Leader: Xerox copies for use by each one in the Bible Study.

Baptism

Welcome
1. Do you enjoy swimming?
2. Share a pleasant memory of when you went to the beach or a river.

Worship
Word
Reasons Why People Get Baptized
Sometimes we do the right thing for the wrong reason. Maybe that’s the way it is with baptism.

Discussion #1

1. What are some of the different reasons today why people get baptized?

2. Let’s read Matthew 3:13-15.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him,
saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so
now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

3. Why do you think Jesus was baptized?

* To take away his sins?
* To become a child of God?
* To go to heaven?
* To become a Christian?

4. Approximately how old do you think Jesus was when he was baptized?
___ Newborn
___ Teenager
___ Adult

5. What did you discover about baptism from Matthew 3:13-15?

Baptism 2

Death and New Life

If baptism cannot cleanse us from our sin and save us, then why should we be baptized? Baptism is
important for all believers. It is symbolic of our death to our former sinful way of life, and our
resurrection to a new way of life in obedience to God. When we are covered by the water, this
symbolizes our death – death of our old nature and former way of life. We have repented and
turned away from our sins. We are now dead to sin. When we come up out of the water, this
symbolizes our new life as true believers in Christ. We are new people now. Baptism is only a
symbol of our new way of life.

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was
raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For we know that
our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should
no longer be slaves to sin. (Romans 6:3-4,6)

Discussion #2
1. What did you discover in the verses above about baptism?
2. What is the meaning of baptism?

Faith First
Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is
water. Why shouldn’t I be 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 8:35-38).

One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of
Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s
message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to their
home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.”
And she persuaded us (Acts 16:14-15).

Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the
Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8).

Discussion #3

1. What did you discover about faith and baptism from the examples of those who were baptized?
2. Which came first, baptism or faith.
3. In your opinion, how old does a person need to be before they can truly have faith?

Obedience to Christ
Baptism 3

Jesus commanded his disciples:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Discussion #4

1. What commands did Jesus give to his disciples?

2. How important is baptism? Why?

As A Testimony
A missionary who was visiting Northern India asked an Indian pastor there, “How many
believers do you have now in your outreach?”

“More or less 50… but only one is a Christian,” he answered sadly.

“What?” The surprised missionary said, “What do you mean?”

“Only one has been baptized,” the pastor quickly answered.

At this the missionary was a little concerned. He asked the pastor, “Do you believe that baptism
ittself proves someone is a true Christian?”

The pastor stopped for a moment then slowly said, “You don’t understand the people of India. To
these people, because of their Hindu belief, being baptized means turning away their family &
friends, being disowned by their society in general. One who is prepared to accept this sort of
judgment from their society is a true Christian. Baptism is a declaration that one is a follower of
Christ. If a believer does not want to be baptized, the Hindus will not believe that he is a Christian.
That’s the way it is in India.

Discussion #5

1. Why do you think there are Filipinos today who do not want to be baptized?
Baptism 4

Summary
1. Jesus was baptized. We should follow His example.

2. Salvation, forgiveness, and becoming a child of God are not based on baptism.

3. Baptism symbolizes our death to our former way of life and the beginning of a new way of
life.

4. Faith in Christ should precede baptism. The person being baptized should be old enough to
understand the symbolic meaning of baptism.

5. Jesus commanded us to baptize.

6. We should be baptized publicly. This is a testimony of our faith to our friends and
neighbors.

Review Questions
1. Why should we be baptized?

2. What is the meaning of baptism?

3. Have you been baptized yet?

4. Would you like to be baptized?

Discussion #6

1. Discuss your answers to the questions above.

2. If you would like to be baptized, talk to your leader or pastor to make plans for this.
3. Be sure to invite all of your family and friends to your baptism!

Warfare
1. Pray for personal needs and for unsaved friends and relatives.
2. Pray for all those who would like to be baptized.

Dave White, Philippine Challenge

Last revision: Sept. 12, 1997
These and other free materials can be downloaded at www.philchal.org
Click on “Church Multiplication Resources / Bible Studies for New Believers / Baptism.”