SLIDES can be found at this link
Previously titled You are baptized, what did you expect?
Luke 3:15-22, Commerce Pres, Commerce GA. Jan 10, 2016
[Much of the ideas and outline for this sermon came from Joanna Adams sermon broadcast Jan 10, 2010 on day1.org entitled "God Believes in You". She retired Jan 10, 2010 after faithful parish ministry.]
A few years ago, dear friends, Jeff and Renee, came from out of town for a visit with their energetic and wonderfully curious four-year old twin girls. One of our stops--A children's Museum--fun with face paint, bubbles, magnets, insects... we had a blast!
While we were admiring giant Costa Rican cockroaches…Jeff asked me:
"Hey Topple (that's what my old friends would call me), Renee and I were wondering if you would baptize our kids tomorrow at church?"
He caught me off guard. “What?”
Participating in people's baptisms are some of the most sacred and treasured moments I have as a minister. What an honor and a privilege!
But, tomorrow? I...I...I need session approval? What will your connection be with the church when you go home? What about your home congregation?
All of these things came to my mind.…
but, all I wanted to do was say: YES!
Let’s baptize them, let’s claim their inheritance as beloved children of God! I’ll do it!
The next day, Sunday, we didn’t baptize my friends’ girls....
Looking back on it, maybe we should have captured that spontaneity.
Looking at John’s practice of baptism out in the wilderness...it doesn’t look like he was overly concerned with church order.
There was just a line of people coming to claim their inheritance...
You sins are forgiven! Next!
You are reconciled with God! Next!
You are made clean again. Next!
Slide: variety of baptisms
The way baptisms are done in many churches these days is a curious thing.
Some churches, upon session approval, baptize tiny tiny infants using all kinds of words and proclaimations....
Others in the middle of worship might have altar calls, and invite anyone who responds to the call to be baptized in a large pool--even if they been baptized many times before!
And the practice of going down to the river to pray--Yes we’ll gather at the river...the beautiful the beautiful river--hopefully not too polluted river!
River baptisms are some of my favorites, really.
