'baptism' Tagged Posts (Page 3)
Daily Devotions
Mark 1:4-8 “I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” vs. 8 There seems to have been some controversy in the early church about water and spirit baptism. Water baptism was of course linked with John the Baptist, but Jesus didn’t baptize anyone with water–though according to John’s Gospel, his disciples did baptize. Jesus simply interacted with hurting people, laid hands on some, and invited others to become his followers. He didn’t have…
Daily Devotions
Acts 19:4-7 “When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied—” vs. 6 According to Luke, when John the Baptist’s disciples submitted to baptism Paul laid hands on them–and there were spectacular manifestations of the Spirit, much like what had happened in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. It was not unusual in the early congregations for such things to take place–speaking in tongues or “glossolalia” was considered…
Daily Devotions
Ephesians 1:11-14 “In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit…” vs. 13 For many believers these words are linked to the Rite of Baptism as practiced by some of our congregations. After the washing with water and the laying on of hands, the officiant proclaims, “__________, child of God, you have been sealed with the Holy…
Daily Devotions
Mark 1: 5-8 “I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” vs. 8 Both Jesus and John were significant figures in Roman occupied Judea. Both had a powerful message and each of them gathered a sizable following of disciples. But they were different too, and Mark accents that difference in his account of Jesus’ life. John’s baptism was for his followers a sign of repentance, a declaration that they were changing their lives…
Daily Devotions: July 9, 2020
July 9, 2020 Romans 8:1-6 … “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” vss. 1-2 Paul’s argument—as he lays out the Gospel to the Romans, can seem convoluted and cumbersome; it certainly isn’t as simple as we might like it. But he’s very clear about the essence of the Good News…
Daily Devotions: May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020 1 Peter 3:18-22 … “in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.” vss. 19-20 Peter reminds us that in the early years of the Church, believers gravitated toward the image of the ark as a metaphor for…
Daily Devotions: April 20, 2020
April 20, 2020 Acts 2:14a, 36-41 … “So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.” vs. 41 According to Luke, the growth of the early Christian community was explosive, with 3000 persons being baptized in response to Peter’s sermon. While we might question Luke’s numbers and the impact of a particular sermon, there is little doubt that there was missionary zeal among believers from the very beginning. They’d been touched by…
Daily Devotions: January 11, 2020
We apologize for the content not being in what was sent. I had a hiccup here, please forgive me! Cyndy, Program & Development (including website) Director January 11, 2020 For full passage click: Matthew 3:13-15 … “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.” vs. 13 The relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist has been a source of endless speculation from the beginning. That there was a connection is obvious, it’s mentioned numerous…
Daily Devotions: October 31, 2019
October 31, 2019 For full passage click: Ephesians 1:11-14 … “In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;” vs. 13 In the ritual of Holy Baptism, after the baptism and the tracing of the cross on the forehead, these words are often said, “Child of God, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked…
Daily Devotions: July 26, 2019
July 26, 2019 For full passage click: Colossians 2:11-15 …“when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” vs. 12 People have argued for centuries about the proper mode of baptism, whether it should be by sprinkling, pouring or immersion. In general, those practicing infant baptism have used sprinkling or pouring, but even they have to admit that immersion symbolizes one of…
Daily Devotions: May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019 For full passage click: Acts 16:25-34 …“At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay.” vs. 33 When the Philippian jailer, in the aftermath of an earthquake, asked what he needed to do to be saved, Paul was quick with a response, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.” Some have used Paul’s answer…
Daily Devotions: January 11, 2019
January 11, 2019 To read full passage click: Acts 8:14-17 …“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit…” vss. 14-15 These were exciting, heady days for the community of believers in Jerusalem. There was opposition and opportunity, and the movement lacked a play book and written instructions. Before long, they were…