From Blake:

By Bill Starr (Elder)

What do we believe?

Baptism is immersion into water following a personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ done in response to the grace of God.

Why do we believe this?

Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 Why does it matter?

Baptism is a requirement for church membership at Living Hope. The reason for this is that the New Testament makes baptism a normative part of becoming a Christian. Notice that Jesus said “make disciples, baptizing them”. We see the early church doing this in Acts 2:41 where following Peter’s first sermon it says “those who received his word were baptized”. In Romans 6:1-3, Paul is writing to the church in Rome that he has never visited and he assumes that all of the Christians have been baptized –“…do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” Paul believes that all of the believers in Rome know what baptism is and have been baptized so that he is able to appeal to the meaning of that baptism as a basis of his instruction to Christians.

We believe the Bible clearly teaches that the mode of baptism is immersion. The Greek word translated “baptize” means to dip, plunge, or immerse. This is the common understanding of the word in Greek literature inside and outside the Bible. We can also see that immersion makes the most sense when we look at the account of Jesus’ baptism by John (Mark 1:5) and the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch by Philip (Acts8:38-39). Immersion also gives the clearest picture of baptism – a visual representation of our being buried in Christ and raised to new life. Though baptism does not have any salvific merit, it does portray visibly what has already transpired internally during our conversion.

Look at what Jesus says – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. Jesus has the absolute right and the power to do as he pleases in heaven and earth. No power on earth can frustrate the will of Jesus when he exerts his power to achieve it.

This is how we can confidently go forth and make disciples. We are to do this in all nations and into all the people groups because the authority of Christ extends over the whole earth.  To be a disciple is to die to self and follow Christ in newness of life. Baptism is the symbolic act of that conversion experience where I cross over from being dead to being alive, from enemy of God to child of God, from acting as my own king to serving the one true King, from running and hiding from my Creator to returning to the One who made me. Baptism signifies in an outward way what it means to be a disciple – death to self- reliance and a new life of faith following Jesus.

If you are a follower of Jesus and you have not been baptized, what is keeping you from taking this step to publically identify with Him?

This is a post from one of the missionaries:

“Please be in prayer for a team of 3 men who are here this week. These 3 men are from Kentucky & Illinois & are here serving alongside us in various villages. They are starting the week in village “N.D.” where they will be investing in the lives of 7 new believers. Next, they will head to Ayorou for 2 days to encourage & strengthen our brothers & sisters there. They will then head down to Boubon to meet with Sam* while also doing a “labor of love” & begin moving some items into the Fox’s new house!! On their last day of ministry, they will head back across the river & up to village “KK” to meet with David* for a time of discipleship.

We are VERY excited that these 3 men are here. This is not a “traditional” trip where their time is focused on one village. These are just dear friends of ours (one a long time friend & now 2 new friends) that wanted to come, do life with us & invest their lives into the Songhai. We are so grateful for them & their willingness to serve.

Please pray for them this week as they travel many roads & miles. Pray for their time with each believer – that it would strengthen & encourage everyone mutually, that the times would be uninterrupted, that each believer would grow in boldness & wisdom & that God would add many to their numbers. Pray for the health of the team as the temperatures are high this time of year! Pray for God’s name to go forth & for His sheep to hear His voice!”

By Jason Pettus

What do we believe?

We believe that baptism is a public identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Why do we believe this?

Mark 1:9-11 – In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Why does it matter?
Baptism is the beautiful way a believer first announces their commitment and faith in Christ. It is an ordinance of the church. By being immersed in the midst of the gathering of a local church, a person communicates that their old life is gone and that they now have a new life in Christ.

Each part of the baptism experience celebrates the work of God.

Profession of faith in Christ before going beneath the water celebrates the truth of the Gospel and the hope of all believers. It is not by being taken under the water that a person is saved. It is by faith in Jesus that a person is saved. In claiming Christ as savior, the person being baptized is clarifying that they have done nothing to save themselves. They have simply believed and have been made a child of God through faith in Jesus.

By going under the water, a believer announces that their old life was done away with when they believed on Jesus for salvation. Going under the water is a picture of going down in death. The old life of a new believer is gone and Jesus makes the redeemed new in Him.

By being under the water, a believer announces that they have been washed clean. Their sin has been forgiven. They have been filled with the Holy Spirit. They have been made holy by faith in Jesus.

My coming up out of the water, a believer announces that they have been raised up to live a new life guided by the Holy Spirit. Their life is now lived in the resurrection power of Jesus for the purpose and glory of God.

The group of three are there safe and sound.  Be in prayer for them as the start to be on mission in this area of the world.

Today, Niger is the focus for Operation World.

By Matt Haste

What do we believe?

We believe that baptism is a public identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Why do we believe this?

Romans 6:3-4 – Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Why does it matter?

God commands believers to be baptized because He wants us to publicly identify with Jesus. Faith is, by its very nature, a personal thing. But the Bible never teaches that it is to remain private. Baptism is one way that God has commanded for us to tell others about our faith.

Public identifications are important in our world. Like many of you probably do, I wear a wedding band. My wife gave it to me on the day that we committed ourselves to one another in marriage. The band itself has no magical qualities. Sometimes I take it off when I am working or washing my hands. In those moments, I do not return to bachelorhood. The ring itself has no power. It doesn’t make me a husband. It announces that I am. It publicly identifies me as a husband who is committed to faithfully loving his wife.

Baptism is similarly significant. It does not transform you into something that you are not. Instead, it tells others who you are and, more importantly, Who you are committed to in this life. Have you ever thought about baptism in this way? How does this truth make baptism more significant to you?

Pray for Pastor Jason to continue doing an awesome job communicating the church’s doctrine.  Pray that he is Holy Spirit empowered as he preaches.

Please be in prayer for these prayer requests from our prayer cards:

John lost his job recently and is concerned about finances and insurance.

A father prays for his sons to discover their future quickly.

Alissa prays for her mom and sister to refocus their lives for Christ and get back in church.

Safe travel for family traveling to Russia to pick-up their new daughter.

Salvation for Drew, Casey, Ethan, Walker, Ellie, Kyle, Kristen, and Alesha.

For a family as the father is serving in Iraq, and for the father too.

A member’s nephew is having surgery.

Safe travel for Joe and Linda as they come to KY to visit their family.

An infant has two important doctor appointments coming up that will help with wellness of life.

A wife wants a husband to take a step up in his faith.

Protection for a child in a difficult family issue.

Mental and Physical healing for a Desert Storm Vet.

Billy is serving in Iraq.  He has a wife and a son back home.

A daughter has a dying father.  She desires he experiences a Christ filled death.

That James, Brad, Todd, and Jennie will rededicate their lives to Christ.

A grandson prays for his Papa to get better.

By Gary Hughes (Elder)

What do we believe?
We believe that the universal Church is the body of all believers in all places at all times existing under the headship of Christ.

Why do we believe this?
Matthew 16:18 – And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Why does it matter?
To understand this passage, one must know what the rock is of which Jesus speaks. Jesus was speaking of all believers of all time as being built on this rock. The rock of which Jesus spoke was solid bedrock. We might think of the rock of Gibraltar in our minds, but this rock was even more foundational than that. Unfortunately, some have misidentified the rock as being Peter the apostle. It is true that the name Peter means “a rock,” but the type of rock is more like a pebble or chip off of a large stone. It seems that Jesus is making a contrast to Peter when He spoke of the rock instead of identifying the rock as Peter. So what is the rock?

Peter had just finished giving his answer to Jesus’ question “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered by saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” Jesus said that this answer was revealed to Peter by God the Father. He did not figure this out through logic. It is this confession and the fact behind it that would build Christ’s Church (“called out ones”). Each one who commits himself/herself to Christ after receiving/hearing the same revelation is also numbered among the Church.

Have you come to truly understand who Christ is, what that means for your life, and now stand on the solid Rock? Are you following Christ by living out citizenship in the universal Church by being a
member and involved in a local church?

By Mike Lewellen

What do we believe?

The church of Jesus Christ observes two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Why do we believe this?

Acts 2:42-47 – And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

 Why does it matter?

I have always considered myself to be a responsible guy and not too forgetful.  The truth of the matter is that as the years go by I become more forgetful and I need to be reminded of things over and over again.  God knew I was that way when He created me.  God knew we were all that way when He instituted the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper for the church.  I was baptized many years ago.  I have this memory of my baptism which is not easy to forget.  It is a demonstration of what took place in life before the event.  I was a new creature; I was buried with Christ and raised to a new life.  Not only was it a sign to those around me but it was a memory I have forever and my children and grandchildren can capture that memory and realize that this memory is based on something that really happened in my life!

Just as baptism is a memory which can point me to the transforming work of Christ, the Lord’s Supper is a time to remember what Christ did for us on the cross.  The cross is the pinnacle of all time.  Now man can have a relationship with the one true God.  Now I can have a relationship with the God the Father!