1. Matthew 3:13-17

2.  The Baptism of Jesus  13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.  16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

3.  The Jordon River was where Joshua leading God’s people (Israel) walked across a dry riverbed with leaders holding up 10 commandments (Joshua 3).  The names Joshua and Jesus come from Hebrew word Y’shua meaning “God Saves”  God saved Israel and now was saving the world, in the same river.  The people of this time were very tradition and very old testament oriented. They understood the significance of this because this man was fulfilling prophesy. Some liked it, some hated it.  Not to much different than how teens are viewed from adults. Will you be a tradition breaker?

4.  It fulfilled more OT prophesy (Isaiah 40, 41)  Brining in a new era of God’s people being all people. It was symbolism.  2 Corinthians 5:15- and he died for ALL, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.  Public start to the beginning of his ministry.

5.  Christian- (from several definitions) Christ follower, believer in Christ’s work, Living according to principals taught by Jesus Christ.  We do it because Christ did it and asked us to do it. (Matthew 28:20). As Christians we follow him  Its our Public display of the start of our ministry. We are all ministers!  Like Christ we’ve died and been risen again as a new creation in him. (2 Cor. 15)

6.  Baptism isn’t getting saved, its symbolism. The Bible in NO way teaches baptism=salvation, rather Salvation comes from placing your Faith in Christ as your savior and letting yourself DIE and LIVE with him and for him. (James 2:14-26, Ephesians 2:8-10, John 14:6-7, Romans 10:9-10, 13, Matt. 16:24-28, and Matt. 19:16-30)  It shows everyone in church and around you that you have made the choice to follow Christ.  Its accountability to you through Christ and hopefully your family and friends.

7.  The Temptation of Jesus.  Bible chapter of the week: 2 Corinthians 5  Bring a report on it receive 5 points for the game!

8.  NIV Study Bible  NIV Compact Bible Commentary  Baptism - Baptist Faith & Message, Article 7a by Brad Waggoner  www.biblegateway.com (bible translation and commentary) www.biblegateway.com  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Christian (definition) en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Christian  www.carm.org/atheism/terms.htm (definition) www.carm.org/atheism/terms.htm  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn (def) wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn  http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles4/Congd onBaptism.php (william congdon) http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles4/Congd onBaptism.php  http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/mass.html http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/mass.html