Baptism

1. Baptism Bringing Your Child to an eternal relationship with Jesus

2. Family teaches and feeds Childhood Sunday dinners with tablecloth, best China, salad forks, soup spoons, bread plates. Mom and Dad wanted us to know our manners and be comfortable in business and social situations. Purpose of meal:--doing business --having fellowship --#1 purpose= sustaining life and health with nutrition In spite of fact that USDA says 99% of Americans aren�t getting RDA�s and intelligence, emotional stability, leading killers like heart and cancer are diet related, NEVER learned about nutrition: one of my family members nearly died before learning to correct nutrition In church, we need feed children the Eucharist, the food of their souls, before they understand why & we need to teach them about Jesus so they can choose nutritious spiritual food wisely. Easy for kids to go to church until they refuse, wear their Sunday best, have lots of fun with good friends, but never meet Jesus or learn to benefit from the Eucharist or pattern their life after Jesus� teachings This presentation will deal primarily with the purpose of baptism and the role of parents and godparents.

3. What would happen if the baby/child baptized didn�t grow into a mature Christian? 1. salvation 2. morals? learning not only what�s right & wrong, but, also, how to tap into the power of God for strength to do good. No body wants their kid pregnant alone, on drugs or in jail. 3. psychological studies about Christians:

4. What the Researchers Found Christians are happier and more fulfilled. Christians are less prone to depression and mental illness and more likely to recover. May have to do with Church community. Christians have more fulfilling marriages. Christian Marriage Savers preparation yields 97% divorce free marriages. Christians are more likely to earn more and have more stable employment.

5. Christian Discipleship Effects Health Financial Management Relationships Altruism Emotional Health Productivity Everything we humans value�happiness, relationships and finances�depends on the DEPTH and QUALITY of religious formation

6. Parents and Godparents God�s answer to kids learning the truth about God and His church. Deuteronomy 11:16-32 one of many passages where God spells out what He expects from parents: Be careful! Don�t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods. Commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish. You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God. But you will be cursed if you reject the command of the Lord your God and turn away from Him and worship gods you have not known. Deuteronomy 6:7: Repeat them (the commands of God) again and again to your children.

7. Parents Are Primary Teachers of Faith The CHURCH doesn�t put parents in charge of their children�s religious formation; it AFFIRMS that God gave parents the primary responsibility to do whatever it takes to get the job done right & make sure their kids are brought up to be Christians An awesome, holy and marvelous responsibility. When we look at the liturgy of baptism, we will see that the Church asks the parents and godparents detailed questions about whether they are willing to take on this role. And for the child to enter into the covenant�solemn agreement with God�the parents and godparents make vows�solemn promises�to provide the things necessary for the child to become a mature Christian

8. Whole Church Makes Vows to Support the Parents Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ? Church provides: Supplemental Sunday classes for children, sponsors/godparents to help the parents, catechism classes, preschools and day schools that teach Christian truth, afterschool programs that teach Christian truth, church camp, youth retreats, confirmation classes, books, media, TV, etc. In fact if the church could successfully take the role of the parent and ensure the child grew into a mature Christian, it would. But it can�t! God didn�t create the family that way. His design was for children to learn about the most intimate things in the context of the love of family. Only parents can model the faith daily, talk about it all the time, evaluate what the child still doesn�t know and needs to know in a highly mobile culture

9. What is Baptism? Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. (Matthew 28: 19) --something Jesus commanded --something that all who receive it must be taught to obey Jesus� teaching

10. Something God does Jesus replied, �I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God�.I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.� --necessary to enter the Kingdom of God, necessary for salvation, going to heaven --something God does, not just a profession of faith --gives a supernatural, spiritual life of indwelling of God the Holy Spirit

11. The Holy Spirit�s New Life in Us Titus 3:4-7: But�when God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. --forgave our sins in the washing/new birth of baptism --new life of the Holy Spirit living in us --because of this we CAN inherit eternal life

12. John the Baptist�s testimony John 1: 32-34 Then John testified, �I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting on him. I didn�t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, �The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.� Baptism with water by John was a symbol of having asked God�s forgiveness, but Jesus will bring a new baptism�one where Christians receive the Holy Spirit

13. Vocabulary Lesson State of grace�the life of God/Holy Spirit living inside a person that is given at baptism --the supernatural life that is supposed to last forever? eternal life in heaven (with God) Sometimes called the state of �love of God� for the �one who loves Me is the one who keeps my commandments�

14. Can we loose the state of grace received in baptism? I John 5: 16-17: If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death you should pray, and God will give that person life, but there is a sin that leads to DEATH, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. More vocabulary Mortal=deadly=destroys the life of grace?person goes to hell unless they intend to change (repent) and ask God�s forgiveness Venial=sick=weakens life of grace, inclines the will to commit worse sin?person can still go to heaven For there is no just man upon earth, that does good and never sins. ( Ecclesiasticus 8:21) Whole book of Jude deals with �ungodly people�saying God�s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago�the Lord..(will) execute judgment on the people...keep yourselves safe in God�s love�rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins�God is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.�

15. What kind of sin leads to hell? When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, division, envy, drunkness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you, again, as I have said before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God.

16. What the supernatural life looks like Galatians 6:22: But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Children growing up in a state of grace�in the Holy Spirit�s life�won�t even realize that the tender love they have for you and for their brothers and sisters, classmates and other people around them is SUPERNATURAL, different from the experience of unbaptized/pagans.

17. Keeping the State of Grace/Holy Spirit�s life ALIVE Moral life�knowing how to get forgiveness from God if they sin (intention to change and ask for forgiveness) & knowing what kills that life Orthodoxy-right belief-knowing how to tap into God�s power, for instance that the Eucharist is FOOD for the life of grace, increases grace & strengthens it & knowing that they need to repent of all sin and ask forgiveness for the Eucharist to be beneficial Heresy�wrong belief�A 350# lady came to the chiropractor every two weeks for two years for relief of her back and knee pain & she asked if she would ever get better. The doctor tactfully pointed out that she could get better if she lost weight. But the lady said, �I think God wants me like this because I don�t eat any more than anyone else.� She was unable to be whole because of her false or heretical beliefs. It is Christian education that teaches lessons like these. Otherwise our children will be likely to learn or reason in false ways that prevent them from being whole.

18. Infant Baptism & Heresy Infant Baptism is Biblical. St. Paul baptized whole households, including the children and infants. Jesus blessed children, indicating that children could receive spiritual benefit & Jesus condemned those who tried to keep the kids away. In the Old Testament/Covenant/among the Jews, babies came into the family of God/Covenant by circumcision at 8 days of age.

19. Baptism & Confirmation Baptism is only one part of Christian initiation. Baptism is dunking or sprinkling with water in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But the second part of initiation was always done by the bishop in the early church & was performed by the laying on of hands and prayer. Paul travelled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. �Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?�, he asked them. �No,� they replied, �we haven�t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.� �Then what baptism did you experience,� he asked. And they replied, �the baptism of John.� Paul said, �Johns� baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.� As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. Acts 19: 1-7 Part of what we promise in baptism is to get our children confirmed.

20. Different Customs in East (Orthodox) and West (Roman and Anglican) Churches In the West, baptism was delegated by the bishop to the priest. He baptized the baby then waited for the bishop to come and confirm. That didn�t happen for years so the child didn�t receive Holy Communion until after Confirmation. In the East, both the baptism and the confirmation were delegated to the priest. Instead of the bishop being there to lay hands on the child, the bishop gave the priest oil he had blessed to anoint the child with. (This anointing with oil was called chrismation instead of confirmation.) Then the baby immediately received Holy Communion and continued to receive Holy Communion from that day forward. The Anglican church inherited the western form of confirmation and so until the 1970�s children didn�t receive Holy Communion until after they had been confirmed. In the 1970�s some liturgical scholars decided they liked the eastern way better so a practice of anointing the baby with oil blessed by the bishop was added to the liturgy of baptism. Some Anglicans intend to confer sacramental chrismation with this anointing and, so, they allow children to receive Holy Communion right after baptism. Other Anglicans simply anoint prayerfully with no intention to administer the sacrament of chrismation so children baptized in these Anglican churches don�t receive until after they have been confirmed. Roman Catholic children, by the way, begin receiving Holy Communion at the age they can tell right from wrong�second grade�but they still haven�t been confirmed or chrismated at that age. This may or may not be an abuse, but, obviously, it doesn�t hurt the child who hasn�t been confirmed to receive Holy Communion. In Anglican practice, even if there has been an intention to chrismate, the bishop always confirms the young person & at that time, the young Christian re-affirms the promises made at the time of their baptism.

21. Who will we choose as godparents? Don�t want people who don�t understand what it means to raise a person in Christian faith. Baptized people who are in good standing in their church, regularly receive Holy Communion Usually 3 people, 2 the same sex of the child and one the opposite sex of the child People who are zealous and willing to devote time and energy not only to the child, but also know Christian teaching enough to teach it.

22. Part II�What the Catechism Says about Baptism A catechism is a simple summary of Scriptural teachings. Book of Common Prayer page 858 What is Holy Baptism? Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ�s Body the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God. What is the outward and visible sign in Baptism? The outward and visible sign in Baptism is water, in which the person is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. What is the inward and spiritual grace in Baptism? The inward and spiritual grace in Baptism is union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God�s family, the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit. What is required of us at Baptism? It is required that we renounce Satan, repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Why then are infants baptized? Infants are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God. How are the promises for infants made and carried out? Promises are made for them by their parents and sponsors, who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him.

23. Why is it so important that the baptized child has Christian Education? To guard the supernatural life of the Holy Spirit/life or state of grace received in baptism� Because that life, which is supposed to be eternal life, can be killed I John 5:16-17: There is a sin which leads to death!

24. Formation of Pre-schoolers Need to BE loved & know that God loves them. Need to learn they return love to God because He loves them�made them, the world, gave them everything good, died for them Need to learn that it is God�s command to be in church every Sunday & to love others. Ideas: Read them Bible stories from a children�s Bible, Arch Books and St. Joseph picture books. Christian day care or pre-school. Teach them to pray. Take them to church & allow them to be present in the Eucharistic liturgy. Videos such as Veggie Tales.

25. Formation of Elementary School Children Need to reinforce that God loves them & that if they sin they need to intend to change (repent) and ask forgiveness Learn the meaning of the Creeds, sacraments, importance of the Bible, how to pray, Christian morality. Learn sanctity of life & deepen their loving of others. Learn to practice virtues of responsibility, perseverance in doing good. Learn to overcome temptation. You keep learning and growing in the Christian life all your life. Ideas: Arch Books, St. Joseph books, catechism of prayer book or RC Baltimore catechism, books about prayer, church camp, Sunday school, VBS, Christian clubs, Focus on the Family material.

26. Formation of 6-8th graders Need to understand sanctity of life and chastity and marriage�before they learn heresy & develop addictive habits. Are capable of more in-depth understanding of why: church history, Bible study, in depth catechism, why not New Age or pagan. Preparation for Confirmation Ideas: The King�s Highway, The Prayerbook Catechism, Focus on the Family, St. Michael�s Conference, New Beginnings retreat, youth group/children�s day activities, confirmation class.

27. Formation of High School Students Regular sacramental life and prayer life. Serious study of the faith & Bible Need peer witness: St. Michael�s camp, church camp, youth group, Youth for Christ. Can profitably learn more about picking out a good spouse and marriage and discernment of vocation. Ideas: Didache RC religion texts, ABC�s of Finding a Good Husband/Wife by Steve Wood, talk about successful marriage preparation and introduce to programs they might want to use as engaged couples, St. Michael�s Conference, youth group, Youth For Christ, Christian financial management course, evangelism course like Becoming a Contagious Christian. Involvement with activities with men/women of the church, prayer group.

28. Godparent and Parent Small Group Create a Christian Education Plan Discussion Questions When we come back to large group, explain the plan you�ve come up with for your child.

29. Baptismal Liturgy Rehearsal Book of Common Prayer page 299 Part of a Eucharistic liturgy Page 302�Will you be responsible for seeing that the child is brought up in the Christian faith and life? Prayer and witness Renouncing demonic & temptation Trusting Jesus� offer of salvation�He is the savior Lord=ruler=king=obedience

30. Baptismal Covenant Creed Apostle�s teaching. Can be found in Scripture, understood according to the writings of earliest Christians, not your own interpretation. Breaking of Bread=Sunday Eucharist, and fellowship Persevere in resisting evil and if you fall, repent and return to the Lord Evangelism Sanctity of life, loving all because they are loved by God Justice and peace

31. The liturgy Prayer for the candidates instead of the Prayers of the People Thanksgiving over the water Baptism Anointing with oil. This sealing is important! It is a guard against demonic seals. Often children adopted from foreign lands have been dedicated to a local deity/demon. It says: my property, hands off. Welcoming of the newly baptized Passing of the peace & onto the Eucharist

32. Let�s Pray! Heavenly Father, We thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon your servants the forgiveness of sin and have raised them to the new life of grace. We thank you, Father, for your desire and these Christians� desire, to bring their children to Holy Baptism. Bless their families and grant that they may live and serve you in newness of life for all eternity!