Make Baptisms Special Moments
[Disclaimer: The “idea credit” for this post goes to David Shannon. At Polishing the Pulpit 2016, he spoke on a very similar topic as this post, and the concepts have been rolling around in my mind ever since.]
Someone steps out into the aisle during the invitation song. This is the moment of their decision to put Christ on in baptism.
Eternity is changed for that person. The old passes away in those waters, and a new creation comes forth, cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
And, as they go to a small room to dry off, someone gets up into the pulpit and announces, “Don’t forget to bring some canned peaches for the pantry tonight.”
Really?
Have we forgotten the glorious moment it is when someone decides to put Christ on in baptism? Absolutely nothing should detract from that moment. Church leaders should act like it has happened before, not like we have no idea how to handle it.
More than that, though, it should be a time of celebration. The whole congregation should be moved to praise and joy.
How can we do that? Here are a few suggestions.
Sing Appropriate Songs While You Wait (Before and After)
As the person is getting changed into proper garments, what better way to prepare than to sing “In Christ Alone,” “Victory in Jesus,” “The River,” or “O Happy Day”?
It might be a good idea for a congregation to have a list of song titles and song book numbers listed somewhere on/in the pulpit, so the song leader does not have to go searching. Other congregations have a certain “set” of songs, ready at the press of a button, to display on PowerPoint, so there is no waiting.
As soon as the person comes up out of the water, what better way to honor that moment than to burst forth in a similar song, such as “A New Creature” or “God’s Family”?
God’s people are known as singing people and if anything should cause us to sing, it is when one becomes a Christian.
Pause for a Special Prayer
I especially like to do this when someone is baptized and it is not at a worship service. Maybe there are only a handful of people in the building (or at the poolside at camp, or wherever). How special it is to that new Christian for an elder or a preacher to lead everyone in a focused, special prayer on their behalf!
Pray thanking God for His goodness and the plan He put in place through His Son. Praise God for His mercy, forgiveness, and loving kindness. Pray for this new Christian’s zeal. Pray for them as they now face a world that will not stand with them in their faith.
Spread the Word
We take lots of pictures of baptisms and post them to Facebook. In an idea I have adapted from a friend of mine, we “hashtag” all of them with #OneMore. The reason is because this is what the Church exists to do! If someone becoming a Christian is not worth sharing with the world, then what is?
Further, make sure that, if you have a weekly bulletin, the front page news is that person’s conversion. It truly is “front page worthy!”
Continue the Good News
At 9th Avenue, we present each new Christian with a new Bible as soon as we can get the Bible imprinted with that person’s name. Typically, it is the next Sunday, but sometimes it takes two weeks. Whoever is preaching (myself or our youth minister) presents these at the beginning of our sermon, because we want this to be at a “focused” time of our assembly.
Other congregations have regular dinners for new converts or other ways to continue the celebration in subsequent weeks or months. Whatever it takes, use this person’s decision as a powerful motivator, both for them, as well as for the congregation.
Conclusion
The point to this whole article is this: we must make sure that, when someone becomes a Christian, it is not a “run-of-the-mill” moment. It is time to celebrate. It is time to spread the Word.
After all, that person has allowed Christ to save them and change their eternal destiny. How can we ever treat that as common? Let’s vow to honor and celebrate these eternity-changing moments.
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
Photo credit: Stevan Sheets on Creative Commons
