Community Group Discussion Guide

That Thing You Do: Baptism – Weekend of February 16 & 17, 2019

I. Starter question:

1. Do you have a family tradition that carries great meaning? What about it is significant?2. Can you share of a time when you witnessed a special baptism and what it meant to you?

II. Discussion of Scripture:

Matthew 3:13-17 NASB[13] Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. [14] But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" [15] But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him. [16] After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, [17] and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

Matthew 28:18-20 NASB[18] And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Acts 2:37-39 NASB[37] Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,“ Brethren, what shall we do?” [38] Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” …

Acts 8:9-21 NASB[9] Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; [10] and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God." [11] And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. [12] But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. [13] Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on

with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. [14] Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, [15] who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. [16] For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [17] Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. [18] Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, [19] saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." [20] But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! [21] You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

Acts 8:32-38 NASB[32] Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "He WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. [33] "In HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH." [34] The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?" [35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. [36] As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" [37] [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."] [38] And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Acts 16:14-15 NASB[14] A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. [15] And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

Romans 6:1-5 NASB[1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? [2] May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? [3] Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? [4] Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection...

Brief explanation:Baptism is derived from the Greek, baptizo, which means to immerse or plunge into. Baptism has always played an important role in Judaism. The temple priests were required to purify themselves with water before performing their duties, Naaman was

cleansed from his leprosy by immersing himself in the Jordan seven times, and the LORD spoke through Ezekiel to prophesy the new covenant and the imagery of water to wash oneself clean along with the giving of a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:25-26). Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privilege of church membership.

Discussion Questions:1. Who should be baptized? How do you know when you should be baptized? (See Acts

8:36-38)2. What does baptism symbolize? How does the image of baptism symbolize what

Christ did for us?3. What reason did Jesus himself give for being baptized? What do you think “to fulfill

all righteousness” means? Since Jesus had nothing to repent, what was the point of his baptism? (See Hebrews 4:15, 2Cor 5:21)

4. What did Jesus tell his disciples to do to people before baptizing them? (See Mat 28)5. What did Jesus tell his disciples to do for people after baptizing them? (See Mat 28)6. To whom did Jesus send his disciples with this message? 7. In Peter’s incredible sermon in Acts 2, what does he say that people must do before

being baptized? What does repentance mean? What does repentance look like in someone’s life?

8. What was the basic problem with Simon in Acts 8? Do you know people who are like Simon? What do their actions tell about them? From verse 18-19, how does Simon’s reaction to the apostles show his deep misunderstanding of the Gospel? Can you think of a verse Jesus spoke that describes people like Simon? (Hint: see Matt 7:18-20, Matt 6:21)

9. Read Acts 8:32-38. What do you observe about baptism and its importance from this passage?

10. Through what two experiences do believers follow Jesus when they are baptized? (Rom 6:4)

11. How does Paul say believers should live after being baptized?12. Whom would you like to see repent and accept Christ as their Lord and Savior and

get baptized? What fears do you have in talking to a friend or family member about Christ? In what ways can you overcome those fears?

III. Responding in prayer:

Pray for the LORD to open someone’s heart that you know to the Gospel, whether a friend, co-worker, classmate, neighbor or family member. Pray for their salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus as Messiah, and pray for their baptism into Christ Jesus. Pray for the LORD to strengthen your faith to share the Gospel to those who desperately need it in this broken world.