What your baptism is

Verse for the week: We have beheld his glory; glory as of the only Son from the Father. John 1.14 

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, at the baptism of your blessed Son Jesus Christ in the Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make us faithful in the calling of our own baptism, that our pride may die daily and the new obedience to you would arise daily in us; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day:  Romans 6.1-11 (writing in 56 AD, Paul articulates what God has done in Jesus Christ, crucified and raised for the rescue of us sinners.)

 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: my baptism is not a rite or mere ritual washing, it is the death of my pride and the promised resurrection for me that I might walk in newness of life in Christ. My old self-will is fiercely stubborn, so keep on working out my baptism, Lord… that daily I may find myself dead to sin and alive to you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic which gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord. The recording is rather poor, but it’s a great hymn😊and will preach to you:

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=e3b91cf287ef2e46&rlz=1C1RXQR_enUS1119US1119&udm=7&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeoJTKjrFjVxydQWqI2NcOhZVmrJB8DQUK5IzxA2fZbQF4YL5sNSRJGgx0e9Z9AxExzjE4_ynshmXB4KOs3cwRUeWWsKhEolaqKblYfDXcX8o44lrMqH67kppK0pOExd7q2yJDRQQKlpEBHmw6_MVnVB63-D4QfZ_FNhtd2-sQaouA4jq5w&q=we+were+baptized+in+christ+jesus&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjx8PfrzPSRAxUzl2oFHTF2ERsQtKgLegQIExAB&biw=1163&bih=605&dpr=1.65#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:3d5c91a3,vid:nqb4HjxYCNg,st:0

What is baptism?

Baptism is not merely water; it is water used according to God's command and connected with God's Word.

What is this Word of God?  It is the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the last chapter of Matthew, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

What benefits does Baptism bring?

In baptism, God forgives sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe, as the Word and promise of God declare.

What is this Word and promise of God?  It is the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the last chapter of Mark, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

Benediction: The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.  (Philippians 4.7)

 

*The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray.  It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN).  The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:
T: thanksgiving
R: regret (repentance)
I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)
P: plan or purpose
Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God. 

 

Christ's baptism... and yours

Verse for the week: We have beheld his glory; glory as of the only Son from the Father. John 1.14

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, at the baptism of your blessed Son Jesus Christ in the Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make us faithful in the calling of our own baptism, that our pride may die daily and the new obedience to you would arise daily in us; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Matthew 3.13-17

 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; ¹⁷ and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for the one who is our righteousness and your kept promise: your beloved Son, Jesus. Repent me and your whole church of our persistent clinging to a righteousness of our own. Quiet the chatter of my will and preach directly to me and my brothers & sisters… for in Jesus all we need is fulfilled by you. In his name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic which gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord. The recording is rather poor, but it’s a great hymn😊and will preach to you:

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=e3b91cf287ef2e46&rlz=1C1RXQR_enUS1119US1119&udm=7&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeoJTKjrFjVxydQWqI2NcOhZVmrJB8DQUK5IzxA2fZbQF4YL5sNSRJGgx0e9Z9AxExzjE4_ynshmXB4KOs3cwRUeWWsKhEolaqKblYfDXcX8o44lrMqH67kppK0pOExd7q2yJDRQQKlpEBHmw6_MVnVB63-D4QfZ_FNhtd2-sQaouA4jq5w&q=we+were+baptized+in+christ+jesus&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjx8PfrzPSRAxUzl2oFHTF2ERsQtKgLegQIExAB&biw=1163&bih=605&dpr=1.65#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:3d5c91a3,vid:nqb4HjxYCNg,st:0

What is baptism?

Baptism is not merely water; it is water used according to God's command and connected with God's Word.

What is this Word of God?

It is the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the last chapter of Matthew, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

What benefits does Baptism bring?

In baptism, God forgives sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe, as the Word and promise of God declare.

What is this Word and promise of God?

It is the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the last chapter of Mark, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

Benediction: The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.  (Philippians 4.7)

 

*The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray.  It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN).  The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:
T: thanksgiving
R: regret (repentance)
I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)
P: plan or purpose
Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.