Getting Baptized

What is baptism?

Baptism is the act of a believing Christian who wants to publicly confess their personal commitment to Jesus Christ. It is the symbolic washing away of one’s old, sinful past and the rising again to life. The act of baptism can be defined as an outward expression of an inward decision.

What does baptism mean?

Baptism illustrates Jesus’ burial and resurrection.
“Christ died for our sins...He was buried...and He rose again.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Baptism illustrates new life as a Christian.
“By our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead...so also we may live a new life.” Rom. 6:4

Baptism does not make you a Christian. It is a demonstration that you already believe. It is important to understand that baptism does not “save” you. You are “saved” only by your faith in Jesus.

Why do we get baptized?

To follow the example set by Christ and because Christ commanded it.
“...Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” Mark 1:9 “Jesus said, Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...” Matt. 28:19- 20

When is a good time to get baptized?

As soon as you believe!!! There is no reason to delay!!! As soon as you have decided to trust Christ with your life, you can and should be baptized. If you’re waiting until you’re perfect, you’ll never be ready. “Those who believe...were baptized...that day!” Acts 8:35-38

What do I need to do before I am baptized?
The “Baptism Personal Information” form and a written copy of your personal testimony need to be turned in to Jim Barringer no later than two Wednesdays (12 days) before Baptism Sunday. We have included instructions for how to write a testimony to aid you in writing yours. If you have any questions about this please contact Jim.

What do I need to bring to be baptized?
On the day of your baptism please wear the following:

• Men: shorts, jeans or pants in a dark color and a white or light colored casual or dress shirt.
• Women: slacks, jeans or shorts in a dark color and a heavy white sweatshirt or a light colored heavier shirt to protect your modesty when wet. Lighter weight white shirts are acceptable if you are wearing a swimsuit underneath.
• Also bring along a towel or two and a change of clothes. A changing room will be available.
• You may also wish to bring a 3x5 card with the main points of your testimony on it.
• Be sure to practice giving your testimony before you come!

When and where do I arrive to be baptized?
For Sunday Morning Baptisms at the Shakopee Campus: Be sure to arrive EARLY at church dressed to be baptized. For the 9:00am service, meet at 8:30am to the right side of the stage in the Worship Center. For the 10:30 service, meet at 10:00am to the right side of the Worship Center doors for final instructions and a walk through.

For Lake Baptisms: Please arrive at the residence where the baptism will take place as close to 12:00pm as possible after worship services.

What is a Testimony?

When we commit ourselves to Jesus, a change takes place in our lives. This changed-life story is known as a testimony.“Testimony” means sharing how your relationship with Jesus has impacted your life. The Bible tells us that when we become Christians our “old” self is put in the past and that we are made new because of Christ. The process of being “made new” is what a testimony reveals.

Testimony comes from the word testify. You might recognize this term as something that a witness in a court might give – they“testify” as to what they know or what they saw. When you share about what Christ has done in your life you are testifying to His presence.

Telling the story of Christ in your life is part of reaching out to others by telling them about God. You don’t need to be a Super- Christian to give your testimony, and your story doesn’t need to be flashy or dramatic; you only need to have a desire to tell others about God in your life and a commitment to living God’s way.

Why should I share my story?
Why tell your story? Because it will probably be a great experience for you, and others need to hear different examples of how God works. There is mutual blessing when a testimony is shared. How? In Romans 1:12 the Apostle Paul tells us that it is beneficial for us to be “mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

Everyone receives encouragement when a testimony is shared. You get encouraged because in order for you to share your story you will need to spend time thinking, praying and writing. And, that very process will serve as a reminder of all that God has done in your life. Since it’s so easy to lose sight of that, telling your story will bring it all back and give you a proper perspective of God’s work in your life.

As an added benefit, the listeners will also receive encouragement. Like you, Christian listeners will be reminded of how great God is, and this can cause them to be more receptive to God’s presence in their lives.

Also, non-Christians get a real, live example of how God makes a difference in one’s life. Many non-Christians dismiss their need for God because they don’t see how God is relevant to their daily life. But, they can’t disagree with your story. No one can…it’s your story! When a non-Christian hears about your journey with God, it immediately proves that God is real and alive in your life. Please understand this…no one can deny YOUR story!

What if I don’t have anything interesting to share?
If you’re a Christian that means that there was a time in your life when you weren’t (no one is “born” a Christian). So how did you get from there (non-Christian: a life without Christ) to here (Christian: a life with Christ)? It doesn’t have to be a wild, sex filled, drug-induced incredible story. Some people have those stories, but most don’t. Most people come to know Christ through a process of asking questions, getting answers, watching other Christians, and accepting God’s free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Nothing extravagant…but genuine and real. Maybe you don’t have a story that will make someone cry or stand to their feet to applaud, but if you know Jesus, your story will encourage someone else’s faith journey.

Or maybe you grew up in a Christian home and can’t remember a time when you didn’t believe. Talk to your family and have them help you identify the period in time when you realized you wanted something more than church and/or religion, a time when you wanted a real relationship with God.

Maybe even more important than a “when” is a “what”…what is God doing in your life today? The Christian faith isn’t a one-time event. It’s an ongoing relationship with the God of the universe. So, what are you learning? What are you going through? What’s the condition of your heart? What has God taught you through some recent challenges? Keep in mind that great stories aren’t always success stories.

Preparing Your Testimony
First of all, let me say that this is not the ONLY way to prepare a testimony, but this is one way that works. What I like about this method is that it takes you through a progression that not only helps you remember all the details but also keeps your listener interested.

What are some of the benefits of sharing your story?

• Gives hope to non-Christians (shows them God cares for everyone)
• Encourages Christians (reminds them of their own salvation)
• Reminds you of God’s goodness (everyone needs a reminder of this)
• Gives the “big picture” of your life (includes your life before meeting Christ and after)

The format for your story might go as follows…
BEFORE + HOW + AFTER = my story

You want to share what you were like BEFORE you met Christ. What issues did you wrestle with, what were your thoughts about Christians, God and church, what were you doing with your life, what direction were you headed, how did you feel, etc.

Then you want to tell HOW you met Christ. What was said, who told you about Jesus, where were you, what were you thinking, how were you feeling, what did you say or pray, etc. This part is critical because non-Christians need to know that it’s simple to develop a relationship with Christ. They need to realize that they don’t have to have money, a church membership, a perfect past, or dress a certain way in order to put their trust in Christ.

Finally, you want to tell what your life has been like AFTER trusting Christ to be the Lord of your life. Be honest! Don’t think you have to make your life look neat and pretty. You won’t hurt Jesus’ reputation if you admit that you still have struggles. Even in the midst of your struggles, Jesus can teach you incredible things, so share what you’ve learned and where you hope to be as you follow Jesus every day.

The following pages contain some things that you may want to think about for each of the different sections. Each section should be one paragraph telling about each of the points below it. Jot down some notes next to each of the points to get yourself started.

BEFORE (3-5 sentences)

• tell how you thought, acted, felt - describe what you put your faith in or what you trusted for security, i.e. friends, money, dating relationships, school, activity, sex, sports, etc.
• share what you thought about God, the Bible, Christians
• tell what hope you had for the future

HOW (3-5 sentences)

• describe how you got to the place where you knew you needed Jesus
• who told you about Jesus, under what conditions, how long did it take you to make a decision to trust Christ
• share what you did or sold in order to trust Christ (this is important as many people have misconceptions)
• detail your immediate thoughts after putting your faith in Jesus Christ

AFTER (a paragraph)

• explain what your first days and months were like as a new Christian; what’s life like now?
• What questions have been answered for you? What questions remain?
• Who have you reached out to since becoming a Christian? How do you feel now about God, the Bible, church, other Christians?
• What are the biggest differences in your life now that you’re a Christian? Biggest joys? Biggest fears?

Believer's baptism at Friendship Church