Week 3 – Not Ashamed
Discussion Guide
If you’ve been a believer for a long time, you may consider the act of baptism as unimportant. In this study, let’s look at its meaning and significance in the life of all believers. This week is an opportunity for all of us to reflect, obey, or teach someone else the meaning of Baptism as modeled by Jesus.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. Share your baptism story. If you’ve not been baptized, can you share reasons for your concerns or hesitation?
2. Read Matthew 28:19-20. This passage is often called “The Great Commission.” What things are we, Jesus followers, commanded to do? Does the fact that these are listed give them importance? What promise and confidence do we have on this mission?
3. Read Acts 8:34-39. What is baptism? When does it take place? How did it happen?
4. Read Matthew 3:13-17 and Colossians 2:12-14. Why was Jesus baptized? What does baptism symbolize?
5. Read Romans 6:4 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. What is one result of following Jesus in baptism? Did you experience this at your own baptism service? How does this have an ongoing effect on your life?
6. Action Step: Have you followed Jesus in believer’s baptism (meaning, since you made the decision to make Him your Lord)? If not, does this teaching on baptism and its importance help clarify it for you? Does it help you explain the Gospel to others with whom you are sharing Jesus?
Pray: Lord, thank You for rescuing me. Help me to follow You in obedience, including baptism. Help me never forget my life before You and the new life You have given me. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
Deeper
7. Luke 23:39-43: What can you learn about baptism from this passage?
8. Acts 8:4-5, 12-13: What is significant about the Samaritans accepting Jesus and being baptized?
9. Acts 8:35-38: What is important to you about baptism from this passage?
10. Acts 16:13-15: Do you have any sense of the women’s spirituality?
11. Acts 16:31-33: Feel free to read more about the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his family. In the middle of the night, after an earthquake and a potential jail break, what does this jailer take time to do?
12. Acts 21:40, 22:1-3, 14-16: Who is Paul speaking to? How does he share the Gospel? What is the action step he requests of his listeners?
As you share the Gospel over the next weeks:
Remember - Remember your sins and how Jesus has cleansed you and given you a new life. If we do not forget where we came from and share that with others, we become a safe place for them to share their challenges (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Listen - By listening, we are respecting others and allowing them to share the challenges they are going through. Once it’s time to respond, we can tell them about our faith and how it’s changed us (James 1:19).
Wait - Be patient with others to respond and for them to change their life. Don’t leave Jesus out of your life. If He comes up on a regular basis in your conversations, you will see the lives around you impacted (Luke 10:16).