An Every Day Baptism

Read It: Mark 1:9-11 (NRSV)

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 

Learn It:

Baptism is very important as it connects us with the whole Christian family.  Baptism is also the time when we receive the Holy Spirit and we are forgiven of our sins.  Even Jesus was baptized which shows us just how important baptism is to being a part of this family of God.  Martin  Luther said that we should daily remember our baptism.  Baptism isn't a one time event that happened at some time past but it is a daily living out of our faith.  We should remember to daily live out our baptismal lives.  

Share It:

Talk with your family about the day everyone was baptized. Do this over dinner or during some family time.  Who was there?  Where was it?  Do you remember it?  If you have children talk about when they were baptized and what the whole experience was like.  What are your thoughts on why Jesus was baptized?  Share these ideas and anything else that comes up during your 'share it' time.  

Live It:

Remember Luther said we should daily remember our baptism?  One way he said to do that is that every time we take a bath or shower that we should say to ourselves, "I am a baptized child of God," and mark ourselves with the cross on our foreheads.  Try this out for a week and see how it might change your view of water or how baptism is really a daily living out our faith.  It is wonderful that at Faith we have our baptismal font on our way to receiving communion.  I want to encourage you next week when you are at church to use the baptismal font during communion to remind yourself of your baptism by signing your forehead with a cross.  It is a perfect way to not only remember your baptism but to also connect our two sacraments: baptism and communion.

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Please post comments with your experience with the share it or live it part of this weeks post.  Let others know if you and your family found this useful.