Baptism

In the Name

Mar 30 2017

In the Name

(audio sermon)

We are baptised in the Name. Moses was given the Name. Today we explore the Name and what it means to be in it.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Speakers notes follow – More

Born of Water

Jun 8 2014

Born of Water

What did Jesus mean when he said to Nicodemus, ‘no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water ’? (John 3:5). There is some debate over this but nearly everyone agrees that it has something to do with baptism. Some say he must have been speaking about John’s baptism of repentance because that is the baptism Nicodemus would have been familiar with. Others claim that Jesus was already introducing Nicodemus to the concept of full Christian baptism.
Perhaps the confusion over which baptism is in view comes from not seeing the big picture. Surely Jesus’ concept of being born of water would have included all of the Old Testament? Throughout the Old Testament God’s people were always being born of water. More

Immersed in the Name

Jun 21 2013

Immersed in the Name

When Jacob wrestled with God he asked God for his name. But God replied “Why do you ask my name?” (Gen 32:29). At the burning bush Moses asked God for his name and God said “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex 3:14). And then he said “Say to the Israelites ‘THE LORD (Yahweh), the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever”(Ex 3:15).
Jacob and Moses heard God speak under different circumstances. Jacob had just received a blessing from a divine being that he had wrestled with in the dark and he wanted to know who it was. This is understandable. In ancient times gods was associated with specific powers. Some gods brought strength for war, others brought power for fertility, yet others brought material prosperity. Jacob wanted to know who was blessing him. But this divine being was not any divine being, More

1 2