Baptism Sunday

Sermon Outline:  Sunday, November 16th, 2025
Speaker: Gary Campbell, Jr.

Introduction- Changing allegiances

I. A recognition— We are connected & committed to the Church

     Recognize our “first rites”

     A.  Baptism connects me to the "Big C" Church

          1.  Matthew 28:19, Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 12:13

     B.  Baptism commits me to the local church

          1.  The NT identifies baptized believers as immediately:

            • “Added,” “counted among”- Acts 2:41-42, 47

            • “Inside”- Acts 8, 1 Corinthians 5

            • “Part of the flock”- Acts 10, Acts 20

            • “Your leaders”- Hebrews 13:7

          2.  The NT assumes that baptized Christians:

            • meet regularly- Hebrews 10:25

            • submit to elders- Hebrews 13:17

            • involvement in discipline- 1 Corinthians 5

            • partake of the Lord’s Supper in the Body- 1 Corinthians 11

Apply- How does baptism stir me to desire real belonging?

II.  A realization—  We have new life in Jesus!

     Realize our “first fruits”

     A.  We’ve moved from death to life and our sin-debt is paid!

            • Colossians 2:12-14

     B.  United and identified with Him in His death and in His life

            • Romans 6:4-9

Illustration- Illustrated throughout Scripture

Apply- How does baptism stir me to renewed obedience?

III.  A remembrance- We worship as a response for our rescue

     Remember our “first Love”

     A.  Rejoice that you’ve been rescued!

            • Colossians 1:3, 13-14

     B.  God’s Sovereignty/Man’s Responsibility

            • 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Illustration- Baptisms and Weddings

Apply- How does baptism stir me to greater worship?

Final thought- Connected to the global Church, committed to the local church. Real belonging. Renewed obedience. Greater worship.

Small Group Questions

Sunday, November 16th, 2025

BAPTISM-

Baptism is one of the great celebrations of the Christian life and community.

Baptism is an outward, public, and symbolic picture of what has already taken place in the hearts of those who have been saved, by trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in their place.

Baptism serves as a symbol, but it also serves as a witness, to each one of us, that those who are baptized this weekend testify to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to His saving power in their lives- and for that reason we must celebrate!

Launch

Have you been baptized? What have been your impressions or understanding of baptism in early life? What have you learned about baptism recently?

READ- Matthew 28:16-20

Observe

1. What are the imperatives (commands) of this passage for followers of Jesus?

Process

2. How was baptism linked to the spreading of the gospel?

READ- Acts 8:26-40

Process

3. What does the eunuch observe after making a commitment to the gospel Philip explains to him?

4. How is the account of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch an inspiring reminder of the simplicity of baptism and the power of the gospel?

Respond

5. Have you lost sight of the wonder of the first-love of Jesus that you once had?

READ- Romans 6:1-10

Process

6. Having made such a strong case that all are lost, dead, condemned sinners in chapters 1-3, Paul is here just as forceful that our sin and our “obligation” to it died when Jesus died- symbolically emphasized in our baptism. Have you comprehended that your obligation to sin is in fact dead with Christ?

Respond

7. Equally important to being set free from sin in Jesus’ death, is the fact that we are also raised to new life, a life of bond-servanthood to God, because of the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Where do you need the reminder of this reality, that we have a completely new and different life? (See also Ephesians 1:18-20)