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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. Acts 8:36-38

Read: Acts 8:36-39
Listen: Acts 8

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Philip explains the gospel, and the Ethiopian man believes. As they approach some water, the Ethiopian man asks Philip to baptize him. Belief moves him to respond with action. After his baptism, the man rejoices greatly. His story offers a beautiful picture of belief followed by obedience through baptism in response to Jesus’s command (Matthew 28:19).

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change that occurs after we place our faith and trust in Christ. Lowering into the water symbolizes dying to our old life without God. Rising from the water symbolizes our new life in Christ. It is a picture of our transformation from chaos to life with God (Romans 6:3-4 and 2 Corinthians 5:17). We are saved by grace through faith when we believe. Baptism demonstrates that cleansing in a real and meaningful way (Ephesians 2:8 and 1 Peter 3:21). We publicly declare our decision to make Jesus the leader of our life. We won’t be perfect but we seek to follow him in everything (Galatians 3:27 and John 14:15).

TODAY: Join us in praying for baptisms happening May 4-5. If you’ve never been baptized and are following Jesus—we’d love to talk with you. Maybe you were baptized as a child before you decided to follow Jesus. We’d be honored to discuss the key differences between infant baptism and believer’s baptism. Start a conversation HERE.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Read Exodus 16. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Note the provision of bread in the wilderness and consider how Jesus calls himself the Bread of Life and multiplies bread in the wilderness.