New LifeKids. Please contact Cindi Wright to set up a date and time to meet with a pastor in preparation of the baptism ceremony

Transcription

1 New LifeKids Please contact Cindi Wright to set up a date and time to meet with a pastor in preparation of the baptism ceremony This is a small Bible Study on the importance of Baptism as a part of a personal testimony. Please work through the study with your child over the coming weeks. If you have a young elementary age child, complete the questions together and write down the answers for them. If your child is older elementary and ready for a more intensive study, have through the study together. This study will generate important areas of discussion for you and your family. After completing this study together you will have a detailed picture of your child s understanding of baptism. Please have your child complete this Baptism Bible Study and turn it in to the Children's Ministry Office prior to the baptism meeting. VERSION 4/2014 First Baptist Church Frisco 7901 Main Street Frisco, TX fbcfrisco.org

2 A Letter to Parents, Many parents share in the frustration of trying to explain spiritual concepts to their children without watering down the important details. Setting a foundation for open communication plays a big part in maintaining ongoing dialogue regarding the truths of the Gospel and salvation. In addition, making sure you as a parent have an adequate understanding of salvation and baptism obviously plays a huge role in the clarity of any discussions around those topics. Baptism is often the springboard for many conversations in a Christian family with young children. After seeing a family member or a friend get baptized, your child will probably ask questions or express an interest in baptism. Use this time to talk about salvation, what it means, and your child s own testimony. Children can confuse baptism with being saved, it is important they understand the distinction between the two. Baptism itself is a picture. There are three parts of baptism; a) when a person stands in water it represents when Jesus died on the cross, b) when the person is placed under the water is represents when Jesus was buried, and c) when the person comes up out of the water it is a picture of the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus died in our place and the resurrection sets Him apart from any other man to walk the planet. Baptism is an outward representation of our belief in that specific sacrifice made on our behalf. As you are explaining baptism to your child, it is important that you clearly and frequently explain that baptism is not what saves us. If a person were to die after they are saved but before they are baptized, Heaven would still be their eternal home. Baptism is simply an outside way of telling people what Christ has done on the inside of us. It is a symbol of the fact that we have asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. Included in this packet are some scripture verses, questions, and a place for your child to write out their testimony. Please take the time over the coming weeks to work through the information and questions with your child. Feel free to help them write out the answers if they are having a hard time putting everything in writing. Please let us know if you have any questions. The staff at First Baptist is dedicated to partnering with you and your family in building a foundation of faith and an outward testimony for your child. Debbie Vallejo Director of Children s Ministry First Baptist Church, Frisco ext 4

3 Personal Testimony in Preparation for Baptism Child s Name Age Parent/Guardian Name(s) Phone Cell Address City Zip Your Personal Spiritual History Your Special Story 1. Tell how you started your friendship with Jesus. 2. Explain the story of how you asked Jesus in to your heart. 3. Why do you think it is important to have a relationship with Jesus? Since you can t see or hear Him like you see other people, how do you talk to God? How do you hear what God has to tell you?

4 4. Name 2-3 people you respect because of their love for Jesus. How are they like Jesus? Tell about some special things Jesus has done in their lives. 5. In what ways do you show that Jesus is number one in your life? What things are different about you now that Jesus is your Lord? 6. What does baptism mean to you?

5 What is Baptism? So when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death. We were buried with him so that we could live a new life, just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father. Romans 6:4 Question: If the water is a symbol of our sins being washed away and of our sinful person being buried, then does the WATER really wash away our sins like we can wash dirt off our body when we take a bath or shower? Explain your answer. Other people should be able to see that we are a new person. We can see a good example of this in the butterfly. It starts as a lumpy caterpillar that builds a cocoon and then comes out a graceful butterfly. The change is easy to see. If anyone belongs to Christ, then he is made new. The old things have gone; everything is made new! II Corinthians 5:17 Question: Do we still sin after we have been baptized? Why?

6 Question: If the water doesn t wash our sins totally away, and we still sin after we are baptized, then who makes us new like the verse above says we are? Water baptism is a statement of your personal desire to live for God. Taking part in baptism is a time when we stand up for God and show we re choosing to obey Him. If God is really important to us, we won t be ashamed to tell others about Him and what He has done for us. If anyone stands before other people and says he believes in Me, then I will say that he belongs to Me. Matthew 10:32 Water baptism is an important part of your walk with the Lord, and it shows obedience to Jesus Christ. Water baptism is not something we do because friends are doing it or because it looks kind of fun. We are baptized out of love and obedience to Jesus. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 29:19-20

7 Baptism Word Search A W R J W I A E E M J W W N R T C A E A L E S D S S I W R E R M N S T O B E D I E N C E V M T E U E V A R E T A W L C E N O I S R E M M I P V B W D I C H R I S T I A N A I S A R L A B V I I I L E U B V R I A E N S A C R I F I C E E V L S B baptism Jesus love sacrifice new water immersion obedience Christian believer water Bible

8 Frequently Asked Questions 1. What do I wear to the baptism service? Girls Wear your swimsuit underneath shorts and a T-shirt. Bring a full change of clothes for after the ceremony. Boys Wear your swimsuit and a shirt. Bring a change of clothes for after the ceremony. 2. What do I need to bring with me (other than my change of clothes)? Bring a towel, comb or brush, and a bag for your wet clothes and towel. 3. What should my parents bring? Camera and/or video camera, Kleenex. 4. Who can come watch me get baptized? Anyone you, or your parents, would like to bring to the ceremony! This is a time of celebration, everyone is invited! 5. May I hold my nose when I go under the water? Yes, you can definitely hold your nose. When you meet with the person who is baptizing you, they will walk through the process with you. 6. Do I have to go totally under the water to be baptized? Yes. Baptism is a symbol of being like Christ, as He was buried (going under the water) and rose again (coming out of the water). Baptism is showing the world that you ve decided to follow Jesus and have asked Him to stay in your heart and soul forever. 7. What happens if some of me, like my toes or the top of my head, doesn t go under water the first time? The person who is baptizing you will gently place you under the water again to make sure that you are wet all over. They will take good care of you! 8. What happens after I am baptized? A person at the back of the sanctuary will show you to the changing rooms. A parent or guardian is allowed to go back with you. After you change, you may join your family to watch the rest of the baptisms.