The breakdown by age is still about the same for my ministry as a whole, one high school freshman, a twenty something new dad (his wife joined our little congregation by the most Baptist of ways...The Moving Of The LETTER) and a sixty-five year old man. The sixty-five year old gentleman told me in the hallway right before the service that he had just prayed with his Sunday school teacher to receive salvation.

God continues to pour out His blessings. Many preachers comment/write/brag about numbers. Sunday school is X. Worship is X. We've baptized X number of people. I'm a numbers guy myself. Heck, like most preachers I'll count anybody who is not moving. When I go to Luke's football games I'm counting the people in the visitor's stands. Preachers also love to exaggerate numbers. Be careful if a preacher says his church had "almost" 500 Sunday. He really had 200, which is ALMOST 500...ministerially speaking. There is also the combination count. 100 in the early service, 200 in Sunday School, 175 in late worship, so we "touched" 475 people today. The numbers may be hyperbolic to emphasize my point, but yes, the "almost" and "touched" numbers are frequent lunch conversations with ministry insiders.

I love numbers, as I mentioned, as much as the next preacher. But one of the numbers I like to tout is age percentages in regards to baptism. Those under 18 make up about 1/3 of the baptisms that I perform. The rest, obviously, are adults, and most of them out of their thirties. I like this trend because it is the opposite of every other ministry that I know or have read about. All churches mostly baptize the young, and for good reason. Jesus said that unless we have the faith of a child, we could not become a disciple of His. Most adults loose the ability to act with that kind of uninhibited faith.

Well, at any rate, my record holds. Three professions of faith: three baptisms: one child and two adults. To God be the glory!

How Important Is Baptism?

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How important is baptism? Generally speaking, there are two mistakes that people make about baptism. The first is that you HAVE to be baptized in order to be saved. That’s just plain wrong. The second mistake is that, because you don’t have to be baptized in order to be saved, that baptism is not important—again, what a huge mistake to make. Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but it is very important because Jesus commanded it.

Baptism is something we should do for several reasons, but first and foremost, Jesus told us to follow His example and be baptized. Anything that Jesus emphasizes we should never minimize. Think of it this way, Jesus’ first act in His public ministry was to be baptized. His last command to His followers was to be baptized! Obviously this was/is very important to the Lord.

Another reason for emphasizing baptism is that it shows our commitment to the Lord. Paul said this to the church in Galatia, “You were baptized into union with Christ, and now you are clothed, so to speak, with the life of Christ himself.” ( Galatians 3:27 GNT) In-other-words, it proclaims openly that we are His and He is ours. It identifies us with Him. This is where the old illustration of Wedding Ring comes in. I wear a wedding ring to show that I am married to Patty and that I love her (and I do love that woman!) If I take my ring off, I’m no less married than when I have it on. The ring doesn’t make me married; it simply shows that I already am. Baptism doesn’t make me saved, but it shows the whole world that I am proudly a part of the clan known as Christian; that I am a Christ-follower.

A third reason for baptism is it shows your conversion. Peter said, “But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death”. (1 Peter 3:21 CEV) This is so important that I will write about it in more detail in another post. The Meaning Of Baptism. The point is that the reason we are baptized is because it acts as a testimony to those who see us baptized. There is an inherent message seen through the act of baptism, as we shall see.

Is baptism important? Yes! We cannot expect God to continue to give us more blessings when we refuse to follow His basic commands. Why would He bless us with more of anything until we are obedient? Remember, baptism is just a symbol, but a very important one. Don’t take your eyes off the Lord to focus on a symbol. Baptism, whether a spoonful or a tank full, can never save you. Having a right relationship with the Living Lord Jesus Christ is all that can do that.

 

More New Creatures In Christ

Baptism TKO

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My standard line before walking anyone into the baptistery has always been, "Don't worry. I haven't dropped anybody yet."

Well I still haven't dropped anybody, but Paul was about as close to knocking someone out as I've ever come. I usually take a step to my left before baptizing someone that's my own height. But after four baptisms in a row I forgot! It's a good thing he doesn't have much hair, cause it would have scraped the wall.

Baptism

We baptized a total of five Sunday. Here are a few shots thanks to Tammy Jeffers!

Heating Up The Baptistery

No; literally, heating up the baptistery. A few weeks ago the pump that circulates the water and also acts as a water heater for the baptistery went out. After much debate on size, price, and installation crew, we finally found, ordered, and installed the pump this past week. Our humble building and grounds committee sweated the plumbing, phased the electricity, and turned the elbows, (and several other plumbing jargons that I just nodded my agreement and assent at,) and wallah, Thursday afternoon we had hot water!

Just another day in the life of a small church pastor—or was it? 

God certainly didn’t think so. During our Sunday service, five came forward to receive Christ (another joined by the most Baptist of ways…the moving of the LETTER.) So while we might say, “What convenient timing,” we can truly know that God is never taken by surprise. He knew that baptistery needed heating up...in more ways than one. Indeed I can say with the Apostle Paul, “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever.”

Amen.

Baptism

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Baptism today. Here are a few pics.


I need to get our baptism pictures updated. (Note to self; get pictures.)


Patty took these from the front pew.

Baptism

Billy. My Fireproof Baptism! What an amazing story of God's marvelous grace.

 

Baptism

                                                   
William, came to know the Lord and was baptised upon his profession of faith.

                        

 

Baptism

I don't get to do this enough. I am hoping to get all/more of our baptisms uploaded.

John Michael, The Lord's newest disciple.

                  
That smile is worth it all!



Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is with in me, praise His Holy Name.

Why We Do What We Do

Whenever I think about why I do this, ministry I mean, I go back to a hundred Sundays like this one. Here is one of three new creatures in Christ from this Sunday.

How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. (Eph 1:3 NLT)

Smiles

My mentor, Jim Phillips, snapped this pic on Sunday. A picture is worth a 1000 words. And this picture represents why we do what we do. It's not about us and our proclivities, our doctrine, or what we think shoud be secondary or tertiary. It is all about Him, and showing people how wonderful His love truly can be.

Blessings,

Steve