*Disclaimer: In the video "Infant baptism - simple and clear explanation" - nearing the end of the video (approx. 7:18), the narrator says, "this is why we do not practice paedocommunion." *This is not true for Hosanna Church. Hosanna Church practices "paedocommunion" (infant-communion) or "open communion" - allowing all young children and infants to come to the Lord's Table with their parental guardians to participate in communion, taking of the communion elements (bread and cup) as they are able. Although generally the principle in the video is agreed with, Hosanna Church acknowledges the mystery of God's timing for salvation, repentance, and how each individual comes to genuine faith in Jesus Christ. The communion Table itself can be a means to lead a child to true repentance and faith, as its intended goal is to invite all who long to come to Christ to take of His body and blood - the invitation of the gospel - either as those in process of being taught and led to genuine faith (as infants/children or even adults who are spiritual infants at heart) or already possessors of that genuine faith in Him (as conscious adults and spiritually grown adults). Thank you.

The Sacrament of Baptism for Infants and Little Children
 
 
Preliminary Biblical Foundation that Infants and Little Children were Included in the Baptized Covenant Community of Faith in the Church
 
In MATTHEW 21:14-16, Jesus proclaims that He has ordained out of the mouth of infants and little children, even through their incomprehensible cries, to worship Him with the praises of His name. – And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”
 
In PSALM 8:2, Jesus uses this Scripture to prove to His opponents that even infants and little children understand and receive who He is over and against the indignant spiritual leaders of that day. – Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
 
In 1 CORINTHIANS 7:14, the apostle Paul declares that when one believing spouse is present in the home, there is something vastly different happening with both the unbelieving spouse and the children they share together in the home. Concerning the children in the home, a covenant from Christ is being established. It’s not that the children are just placed in a Christian environment to grow up and make their own individual choice about Jesus one day, but that God sees them already as “holy/clean.” – For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
 
In GENESIS 21:4, Abraham places the mark of belonging to the covenant family of faith (circumcision) on his son Isaac before Isaac had any opportunity to profess a conscious faith. This happened to every infant on the 8th day of their birth to show that they too belonged to God and that God saw them as part of His covenant-circumcised family. – And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
 
In EXODUS 4:24-26, God shows us how vital it is to obey Him and put the mark of His covenant sign (circumcision) on children. Moses failed to do this early on with his son Gershom. The Lord was angry with this and even threatened to kill Moses for his disobedience. Yet his wife, Zipporah, sought to obey the Lord on his behalf. This shows us how important the new covenant sign (baptism) is for children and how we ought not to delay it for them. – At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
 
In COLOSSIANS 2:11-15, the apostle Paul refers to the new covenant sign of baptism as a “circumcision made without hands.” Now, the new and better sign of God’s covenant (baptism) can be given to all children – both male and female – and given painlessly without hands and blood. The Old Testament covenant sign of circumcision was made by blood in cutting the flesh. Yet now in the New Testament covenant sign of belonging to God, there is no more blood nor cutting of the flesh. Because Christ was cut and His blood poured out, we now can enjoy His washing painlessly and abundantly through the gift of water that points to His holy Spirit. – In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
 
In MATTHEW 28:18-20, Jesus commands us to make disciples of all people – that includes infants and little children – by first baptizing them in the triune name of God, and teaching them all that Christ has commanded. There are numerous commands, beginning from the Old Testament, for parents to teach their young children the law of the Lord and include them in the life of the covenant community. If Christian parents are okay to teach about Jesus to their children from infancy/early childhood, we should also be supportive of baptizing them first, according to the Great Commission. Baptizing our infant children and young children is part of the disciple-making process that Christian parents are stewarded and commanded to do by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as their children grow in the faith and understanding of His commands. – And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
 

What Baptism is
 
“Baptism” (verb form: baptizo) in the Bible means “washing/cleansing with the holy Spirit.” Jesus Christ has washed and cleansed us from all our sins with His holy Spirit so that our life of faith, holiness, and repentance can begin. Before a reference to water, the meaning of baptism revolves around the holy Spirit.
 
In MATTHEW 3:11, the baptizer John says – I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
 
Baptism was the beginning path, invitation, opportunity, and commission for elementary faith to be possessed and grown – not a validation of profession in a grown person with an already matured faith – and it was given immediately by the application of water to a person God had revealed Himself to (alongside his/her entire household) when a sincere gesture towards elementary faith was expressed (usually in the form of silent awe, trust, an open heart to hear and respond in obedience, submission, a renewal of mind).
 
In ACTS 22:14-16, Ananias speaks to a blinded Paul who had just experienced the great light from heaven and the voice of Jesus on the way to persecute Christians in Damascus, and whose baptism was given immediately – The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
 
Baptism was the initiation into the visible covenant community of the early church that marked every age group and life stage in the church – elderly, adults, young adults, youth, children, and infants alike. All households/families (adult converts and their children) were baptized using water applied to the body, to certify that just as certain as water touched the skin, so surely Christ’s covenant promise of His washing and cleansing with His holy Spirit had touched their (and their families’) lives to begin this new journey of faith. When one representative of the home believed, the entire household was baptized – such was true of Cornelius’ family (ACTS 10), Lydia’s family and the Philippian jailer’s family (ACTS 16), Crispus’ family (ACTS 18), and Stephanus’ family (1 CORINTHIANS 1).
 
In ACTS 16:14-15, missionary Paul and his companions speak about a woman named Lydia and her family that had listened to them in Philippi and were baptized together – One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.  And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
 
Baptism began the discipleship experience for new Christian parents and their baptized children. Christian parents especially made disciples among their children in their household through: (1) teaching them all that Jesus had commanded in the Scriptures and (2) baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and holy Spirit at the earliest age; (3) bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
 
In MATTHEW 28:18-20, Jesus says – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
 
In EPHESIANS 6:1-4, Paul writes to children and parents in Christian households – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
 
In DEUTERONOMY 11:19, LORD commands His law through Moses to the parents – You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
 
In MATTHEW 19:14, Jesus welcomes the children to come Him as members of His Kingdom – But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
 
In our denominational family, the sacraments are described as:
The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are signs that are linked to the things signified, sealing to us the promises of Jesus. In the Baptism of infants, we confess our confidence in God’s gracious initiative, that a baby who cannot turn to God is nonetheless claimed as a member of the covenant community, a child of God, cleansed by grace and sealed by the Spirit; in the Baptism of adults, we confess our confidence that God’s grace can make us new creations at any stage of our lives. Baptism is a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, a mark of entrance into the visible church, and it is the Holy Spirit who makes this sacrament efficacious in God's time to those whom God has called.
(Essential Tenants of the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians [ECO])

  1. Sign – Like a sign that points to a direction outside of ourselves, baptism by water is a sign pointing to God (not to us), pointing to His covenant promise and not our degree of repentance or validated level of faith. It is a sign pointing to the washing and cleansing forgiveness that God pledges will forever be available to His people in Jesus Christ. This sign points away from us and towards the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  2. Seal – Like a marking and imprinting that seals a royal decree forever, baptism by water is a seal made with the shed blood of Jesus. As sure as His blood has been shed, His faithfulness to His covenant promise to wash/cleanse us of our sins and gift us with new life in His Name will never change and will forever be available for all those who seek and desire it. Baptism is a permanent seal and guarantee of this. Like a seal that cannot be broken, the LORD ensures for all generations through baptism that the love of Jesus Christ with the washing of His holy Spirit has been poured out for all, regardless of how far our lives may stray, or how resistant we may live apart from Him for a season, or how our lives ultimately end up. God’s covenant faithfulness will not change. God’s covenant promise in the gift of Jesus will not change. God’s invitation in the covenant of grace to come to Him through His Son and Spirit will not change. Although we change, God’s words and works are a signed seal that cannot be broken.
  3. Mark of entrance into the visible church – Baptism by water was the initiation and identification of a person as a member of the visible church. It identified an individual or household as belonging to the covenant community of the church – adults and children alike. As a sign and seal of who belonged in the covenant community of God’s people and who did not, the covenant signs of membership can be traced back to the Old Testament sign of circumcision that marked entrance into the visible community of God’s people. Limited only to male infants (given on the 8th day) or male adults (given upon conversion to faith in the God of Israel), circumcision was a painful sign made in the flesh with blood to mark out who belonged in God’s family. Every female connected in marriage or family to a circumcised male also spiritually marked them as members of God’s covenant people. Yet now with the coming of Jesus Christ, the new and better covenant sign of baptism has been inaugurated, painlessly applied with water to all genders in infants and adults alike. Because Jesus’ blood was spilled painfully in the flesh on a cross, we can now have the new covenant sign painlessly in the washing waters of baptism with the holy Spirit, which Paul calls a circumcision made without hands by the circumcision of Christ in COLOSSIANS 2:11-12 – In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.  
 
Baptism by water does not save us, but is a sacred sealed sign pointing to how God saves us. Just because we are baptized by water does not mean we have genuinely embraced Jesus Christ. Water is used sacredly in the application of baptism, but there is nothing supernatural about physical water. Rather, the water is a sacred sign pointing to salvation over qualifying us for salvation. It is pointing to God's initiating grace – the covenant of grace – in Christ that washed all our sins away prior to turning to Him in repentance. Repentance is the outflowing fruit of salvation, and never the grounds of salvation. Therefore, baptism is not about our decision (I choose Christ), but God’s declaration (Christ chose me and forgave me). Our decisions, professions, and commitments will always falter in the weakness of our sinful flesh. But God’s declaration, promise, and covenant stand forever.
 
In 1 PETER 3:21, Peter reminds the church that baptism does not remove dirt from the body but is a constant appeal for a good conscience in the mind before God – Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 
In 1 CORINTHIANS 1:17, Paul reaffirms his commission from Jesus was not to perform baptisms, but to preach the gospel – For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
 
In ACTS 16:30-31, Paul and his companions remind the Philippian jailer that baptism is not a condition to being saved. Rather, Paul reminds us we are only saved by the simple reaction of trusting in the Lord Jesus – Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
 
Although the sacrament of baptism does not save a person, it should not be considered a secondary significance to the Christian life or a mere symbol/outward expression of the internal reality. In baptism, there is a real identification/marking out that the LORD does to bring His people into His covenant family, where otherwise ordinary water is used as sacred water that carries the washing of the holy Spirit.
 
In ROMANS 6:3-4, Paul reminds us that those of us who have been baptized have also been connected to and identified with a baptism into Christ’s death that brings forth newness of life – Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
 
Baptism cannot only mean to be immersed underwater, as the Pharisees were astonished that Jesus did not first wash (“baptize” his hands – not his whole body underwater) before dinner – While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash [“baptize”] before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. (LUKE 11:37-41).
           
In MARK 7:4-5, “baptism” is described again as the “washing” of the hands and the “washing” of silverware in reference to the ceremonial cleansing practices of the Pharisees – and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash [“baptize”]. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing [“baptism”] of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?”
 
The simple truth is that we do not know how baptism with water was done nor where the water was placed on the body nor if the entire body was submerged when water was plentiful. *Therefore, to require one method alone is not biblically faithful to the text of Scripture. In MATTHEW 3:11, John the Baptist says of Jesus, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Therefore, the baptism in Christ is not about the water or the amount of water. The water is not the focus but the sign. Rather, if we are to be baptized with the baptism of Jesus, the focus is on the Holy Spirit and fire – a symbol of God’s presence as the burning bush was in the days of Moses.
 
We know at least on one occasion at night, baptism could not have happened by submersion underwater in ACTS 16:33, when Paul and Silas baptized the Philippian jailer sometime past midnight where there could not have been enough light, let alone water, to have a submersion baptism for the whole family while the jailer washed their wounds with water. It is more than likely that the jailer was baptized in the same way the wounds were being washed, by some application of pouring or sprinkling – And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
 
The Scriptures also leave the baptismal method intentionally unclear in the baptism of Jesus as well as the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch. In MATTHEW 3:16, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river but we do not know exactly how, for the text does not say He was submerged underwater and came out from underwater, but rather that he “went up” or “left” the location of where the water was after first being baptized – when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.

Likewise in ACTS 8:38-39, both Philip and the eunuch went down to where the water was and Philip baptized him. They then “came up out of the water” or “left” the area where the water was, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing while the Lord carried Philip away – And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. *Notice, "they both" went down into the water, and then they both came up out of the water. This cannot mean that there was a double-submersion underwater of both the baptizer (Philip) and the one baptized (eunuch), for only the one baptized is applied with water in baptism. Yet the text still says they "both" went down and both came back up. Therefore, it is more biblically logical to interpret this similarly with Jesus' baptism, that they both went to the area where the water was located, where Philip baptized the eunuch (in an unknown manner/mode), and then both departed the area of water to dry land, where the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing. It was on dry land - "up out of the water" rather than from underwater - after having baptized and left the place of water, where Philip was taken away by the Spirt of the Lord. Likewise, it was on dry land - "up from the water" rather than from underwater - after having been baptized and left the place of water, where the Spirit of God descended like a dove upon Jesus. 

Therefore, in both cases of MATTHEW 3:16 and ACTS 8:38-39, it does not prove that the mode/manner of baptism for Jesus nor the Ethiopian eunuch was by submersion underwater of the whole body. Rather, they went near to the area of water with a high likelihood to obtain some amount of water that was not readily nor widely available, with the amount of water used to baptize being unknown that cannot reference solely full-body submersion. Then after the baptism took place, together they departed the area of water, coming "up out of the water" to dry ground.
 
Who Baptism is for

  1. Baptism is for everyone who has been exposed to God’s grace, convicted by the holy Spirit to put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, having received His Word as truth.
  2. Baptism is for infants, children, youth, young adults, adults, and elderly of Christian households (all ages and life stages). When one or more members of the family put their trust in Jesus Christ, all of the remaining family members/household should be encouraged for baptism without delay as God’s invitation for them likewise to possess faith in Christ, begin their journey of growth in holiness, and be marked as belonging to the visible new covenant community of the church.
 
In ACTS 2:38-39, Peter says to the crowd who were cut to the heart with the preaching of the gospel that every one of them should be baptized, including the children under their care – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
 
 
Baptismal Vows for Parental Guardian(s)
 
In the reformed presbyterian heritage, the baptism of infants and children require a profession of faith from the parental guardian(s) of the household, with vows and pledges to be made before God to nurture a spiritual home and Christ-centered family for the infant or child to be raised in the wisdom and nourishment of the LORD, with hope that one day they will grow into a conscious possession of faith and sanctification. The vows for the parental guardian(s) includes the following seven affirmations:

  1. Do you receive the gospel of God’s grace revealed in the person of Jesus Christ in the inspired and inerrant Holy Scriptures of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, and that by God’s covenant promises this gospel is given to you and to your children? If so, would you say, “we do”?
  2. Do you embrace Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, who has loved you to death on the cross, bearing the penalty of your sins and rising bodily on the third day, making you a completely new creation in this life and the life to come? If so, would you say, “we do”?
  3. Do you acknowledge [your child] is a sinner, sinful by nature and by birth, and that only by the grace of God in Christ alone are sins forgiven, old nature put to death, so that newness of life may appear to be set apart as a member of the body of Christ? If so, would you say, we do?
  4. Do you promise to pray with [your child], to pray for yourself, and to pray with your spouse and family members, asking God’s guidance as together you seek to grow the knowledge and understanding of the gospel in [your child]? If so, would you say, we do?
  5. Do you promise to show in your own person the joy of life in Christ by active participation with [your child] in the life of the church by serving, giving, praying for the covenant community all to the glory of God? If so, would you say, we do?
  6. Do you acknowledge that baptism does not save your child but is the sign to your child of the gospel message – that while we were still sinners, Christ loved us, died for us, and reconciled us to God, and that baptism is not solely a validation of saving faith but a sign to embrace faith, inviting us to belong to His covenant family, that only by grace alone in Christ alone through faith alone can save [your child] as [he/she] grows in the capacity to grasp truth and exercise conscious saving faith of God’s love? If so, would you say, we do?
  7. Lastly, do you now unreservedly dedicate [your child] wholly to the LORD, and promise in humble reliance upon His divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before [your child] a godly example, that you will teach [your child] how to pray, teach [him/her] the doctrines in holy Scripture, showing [him/her] a sincere relationship with Jesus, and that you will strive by all the means of God’s appointment to raise [your child] up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? If so, would you say, we do?
 

Baptismal Vows for the Congregation
 
A congregational vow/pledge to the parental guardian(s) and to the LORD also follows with the question: Do we promise to seek God’s guidance as we welcome [your child] into the community of faith, undertaking the responsibility of assisting these parents in the nurture of [your child], providing with Christ's love and compassion through our prayers and encouragements, our teachings and affection, so that [your child] might grow to love Jesus with all [his/her] heart, soul, mind, and strength? If so, would you say, we do?
 

Confessional Standards
 
APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
      Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
      Born of the virgin Mary
      Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, dead, and buried
      He descended into hell.
      On the third day, He rose again
      And ascended into heaven
      Where He sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy universal church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
 
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
 

Profession of Faith/Personal Testimony of Salvation
 
In the baptism of infants of Christian households, the reformed presbyterian heritage qualifies the household for baptism by a parental guardian’s profession of faith in whom the spiritual care of the infant will grow up into the knowledge of Christ. A profession of faith is simply a statement of what you believe about the gospel. It can – but does not always have to – have a personal element of your personal faith journey. It is mainly a doctrinal statement of what you believe to be true about God as Father, Son, and Spirit. It can also be about sin, the cross, salvation, resurrection, faith, justification, sanctification, and glorification. It can also be about baptism and how you see God’s gracious initiative working in your infant child already, with the holy Spirit drawing the child to Christ through your affections and prayers.
 
Write-out your story of how Jesus Christ came to seek and to find you. The following 3 parts may help organize your personal testimony.
*Sample: “Dear Congregation, Today I am here to offer my infant child to be baptized with the holy Spirit through water and prayer, trusting in God’s unchanging promise for my child to have sent Jesus Christ to die and rise again for the forgiveness of sins. In obedience to the Great Commission, we commit to make a true disciple of Jesus in our child by teaching all the commands of Christ and baptizing in the name of Father, Son, and Spirit, as done today. Our family came to faith in the Lord through….”
  1. [Part 1] Who is Jesus to you? What did He do for you through the cross and resurrection?
  2. [Part 2] How did you come to trust in Jesus Christ alone as your only Savior and Lord?
  3. [Part 3] How is your life different now with Him?
  4. [Part 4] How do you see God at work in your infant child, and what pledge do you make to the Lord to raise your infant child in His ways?
*1/2-page double-spaced
*Include at least one Scripture verse
*At the end, give thanks to God for the individuals that helped you meet the Lord (parents, family, Pastors, etc). Send to [email protected]. Bring it next Sunday for our last time together.

 
The Gospel – 3 Circles
 
Parents and children can learn and present the gospel through this simple 3-circle presentation.

  1. This world is a broken place
  2. But we see glimpses of another perfect world (beauty of a sunset, birth of a child, etc)
  3. How we got from God's perfect world to our broken world is due to sin
  4. As sinners, we don't like to remain in brokenness, so often we try to find ways to escape with…etc.
  5. But the only way of escape and healing is in turning to Jesus, who carried all brokenness in His own body on the cross, dying and rising again to restore our broken world
  6. Now whoever turns away from their broken life to trust wholly on Jesus' perfect, holy life and work, making Him King, will be restored
  7. Now instead of trying to escape our brokenness, we can run into our broken world to bring the healing and restoration of a new life in relationship to Jesus Christ as our King
  8. Which circle are you in? Would you like to turn from a broken world to God's perfect world? Would you like to embrace Jesus as your King to bring wholeness and restoration into your life?
*Now, you try drawing and explaining in your own words the gospel through the 3-Circles Gospel Presentation!
 
*Draw here:
 

 
 
 
 
*Explain here:
 
 
 
 

*CONGRATULATIONS! You have now completed the Baptism Orientation! Your baptism will be scheduled during a worship gathering. God bless you as you keep walking daily with Jesus Christ, your Savior, Lord, and King, through the help and power of the indwelling holy Spirit!
hosanna_baptism_children.pdf
File Size: 636 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File