Communion and Water Baptism

As part of the Encounter One weekend we introduce the disciples to Communion and Water Baptism. Both Communion and baptism are integral to disciples of Jesus Christ.

Communion

You may have seen people in church taking communion and thought it was just some weird religious ceremony. You may not have understood what it was all about. So, we explain what communion means, so that the new disciples can understand what they will be doing together.
When we take communion, it is not just taking a small piece of bread and drinking some grape juice in a religious ritual. We are actually partaking of His life. When we eat the bread together, we feed on the “real thing”, feed on the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

What happens when we eat the bread?

We remember His death till He comes, and can receive healing, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, because Jesus’ body was broken for us. Isaiah 53:5 says, And by His stripes we are healed.

What happens when we drink the cup?

The only blood we are permitted to partake of is the blood of Jesus, represented by the cup of grape juice. We take to ourselves Jesus’ life as we drink together. We also receive all God’s promises to us, including the promise that He continues to cleanse us from all sin. His blood never loses its power. The cup assures us that we will enjoy eternal life with Him.

Water Baptism

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to the gathered crowds and told them that the same Jesus who was crucified had risen from the dead, and that God had made Him both Lord and Christ. Many people were really convicted, and they responded with a heartfelt question, “What shall we do?”

In response to the people’s question, Peter commands them to do three things. First, repent, then be baptised in water, and then they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Repentance, water baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit are all part of the package of salvation.

Water Baptism

Baptism means the complete immersion of something. That means a new disciple is to be completely immersed in water. So, in baptism we identify with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. We identify with His burial as we are put under the water. Our old nature is buried with Him so that it can no longer enslave us. When we come up out of the water, we rise, just like Jesus rose from the dead, to walk in newness of life.

We can live in a different dimension because we are no longer slaves to sin. That is what the Holy Spirit is doing in us as we are baptised. In the New Testament, baptism is always for disciples, those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commanded His disciples to baptise people into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. In baptism, the name of God is called down upon the new disciple, and from that point on, they can use that name with authority against any attacks from the devil and the kingdom of darkness. God’s name is incredibly powerful!

Carl John Fechner, author and founder of Growing Deep and Strong® Series.

Are you ready to take the next step and create your own new Christian Training Centre?

Its never been easier with our simple to use, inexpensive new Christian Discipleship and Small Group Leadership programs.