This Sunday will be the third week in a row that I’ve preached the same message (8 times) at three different campuses. I’m preaching on Luke 15 and how God celebrates when one who is lost is found. My key verse was Luke 15:32 (“But we had to celebrate…”). There’s a video that’s starting to go viral and people are sharing it on Facebook. It’s about how one “puts on” a baptism. You can watch it here:
I don’t care for the video or the person’s take on how to put on a baptism properly. It’s too formal, too ritualistic and too fake. The goal isn’t to put on a baptism like a high profile wedding.
Baptism is a beautiful symbol of new life in Christ and should be celebrated by the entire church as they watch it. I don’t care if it’s in a baptistry, a pool, or a river. I don’t care what you wear. I just love seeing lives changed. Recently, our church had an outdoor river baptism. Here’s the video we put together afterwards. I hope you see a difference in the heart of this video as opposed to the other.
Forest Park – River Baptisms (08-26-12) from Forest Park on Vimeo.
“But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ – Luke 15:32
Celebrate, my friends. Celebrate!