Page 66 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

baptism:

Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s death and resurrection.
Preaching on baptism should emphasize the picture that the ordinance paints of Christ’s death, burial, and
resurrection. In believer’s baptism, the immersion of the candidates’ body into the water represents Christ’s
death and the raising of the body from the water symbolizes Christ’s resurrection. Texts that can be utilized;
John 11:17-27,
1 Corinthians 15:12-18, and 1 Peter1:3-5.

Baptism is a symbol of the believer’s spiritual union with Christ.
Though baptism, Christians demonstrate that their lives are united with Christ in His death and resurrection.
Participation in His death links baptism to repentance and forgiveness of sins. Sermon texts on this concept
are: Acts 2:37-29, Ephesians 1:7-12, 1 Peter 3:21-22, and 1 John 1:5-10. Sermon texts related to the
resurrection and new birth are: John 6:53-57, Romans 6:1-14, 8:10-11, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, and
Ephesians 1:13-14.

Baptism is a symbol of the future resurrection of all believers.
Like the Lord’s Supper, the ordinance of baptism has eschatological overtones. Baptism by immersion
anticipates the resurrection of dead believers from their graves as the baptismal candidates come up from
the watery grave into which they have been lowered. Passages of Scripture that can be used to peach on
this aspect of baptism are: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Baptism is a symbol of identification with other Christians.
Water baptism symbolizes the baptism by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ that occurs when a person
is converted. A newly baptized person is making commitments to the local church. Baptism represents their
entry into the family of the church. Mutual responsibility to other believers and unity of the church under
Christ are themes that can be preached at baptismal services. Suitable texts for preaching are: John 17:20-
26,
1 Corinthians 10:14-22, 12:12-31, Galatians 6:1-5, Ephesians 4:11-165, and
Philippians 2:1-4.

Lord’s Supper

Like Baptism, the Lord’s Supper has its origins in the example and commands of
Jesus. The Synoptic gospels contain accounts of Jesus’ words as He instituted the
Supper (Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:17-20). John’s gospel does not
relate the inauguration of the Supper with the same detail, but it does describe other
events that occurred during the final meal that Jesus shared with His disciples before
His crucifixion (John 13). The biblical facts concerning the Lord’s Supper can be
summarized as follows.

• The place was an upper room, probably the home of John Mark
• The time was in the evening or at night
• The Supper was related to the Passover, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant mentioned.
• The persons present with Jesus were His disciples.
• The elements used were bread and wine.
• Jesus gave thanks to the Father in a spirit of worship.
• Jesus broke bread and distributed it, took the cup and passed it among His disciples.

65