Won't You Be My Neighbor

Baptism is an ancient symbol of a person's commitment to follow Jesus Christ. For centuries, Christians have demonstrated their new life in Jesus by allowing themselves to be immersed under water. To be "immersed" into something means to fully plunge or go into deeply. More than a religious ritual, there is deep meaning behind the symbolism of baptism. Jesus invites His followers to plunge into a life fully devoted to God. Join us as we explore baptism and what it means to plunge into the fully devoted life.

Passage (read it):

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 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.

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:14-21, 37-38, and 41-47

Principle (know it):

Nothing else can happen unless we've first encountered ______ in ______ .

You'll never fully experience ______ ______ without a study/ Grow Group.

The church is a ______ ______

Practice (do it):

Do I worship with the expectancy of encountering God?

Am I committed to personal spiritual growth through studying and Grow Group involvement?

I will pray for the success of Grow Groups outside the church walls.