'baptism' Tagged Posts
Humility At The Jordan
In II Kings 5:9-14, Naaman, a friend of the king of Syria, arrives in Israel seeking a cure for his leprosy. His journey brings him to the home of a prophet of the Lord named Elisha, who tells Naaman that he must wash seven times in the Jordan River to be cured. Through their dialogue with one another, not only does it become apparent that Naaman’s pride is perhaps his most destructive disease, but also we all learn lessons of…
THE BLESSING OF SEALING
One Christmas four wealthy brothers bought extravagant gifts for their elderly mother. One brother bought her a big house. Another installed a movie theater in that house. A third brother bought her a new Mercedes. But the fourth brother knew that their mother loved to read the Bible but couldn’t due to her poor eyesight. So, he found out about a parrot that had memorized the entire Bible and could recite every passage when instructed. That parrot, which took 12…
Prisoner Exchange
On Thursday, December 8, 2022, the United States government completed a prisoner swap with Russia to secure the release of one of our nation’s premiere female athletes. Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. Women’s basketball team as well as an eight-time WNBA All-star and one-time WNBA champion with the Phoenix Mercury, had been in Russian custody since February 17, 2022, and was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession. She was exchanged for Viktor…
Have you been Chosen?
Being chosen is a big deal. Think about when you were a kid, and teams were being picked at recess for a game. The one thing you did not want to be was the last one chosen because that meant nobody wanted you on his or her team. Think about when you got engaged. Whether you were the one proposing or the one being proposed to, the moment was special because someone chose you to be their spouse. Think about…
THE GREAT COMMISSION: BAPTIZING
This month we have explored the Great Commission to discover what Jesus expects of us when it comes to sharing our faith. Thus far, we have seen that He expects us to “go,” to “proclaim the gospel,” and to “make disciples.” The final two instructions that comprise the whole of the Great Commission are components of the disciple making process. The first of these appears in Matthew 28:19 where, after instructing His followers to “make disciples of all nations,” Jesus…
THE PATH TO GLORY – PART FOUR
In the world of sports, the phrase “respect the process” is often used to remind people that there is no “magic wand” or “easy button” that can create a winning team. It takes hard work, discipline, and lots of “behind-the-scenes” effort to be successful, and anyone who thinks otherwise is most likely nothing more than a “consumer” with a lack of understanding about the dynamics and inner workings of these organizations. The process is important. The process is the path…
THE WHY SERIES – WHY DOES THE CHURCH OF CHRIST BELIEVE THAT BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION?
Nearly every religious body associated with Christianity administers baptism in some fashion. Some believe it is an act of obedience that symbolizes a believer’s faith in Christ and death to sin. Others believe that baptism is simply the means by which a believer becomes a member of the church body. But the congregations associated with the Church of Christ are known for their insistence that baptism is an essential part of salvation. On what is this belief based? This belief…