Because you want to follow Christ’s example. “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” Mark 1:9 Because Christ commanded it. “Jesus said, `Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything I have commanded you..’” Matthew 28:19-20 Because it shows you are a believer. ”…many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” Acts 18:8 Because obeying Christ’s command shows you know Him. “We know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands.” 1 John 2:3

The meaning of Baptism:

It is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. ”Christ died for our sins…he was buried… and he rose again.” 1 Corinthians. 15:3,4“For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.” Colossians 2:12 It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. “When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17“By our baptism then we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead also we might live a new life!” Romans 6:4
Baptism does not make you a believer, it shows that you already are one! Baptism does not “save” you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring – it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

HOW should we be baptized:

Like Jesus was baptized by being immersed in water. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16 Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water. “…then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…” Acts 8:38,39 The word “Baptize” literally means “to dip under water”. The Greek word “baptizo” means “to immerse or dip under water.” It is the best way to picture a burial and resurrection. Martin Luther… “I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the work imports and the mystery signifies.” John Calvin… “The word ´baptize´ signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.” John Wesley… “Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.”

Who should be baptized:

Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ.
”Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized.” Acts 2:41 “But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News… And the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12 “Simon himself believed and was baptized…” Acts 8:13 The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ! We do not baptize children until they are old enough to understand and believe. Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed. This is different from the baptism talked about in the Bible which was only for those old enough to believe. The purpose is to publicly confess your personal commitment to Christ

When should I be baptized:

As soon as you have believed! You shouldn’t delay.
”Those who believed…were baptized…that day!” Acts 2:41 “Then Philip began with the 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 right now? Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. The official answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:36-39 (paraphrase) There is no reason to delay. As soon as a person decides to believe in Christ, they can and should be baptized.

Thursday, June 23
Outdoor Activities Students (With Youth Pastors)
4:30pm Youth Pastor Session 1
5:00pm Session 2
6:45pm Youth Pastor Session 2
6:30pm Tailgate at Church with Food for Purchase
7:30pm Session 3

Friday. June 24
10:00am Session 4
12:00pm Lunch Break
2:30pm Youth Pastor Session 3
3:00pm Session 5 & 6
3:30pm Youth Pastor Session 4
5:30pm Dinner Break
7:30pm Session 7

Acts 11:15 “The Holy Spirit fell on them as He fell on us AT THE BEGINNING.” Pentecost is more than a day. It is an ongoing experience.

   I believe that we are going to have a three day God Encounter that will be marked by the power of Pentecost. I cannot remember the last time I have been so hungry for a move of God! Something is stirring in our church that is trickling down to all the ministries. Our youth ministry is in the middle of what feels like a move of God. The kids are hungry, worship is anointed, and souls are being saved. It is simply the Lord. I believe God is going to move in a way that we have never seen as a church or youth conference. I am so excited that YOU are coming with your leadership teams, and young people. I believe Youth Pastors are going to receive directional words and confirming words for your ministries. Hope will be restored. A love for people will be renewed. And we will all return to our first love. I can’t wait!

 No matter who you are if you are coming to www.dedicatedlv.com please take Acts 11:15 and start praying it daily. I know God is up to something!

JSC

Why be baptized:

Because you want to follow Christ’s example. “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” Mark 1:9

Because Christ commanded it. “Jesus said, `Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything I have commanded you..’” Matthew 28:19-20

Because it shows you are a believer. ”…many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” Acts 18:8

Because obeying Christ’s command shows you know Him. “We know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands.”  1 John 2:3

The meaning baptism:

It is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. ”Christ died for our sins…he was buried… and he rose again.” 1 Corinthians. 15:3,4“For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.” Colossians 2:12

It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. “When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17“By our baptism then we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead also we might live a new life!” Romans 6:4
Baptism does not make you a believer, it shows that you already are one! Baptism does not “save” you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring – it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

HOW should we be baptized:

Like Jesus was baptized by being immersed in water. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16

Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water. “…then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…” Acts 8:38,39

The word “Baptize” literally means “to dip under water”. The Greek word “baptizo” means “to immerse or dip under water.”

It is the best way to picture a burial and resurrection.

Martin Luther… “I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the work imports and the mystery signifies.”

John Calvin… “The word ´baptize´ signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.”

John Wesley… “Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.”

Who should be baptized:

Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ.
”Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized.” Acts 2:41

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News… And the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12

“Simon himself believed and was baptized…” Acts 8:13

The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ!

We do not baptize children until they are old enough to understand and believe. Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed.

This is different from the baptism talked about in the Bible which was only for those old enough to believe. The purpose is to publicly confess your personal commitment to Christ

When should I be baptized:

As soon as you have believed! You shouldn’t delay.
”Those who believed…were baptized…that day!” Acts 2:41

“Then Philip began with the 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 right now? Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. The official answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:36-39 (paraphrase)

There is no reason to delay. As soon as a person decides to believe in Christ, they can and should be baptized.

#1: Perspective. It is cool to look over the crowd and just see and feel the vibe. It can help you to know where to take the night.

#2: Example. Never forget this… YOU ARE THE WORSHIP LEADER. Your people need to see HOW to worship. Yes, give them all the Bible reasons and expressions of worship. But when you live a life of worship and show them how to worship they WILL follow.

#3: Leadership. Your leaders (both worship team and other leaders) need to see you and know that NO ONE is to cool to worship. Green rooms are for conferences. Not a local youth ministry. Plus, it encourages your worship team BIG TIME. They are inspired and fearless knowing their pastor is up there slugging it out with them. Everyones faith rises.

• Sincerity does NOT promise divine order
• We have raised a generation of young men who can only feel love through soft touch
• If you do not see God in order, You will assume he is confused
• Order is sensed with a CALM
• Am I the kind of member I would want?
• Oil without structure leads to waist
• If you do not have respect for rank & file you will never have longevity
• Your next in line to get what you just gave
• Jesus said: I kept all but one. HE KNEW! Judas.
• Every relationship has seed in it
• Never confuse money & power
• Anything that doesn’t change doesn’t grow
• Drug dealers don’t discount there prices!
• Am I only relevant in one circle?
• Has God called you to your city to change it? Or sent you to your city so the city could change you?
• God ONLY trains you in failure
• Childhood has to do with reasoning, thinking, speech, understanding 1st Cor 13.
• Do you have an adult opportunity with a child like mindset?
• The greatest enemy is the eneME
• I would rather be a GREAT Sergeant then a poor general
• I know why I’m here. Do you?
• Jesus said GO. We say COME
• My perception comes from my perspective
• Does your ministry look like your city or like your friends?
• Are you giving people Christ or culture?
• In your culture I could be a great gift. In my culture I could be over saturated
• God never calls you to comfort
• Everything that the church rejected in the US, the Jewish & Gay community took over
• You are too big to think small
• There must be something legitimate that you practice & think to get people to follow you
• Since your generation LOVES self promotion, the question becomes: Have you promoted yourself beyond your potential?
• There is not one place in The Bible where demons fought each other
• The danger of hiring people JUST LIKE YOU is that probably want your job
• Judas is not the blogger or guy on the other side of town. He is ALWAYS at your table
• When God opens a door, you better be dressed!
• You still see sonship as optional
• Between your ideal and your reality is a gulf of stress
• Onan was cursed for stimulation without impartation
• The tabernacle is the Father illustration of who Jesus is
• You CAN NOT practice in the palace. You better learn what you need to learn in the desert
• When you are impressed with yourself you convince yourself you are for sale
• It is not how much you know about the text but how much you ask of the text that makes great preachers

►Ephesians 4:4-5 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

►Romans 6:3-5 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, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

►I Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, it saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

►Colossians 2:12 and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

►Acts 8:26-40 And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Get up, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert. And he got up and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and stay close to this chariot. And Philip ran up to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you understand what you are reading? And he said, How can I, except someone should guide me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.” And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I ask you, of whom is the prophet speaking? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came to some water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what keeps me from being baptized? And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stop: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and Philip baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more: but he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

►Galatians 3:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

►Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, and he that disbelieves shall be condemned.

►Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit

►Matthew 28:19-20 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 lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.

► Acts 2:38-41 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 shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls

►Acts 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.