Preparing for Sunday, January 10th
Hope your holidays were blessed for everyone and I hope 2010 will be a great new year! I am very excited about what I believe God has in store for New Life in the coming year as we begin to live out the vision God has given us!
Beginning January 11th through the 22nd, I will be in Atlanta during the week as I continue my doctorate studies. I will be home that weekend and will be present in worship with you. If you need me, you can reach me at my cell or by e-mail while I am away. Our secretary, Shawna, and our lay leader, Rocky Harnen, also know how to reach me as well as the pastor on call for me in case of any emergencies.
This Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Epiphany also known as the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, so we will focus on the meaning of baptism in the life of a Christian. Our scripture this week comes from the book of Acts. As a result of persecution, Philip fled to Samaria where he continued to preach the gospel to very responsive Samaritans.
14Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16(for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17
· This is one of many descriptions of baptism within the book of Acts—each of which is unique. Some receive the Holy Spirit prior to baptism (Acts 10:44-48), some at baptism (Acts 2:37-38) and in this case after baptism. Given all these passages, what can we learn about the connection between baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit?
· What do you think was the problem with being baptized only in the name of Jesus?
o What did Peter and John do to fix the problem?
· Why do you think baptism is such an important event in the life of a Christian?
o If you are baptized, what does your baptism mean to you?
o If you are not baptized, have you ever considered baptism? Is so, why have you chosen to remain unbaptized? If not, why not?