Pastor Mike sets the stage for a baptism service, explaining the symbolism behind baptism. They emphasize that baptism is an outward symbol of an inner transformation already accomplished by God, represented by going under water (likeness of Jesus’ death) and coming out (likeness of His resurrection). Mike references Romans chapter six and the Great Commission as the foundations for the act of baptism and mission of making disciples. The message also addresses ongoing pastoral succession in the church, emphasizing a belief in small, personal discipleship as key to church growth. He encourages the congregation to see God’s work in each testimony and to join in celebrating these transformative stories.
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Pastor Mike Candy
Excerpt from “Baptism Service June 2024”
Video Transcript:
I just want to briefly set the stage before you this morning, and then we’re going to jump right into baptisms. You’ll notice that we’re all wearing these shirts because baptism is really just a symbol of what God has already done on the inside of us. The word forgiven is already here. It’s before we get into the tank declaring that you are a Christian.
When each person goes under the water, you’re going to hear us say, in the likeness of his death, as they go under, and then as we bring them back up, in the likeness of his resurrection, that is Jesus. We have died to an old way of life, and now we live to a new way. We didn’t make up these phrases. They come right out of Romans chapter six.
Here’s what it says. For if we have been united with him, Christ, in the likeness of his death, We will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. Now, each person is going to tell their story of how God has worked in their life. And, uh, you may even relate to some of the different aspects of their story.
Here’s just a few of the pieces that you might hear throughout this morning. Some grew up attending church. Some did not. Some were raised in this country, others in other countries. Some rejected the idea of God and labeled themselves atheists at one point. While others were taught God’s truth from an early age.
But one thing they all share in common, is that God brought these people to a saving relationship with Him. A place of surrender to say, My allegiance is yours, Jesus. Through His word, the Bible, Amen. By using other people, actually some of you were used in these stories this morning. Through suffering and pain, through interrupted plans and medical crisis, through the boldness of high school students, through the faithfulness of praying parents.
We hear the goodness of God all over these testimonies this morning. Amen. But I’ll say this, we are all broken people who have been made new because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. People who are still enrolled in the school of grace. We have not graduated. These are not perfect people. People who are God’s possession, zealous to do good works and living as ambassadors for Jesus.
Our church has been on a journey these last few years with the pastoral succession, and we are not done yet. There’s still process to still happen. I’m sure the process has made its way into your thoughts and discussions, maybe your small group, and hopefully your prayers, as it’s tied into many of our stories.
We’ve learned to walk prayerfully, patiently, and dependent on God’s spirit. And one question that just seems to keep coming up. Many have asked me these questions over the last few months during either interviews or question and answer sessions or conversations. A variation of the same question. When Pastor Mark retires, what are you guys going to do?
What are you going to do to grow the church? How are we going to stay afloat, maybe the question has been asked. What’s the fancy new vision that will lead us into the future? And I’ll just say, there are scores of books written on church growth strategies, and I’m sure everybody has a couple of things that we could add, even in our context.
Big questions deserve big answers. What are we going to do to grow the church? How are we going to keep going? And when you ask that big question, the dust begins to settle from all the planning, dreaming, and strategizing. And we find the answer to this big question invites us to think small. To think little.
An answer that demands we participate in the answer. And if you cut me up, this, this verse is the, the beat of my heart, the, the hope going forward. If you’re looking for a church growth strategy, listen to the Jesus way. Matthew 28, 19 through 20. And Jesus came to the disciples and said these words, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
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, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you, even to the end of the age. Throughout church history, this has been called the Great Commission, and rightly so.
This is an incredibly weighty and powerful moment of, of commissioning by Jesus to his disciples. The task is eternal, significant, essential. It’s, it’s huge. All nations? Really? That’s hard. But the answer is first, not a big movement with complicated structures and org charts. It is little. It’s personal.
Maybe you read it this way.
I’m the all powerful God, and I’m sending you. Go, Mike. Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them to obey my words. And don’t forget, I am with you always.
You might be a guest this morning, and you’ll see what’s happening behind us. This is a visual, intentionally a visual moment. Jesus included this, this, even this service in his church growth strategy, not just Fellowship Community Church, the whole global church, that people would engage in baptism. And as you see with every person being dunked under the water, and you hear death to life, death to life, darkness to light in their stories, maybe you’re here this morning because God wants to tell you that your story is not going to end.
with darkness, but that you can find light in Christ. Maybe you listen to the words spoken this morning and, uh, we’re not primarily highlighting their stories. We’re seeing what God has done in their lives. And so I’ll ask you to ask yourself this question. What did that story teach me about who God is?
Who is God because of the story that I just heard? Do I know that God? And I’ll ask you finally to just respond. Um, when the person comes up out of the water, think of that VBS song we just sang. Praising God for the work He has done. Cheering with volume, giving glory to God for His work. And we give glory to Him in each story this morning.