Bible Verses for Sunday Service January 22, 2023
John 12:46
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
Psalm 105:3
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Announcements:
Last week the church adopted the revised budget amount for 2023. The budget amount for the year is $120,135. This means we will need to have $2556 as an average weekly offering. The fifth Sunday offerings will continue to go into the Capital Improvement Fund for needed updates and improvements on the building and property.
Our church is sponsoring a mission’s training center in Siliguri, India. The $15,000 we are sending will enable 15 individuals to attend this year’s training cycle. The training will equip them to evangelize, disciple and start churches to impact their people for Christ.
Contractors are working on our new heating and cooling system for the fellowship hall. We look forward to getting rid of the broken electric baseboard heaters. We will have even heating and cooling through out the fellowship hall, kitchen and classrooms.
The Awana kids will be making cars to race on Saturday, March 4. This is a great event that creates a lot of fun and excitement for the kids and their parents. We will be needing some help setting up and running the event, so consider giving a Saturday morning to help. Car kits are available for $5.
Sermon:
Covering the gospel of Luke, Pastor was in Luke 3:15-22 for service today. In this section, Luke relates the baptism of Jesus. Pastor used this as an opportunity for contrast between “Two Baptisms,” which he illustrated with a topical story about fast food restaurants. Chic Filet opened in Billings to crowds. So did the Sonic Drive In. Where are the crowds now at Sonic? Gone. If you use this as metaphor for John the Baptist and Jesus, the crowds moved from John to Jesus, but they are still here when you look around at His followers today.
In making this contrast of Two Baptisms, Pastor compare us as the recipients of Christ’s Baptism to Christ being a recipient of John’s baptism. Looking at the former, we receive the Holy Spirit at the time of baptism, and through the Spirit respond humbly. John was humble about his baptism of repentance, he felt himself not worthy to baptize Christ, like we are all not worthy of Christ. But, we can’t go it alone in our journey on this earth.
In John’s baptism, he contrasted repenting to not repenting, and receiving a different kind of baptism, one of fire to which people responded fearfully. Agricultural imagery is in view here, harvesting grain, burning chaff. Pastor illustrated this with two Bible verses from Hebrews 10:31 and 1 Cor 3:12-14. It certainly is fearful to fall into the hands of the Living God, and we don’t want to arrive there with all our earthly works burnt up so we have nothing.
Moving to Jesus receiving John’s baptism, this actually occurred much later in Jesus’ ministry, but Luke treats material topically rather than chronologically, so includes it here. Pastor emphasized Christ informing John that his baptism of him was necessary because as Isaiah pointed out, Christ was to be numbered with transgressors, 53:12. And the God demonstrated how important John’s baptism was by opening heaven, signifying our way forward to God. Confirming this, the Holy Spirit descended as dove. Lastly God celebrates by announcing in a booming voice heard by all that He is pleased.
Pastor used this important historical baptism to reflect on his own baptism 60 years ago. He was one of several small children baptized. Were are they now? One became a pastor, but others had struggles, including divorce. John too had struggles, he only preached one year and spent two years in jail before he was executed. Pastor exhorted us with the words of the hymn, “I’ve decided to follow Jesus,” no turning back. Let’s go onward towards Him, the author and finisher of our faith.
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