I went out on the web to see what I could find regarding baptism preparation. I was surprised how little material there was available (I mean, entering any three random words into Google will usually drown you in more information than you could ever desired). And most of what was posted was not particularly useful, and some of it absolutely bizarre.
So, I did what I should have done in the first place, and opened my Bible to search out the information on my own. And I've assembled a basic baptism preparation worksheet, which anyone is welcome to use in part or in whole in any manner you desire.
The worksheet is divided into four sections:
- "What Scripture says..." which is an overview of all the major elements of baptism from the Bible.
- An extract from the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, which I thought gave some nice balance.
- "Putting it together..." where I'm looking for the student's understanding of the results of baptism.
- "Where I'm at..." which seeks to understand the purpose and spiritual state of the student.
I'm happy to receive any feedback or suggestions to improve this worksheet, since surely there is much that could be done! And if it's of any use to anyone else, soli Deo gloria.
(Oh, and it may be worth noting, that my understanding of Scripture is thoroughly Reformed and baptistic. So question (4) is a bit of a trick question, but gives an opportunity to speak about tongues and their historical role.)
Blessings!
Tom
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Baptism
Preparation Worksheet
What the Scriptures
Say...- John, Jesus' first cousin, was known as John the Baptist.
What was the significance of his baptizing? (Matthew 3:1-12)
- Is this the same baptism that we do now in the Christian
church? What are the differences? (Acts 18:24-27; 19:3-5)
- What do you think it means to be baptized in the name of
Jesus? (Acts 10:48; 19:5)
- Should you expect to speak in tongues at or after your
baptism? (Acts 8:36-40; 10:44-48; 19:6)
- What does baptism tell you about being part of the Church?
(Rom 12:1-13; Eph 4:1-6)
- What does baptism tell you about your relationship with Jesus
and your position before God? (Rom 6:3-8; Col 2:8-15; 1 Peter
3:18-22)
- What does baptism announce to the world regarding your
intentions for your life? (Rom 6:1-14)
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
Section 28: Baptism and the Lord's
Supper
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are
ordinances of positive and sovereign institution, appointed by the
Lord Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be continued in His Church to the
end of the world.
These holy appointments are to be
administered only by those who are qualified and called to administer
them, according to the commission of Christ.
Section 29. Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the New
Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be to the person who is
baptised - a sign of his fellowship with Christ in His death and
resurrection; of his being engrafted into Christ; of remission of
sins; and of that person's giving up of himself to God, through Jesus
Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.`
Those who actually profess repentance
towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are
the only proper subjects for this ordinance.
The outward element to be used in this
ordinance is water, in which the person is to be baptised in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Immersion - the dipping of the person
in water - is necessary for the due administration of this ordinance.
- How does baptism affect your relationship with God?
- How does baptism affect your relationship with other
believers?
- How does baptism affect your relationship with non-believers?
- How did you become a Christian?
- What has God done in your life to bring you to this point?
- Why do you want to be baptized?
- What do you want to announce by your baptism?
- What do you hope will be the results of being baptized?
- Any other questions or concerns?
