Episode 117 - What's Baptism All About?

We pause our Leader Equip series to interview Evangelism Minister Reid Overall where we discuss all things baptism in anticipation of Baptism Sunday, April 27.

For Kids 
We have a free baptism booklet designed for children ages 5-12 to help guide conversations about baptism. To receive a booklet, reach out to your Kids Ministry Team at the Welcome Desk. Use the QR code inside the booklet to let us know about any next steps your child may want to take. 

For Students 
Younger students (6th-7th grade) may still find the baptism booklet helpful. 
One-on-One Conversations: Students can schedule a meeting with their campus student minister to discuss baptism further. We also encourage parents to have open conversations with their students about baptism, offering guidance and support as they explore this important step in their faith.  

Ready to Take the Next Step?
Baptism Sunday is coming up on April 27, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you! If you’ve been considering baptism, this is your opportunity to take a bold step in your faith journey. Baptism is a public declaration of your decision to follow Jesus, and we’re here to walk with you every step of the way. Whether you’re ready to take the plunge or just have questions, we’d love to connect.

Let’s take this step together—sign up today and be part of this powerful day of transformation!
Baptism Sign Up 

Talking to Your Kids About Baptism 
Baptism Revival and the Next Generation 
NT Wright - Do I Need to Be Baptized? 

Baptism is:
· Commanded by Jesus: Baptism is a key part of making disciples, commanded by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).

· Repentance and Forgiveness: It symbolizes repentance and the forgiveness of sins, with a promise of receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

· Salvation through Faith: Baptism is tied to belief and salvation, showing outward faith in Jesus (Mark 16:16).

· Union with Christ's Death and Resurrection: Through baptism, believers are symbolically buried with Christ in His death and raised to a new life, identifying with His resurrection (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12).

· New Identity in Christ: Baptism represents putting on a new identity, being clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27).

· Spiritual Rebirth: Jesus teaches that baptism represents being born again by water and the Spirit, necessary for entering the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

· Conscience before God: It’s not just an external act but a spiritual appeal for a clear conscience through the resurrection of Jesus (1 Peter 3:21).

· Cleansing from Sin: Baptism is a symbolic washing away of sins as believers call on the name of Jesus (Acts 22:16).

· God’s Mercy and Renewal: Baptism reflects God’s mercy in regenerating and renewing believers by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

FAQs about Baptism

What is baptism?
Baptism is a beautiful ceremony where a person who has decided to follow Jesus Christ is immersed in water to demonstrate their faith in Him by publicly declaring Jesus Christ as their Lord and King. Baptism is the way Scripture teaches that we are united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). Baptism was a command of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20) and Jesus himself was baptized (Luke 4:21-22). Baptism is for everyone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and has decided to give their lives to him.

Why does the Hills practice baptism by immersion (going under the water)?
The word “baptism” we find in Scripture comes from a Greek word “baptizo” which means “to dip or immerse.” The examples we see in the New Testament show that the people who were being baptized went down into the water (Acts 8:26-38). And going completely under the water shows that we are participating with Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). When we go under the water, it’s as if we are dying and being buried. When we come back up from underneath the water, it’s a sign of our resurrection and coming out of the grave as a brand new person. These are several reasons why we practice baptism by immersion at the Hills.

Should I be baptized if I was baptized as an infant?
Many people are baptized as an infant because their parents desired to dedicate them to the Lord and for his protection to be on their lives. We believe that choosing to be baptized later on in life honors that choice made on your behalf by someone else. As we read the New Testament, we see that the examples of all those who are baptized are people who are older and who are able to commit themselves to following Jesus Christ. So we welcome all those who have been baptized as an infant to be baptized again as a way to declare I personally choose to follow Jesus the rest of my days.

Should I wait until I get my life together before I am baptized?
We would emphatically say “no”! Waiting to come to Jesus until you get your life in order is like telling someone with a broken leg to set the bone themselves, splint it, learn how to walk on it, and then go see the doctor. We would never keep someone from the person who could heal them. The same is true with baptism. You come to Jesus, not because you have it all together, but precisely because you don’t. The only thing we’ve proven on our own is that we can’t do it on our own. Jesus is the only one that can put us back together. And it is by surrendering to Jesus that we receive his life, his healing, and the power of the Holy Spirit who begins to transform us from the inside out. Staying away from Jesus keeps us away from the only power that truly can change us. Come to Jesus, surrender to Him, be baptized, and watch what God can do in your life!

How much do I or my children need to know before we are baptized?
We have often made entrance into the Kingdom of Jesus a matter of information, when in reality it is a matter of surrender. A person does need to understand that Jesus declared that He was the Son of God and that our faith in Him is what saves us. A person needs to be able to understand that Jesus invites us to give up control of our lives so we can follow his ways and not our own. Beyond that, a person is free to come and learn about Jesus with Jesus instead of learning about him from a distance. Baptism is a starting place on our spiritual journey, not a test we must pass before we can begin. Jesus wants us to walk with him, learn from him as we go, and share as much life together we possibly can. Remember, Jesus is a person to love, not a subject to study. If you or your children believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and you are ready to follow Him, you are ready to begin that journey. We invite you to come and be baptized this Sunday!

I’ve been baptized before but I’m not really sure I knew what I was doing or I haven’t really followed Jesus since then. Do I need to be re-baptized?
Certainly, when people are baptized, they need to be able to make a commitment that they believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that they want to surrender to Him. But remember, the power of salvation comes not from our knowledge and understanding of every aspect of the spiritual journey but from Jesus’ grace. Often what is needed is not re-baptism but a deeper surrender to the decision that was already made. In some cases, a person made the decision to follow Jesus and was baptized but then decided to follow their own path which could’ve even led them into deep sin and wandering. In situations like this, what is needed is not re-baptism but repentance. Jesus’ grace is so immensely powerful all that God is expecting from us is to turn our faces back to him and come home, making the decision to honor the commitment we’ve already made to follow him. And sometimes people are baptized because they had a parent or grandparent or friend who wanted them to be baptized and it wasn’t really a commitment they were making on their own. In these situations, we would encourage the person to consider being baptized again. Going through the practice of being baptized without commitment and without faith and is just an exercise in getting wet. It is faith that saves us, not water.

What should I expect on Baptism Sunday?
Baptism Sunday will be a very exciting day! We will have our regular worship service at the Hills. At the end of our time of preaching and sharing God’s Word, Pastor Rick will invite everyone who would like to be baptized to come towards the stage. There will be people there at the stage who will welcome you and walk with you back to get you registered. After we get you registered, we’ll take you back to the dressing rooms where we will have clothes you can change into for your baptism. The dressing rooms are private and are separated for men and women. After you change into your clothes, you can leave your things in the dressing rooms and they will be watched and kept safe while you are baptized. You can choose someone to baptize you or one of our ministers at the church can baptize you. If you are going to have someone personal to you baptize you, they will need to change into clothes, as well. They can bring their own if they’d like or they can change into clothes we will have available. You then will go into the baptistry (the water is warm and is heated) and you will be baptized in front of the church. You’ll then go back and change into your clothes. After changing, one of our elders will pray over you and your family and friends as you begin your new journey. There will also be photo backdrops set up so you can take pictures with family and friends on your big day!

Reach out to us at [e-mail] and find more information about The Hills Church at www.thehills.org.