Don’t you get so excited for baptism Sunday? It’s such an amazing thing to witness, the beginning of obedience in a new believer! I think that excitement is compounded 100-fold when you know a bit about the journey of the person and can compare the old life and the new. We get the privilege of standing together with a new brother or sister, in awe of what Jesus has done in real lives.

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Again, that thrill is heightened when we’ve been able to be used by God in that process in another person’s life, especially your own kids. I’ve watched my hubby dunk two of our kids in the tank at ACF, and let me tell you, there was not a dry eye in our row! My soul was brimming over with joy! Watching that greatly-anticipated milestone finally happening in front of you, well, it doesn’t get much better than that!

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Except, it does.

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Look back at our verse for today. Matthew puts it like this when he quotes John the Baptist: “But after me comes one who is more poweful than I…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” He’s saying, Yes, get baptized! Repent! But hang on for what’s coming! The Message puts it like this: “The real action comes next…”

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Don’t miss this! Matthew isn’t quoting John here to draw attention to John, and John isn’t speaking to draw attention to himself. John is ushering in a new spiritual covenant, the covenant of Jesus! In a sense, he’s like, Yep, go under the water. Awesome. Wow. (Insert sarcastic teenage tone.) Good job. (Eye roll.) But don’t miss the spirit-driven life that’s about to turn you upside down, all made possible by Jesus!

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Baptism is just the glorious beginning to a holy and sacred life. Not holy because we’re now perfect (Titus 3:5), but because we’re clothed (Gal. 3:27) with the One who is. We’re sacred, not because of ourselves, but because of His Spirit (Rom. 8:11) that now dwells in us and is making us new. If you think baptism is the climax of what God has for you, then I’m asking you to reframe how you think about the Christian life. While exciting, baptism is the first miniscule step toward forever life with Jesus. We won’t even experience the best parts here on Earth; that will take place in Heaven, a place we can’t even comprehend! (1Cor. 2:9).

But while we wait, we have the Holy Spirit as our Companion, Guide, and Comforter, God’s Spirit is with us! We start exhibiting the character of God increasingly: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – not perfectly; it’s a process. We receive giftings from the indwelling of the Spirit and Christ himself (Eph. 4:11, 1 Cor. 12:4-8). He’s an amazing Giver, giving us all we need for holy living and the building of the Church. We have the body of Christ, his Church, to participate with, and we have work to do, the work of taking the baptized believer and ourselves on a journey of discipleship.  

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This is the refining fire that prepares us (Zech. 13:9), strengthening us through trial and shaping us to be the instrument God intended us to be. This is the real action of the Christian life! We struggle together, we praise together, we weep and are filled with joy together on this adventure of discipleship with Jesus.  

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Wouldn’t it be amazing if we celebrated our discipleship like we publicly honor baptism? What if we stood up on stage and shared our victories? How much would that encourage me and you to hear how God’s Spirit is bringing victory over battles in others’ lives? Could we share our defeats, as well? Could we publicly confess and weep together? Could we support and lift one another up instead of publicly getting baptized and then going it alone?

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Here’s my shameless plug - JOIN A SMALL GROUP!

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At ACF, discipleship happens in groups. There is a group for you, ladies. There’s a group for you, guys. Or, join a group together! If you can’t find a group studying what you’re looking for, chances are others are looking for that too, so START YOUR OWN GROUP! Groups are our chance to grow in ways we can’t on our own, it’s our chance at community with other believers leaning into their race with Jesus, continuing to build on the groundwork of baptism. Just as the disciples did life together, this is our chance to join in a sacred community, again, sacred because He is there and things of his Kingdom are being pursued in this space. And, while our group members help refine us on the outside, the Spirit is working on the inside.  

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Don’t miss it – baptism is only the beginning!

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“I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama – compared to him I’m a mere stagehand – will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out” (Matt. 3:11, MSG).