Baptism is a miracle, a supernatural event where God changes our destiny as we are born again of water and the Spirit. We are commanded by Christ to baptize. Sometimes we baptize and then teach, other times we teach and then baptize.
As one of the means of grace, baptism works forgiveness in our lives. It is also a celebration of God’s calling on our lives. (He chooses us, we do not choose Him.) Part of baptism also is understanding who we are now in Christ, and then living into that new identity each day as we remember our baptism. If that is not your habit yet, try beginning each day by remembering God’s promise of forgiveness and rebirth given to you at your baptism, and then live as if it’s true, for it is!

It is good to remember that everything good is a gift from God, and that only His grace enables us to live as His disciples each day. As we view reality from God’s perspective, we are encouraged and guided to live completely in faith and trust in Him.

The concept of communicating with God can be scary for some people, but while awe is certainly appropriate, God does want us to come to him with confidence.
At the same time, prayer changes us more than God; it reminds us of what God wants for us. He wants us to recognize and view Him as our Father as well as our God. He wants us to desire God’s will. He wants us to depend on Him for everything, our daily needs and especially forgiveness, and finally He wants us to seek His guidance for our lives.

Again [Jesus] said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” – John 20:21-23 (NLT) The Office of the […]

The Creed’s purpose is basically to help us understand the identity of God.
If God the Father is the creator, then I’m the creature; He is all-powerful and I am the dependent creation.
By stressing the significance of the incarnation, of Jesus’ life, and of His death and resurrection, the Creed not only reminds us of where our salvation comes from, but is also a map of how we can share the gospel – God created us, we strayed, and then He sent Jesus to save us. Now the Holy Spirit comes to live in all believers, and he is our comforter and guide, and also our strength.

Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you — Deuteronomy 6:3a (NLT)

We begin a study of the chief parts of the Christian faith with a look at the Ten Commandments.

The commandments show us God’s values, and describe how God wants us to live. Because God understands how weak we are, He tells us to constantly remind ourselves and each other to obey them. Because we reap what we sow, the goal of this obedience is not to deny us freedom, but to give us a fulfilling life. The key to obedience is loving God with all of our being; then it is easier to think of the commandments as laws that lead to life, and to ask God for the power to desire to obey them.