Element3 Church

Breaking Ground

What’s your favorite holiday or annual tradition? Why?

The Dig

This Sunday, we celebrated Baptism Sunday (AKA, the BEST DAY EVER)! At E3, we uphold that the sacrament of baptism is an external sign that points to an internal reality. That is, the choice to undergo baptism is a public, symbolic profession of a person’s already underway journey of discipleship & faith. 

With this in mind, reflect on the nature of baptism by reading a number of passages that explore this ritual: Mark 1:9-11, John 3:1-5, Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:41, Colossians 2:6-15, Romans 6:1-4, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, & Galatians 3:26-29.

What stands out to you about these passages? What ideas or images consistently appear within them? 

Based on these texts, what present or already existing realities does baptism symbolically point to within the person undergoing it?

What future realities does baptism symbolically point to? Are there any specific commitments concerning ongoing life change or transformation? If so, what are they?

Close by reflecting on your own experience of baptism & discipleship. 

Have you been baptized? If so, what was that experience like for you? What made it meaningful at the time? How meaningful is it to you today? 

What was already present in your life in terms of spirituality & faith when you chose to undergo baptism? How did baptism symbolically acknowledge those realities? 

What commitments do you believe that you made upon undergoing baptism? How are those directing your life right now?

 

Coming out of the hole

Take time to reflect on the Sunday sermon & how this week’s teaching might speak into your daily life.

• Have you been baptized? If not, why? Consider reaching out to Pastors Scott, Lori, or Mike to talk about this important step! 
• If you have been baptized, take time to reflect on that important day. What was it like? What did you feel? How did you understand what was going on? 
• How might remembering your baptism help you to recommit to some aspect of your discipleship journey in this next season? 

Journal, reflect, & pray on how God might be speaking to you through each week’s teaching. Share your experience with your growth group next week!

Additional Resources*

Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Ways by Eugene Peterson

The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning

How People Change by Timothy Lane & Paul Tripp

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Coming Up This Week:* 

Sunday, November 5th: Join us next Sunday for week 1 of our new series The Art Of!

* Please see mye3.org for details.