This weekend was one of the best yet at Old Powhatan Baptist Church. I am blessed and privileged to pastor and serve such great followers of Jesus. Here’s a Recap:
Friday: I am so humbled by people who serve with no fanfare… from Wilburn filing (and heating) the baptismal pool to John clearing the parking lot of snow and ice, and Kyle and Val clearing walkways. What a blessing to have folks who lead by SERVING.
Saturday: After two counselling sessions, it was so much fun to share food and fellowship with our church family and friends as we supported our students as they prepare for their mission trip this summer. To see folks of all ages come out to laugh together and to pray for and give to the Gospel mission was exciting. Rob and Amy and the students put so much work into the evening and folks like Bill and Rebecca made the evening possible by faithfully serving. Not to mention the great generosity of our people to GIVE… no student will be left behind because they can’t afford to go… you made that possible.
Sunday: To have a father and daughter, a young boy, a teenager, and a long time member of the church enter the baptismal waters to publicly profess their faith in Christ is a joy for any pastor. Today it was especially sweet. Praise the Lord that he continues to work for our good and His glory. To see folks of several generations and style preferences lay aside those preferences for each other and worship TOGETHER in Spirit and in Truth is amazing.
Here are a few thoughts from folks on the Lord’s Day at Old Powhatan Baptist… Bragging on Jesus!
Amazing morning at church! Amazing lunch at Chicken Fiesta! Amazing Sunday afternoon nap! Covered in His amazing grace! All around amazing day!!
Today was a very special day and I thank my family and my church family for coming to see my baptism and supporting me each day as I grow in Christ… Love you all♥
Brad today was wonderful! I did not sleep well and have a head cold so I was tempted to stay in bed. However I loaded up on cold meds and showed up never expecting such a powerful experience with God. It is a lesson for me that when you feel the least like showing up-go any way! I did this time and was blessed for it. We all need the fellowship of believers consistently in our lives. What a celebration to see 5 believers put on Christ and declare it publicly today through baptism!!!
So excited to see God at work in OPBC and to be part of this extraordinary body of believers. Thanks Church!
What an awesome, powerful day today at Old Powhatan Baptist Church! Baptism day, 5 new brothers/sisters in Christ! Wonderful music and videos! Great message from Romans 6 and Titus 3. What is keeping you from accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior?
One of my favorite things about our church family is the generational diversity. This picture of four generations of one family worshiping together demonstrated the faithfulness of God and His love from generation to generation. (Photo Credit: Jeff Beach)
SERMON RECAP: One With Christ: Baptized Into Christ
Romans 6:1-7 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (2) By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (3) Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (4) We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (6) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (7) For one who has died has been set free from sin.
TRUTH 1: BAPTISM IS IN CHRIST… it is not a ritual, a work of the law, something to do because you are a certain age… May spend too much time talking about HOW people are baptized and not enough about into WHO they are baptized. Baptism is IN CHRIST because Salvation is IN CHRIST… Baptism is about WHO
TRUTH 2: BAPTISM IN CHRIST is a WORK OF THE SPIRIT… without this work of the Spirit, dunking, sprinkling, pouring, KoolAid… River, lake, pond, hot tub, pool, baptistery… doesn’t matter… it’s just a bath at that point. Baptism in Christ involves NEW LIFE… REGENERATION… Baptism is about LIFE
TRUTH 3: BAPTISM IN CHRIST is a BAPTISM WITH CHRIST into His Death… Our old body of sin is dead and powerless Baptism is about DEATH
TRUTH 4: BAPTISM IN CHRIST is a PICTURE OF THE NEWNESS OF LIFE WE HAVE… How can we just keep sinning if we are DEAD to sin Baptism is about NEWNESS
TRUTH 5: BAPTISM IN CHRIST unites us to CHRIST and to ONE ANOTHER… Baptism is about UNITY
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
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