Understanding Baptism
Wednesday Nights • 6:30pm
Why Baptism Is More Important Than We Realize
October 14, 2020
After wrapping up our study on baptism, we still had a few questions come in that we wanted to address before moving on to our next topic. In this class, Bryan explores the Biblical connections between baptism, the Holy Spirit, and the blessings we receive from God. As we begin to understand how these concepts are intertwined, we'll discover that baptism is more important than we often realize! During this class, we'll also take a look at what the Bible says about the mode of baptism (immersion, sprinkling, or something else) as well as what it says about when we receive the Holy Spirit.
Series Recap
October 14, 2020
In this session, we'll recap the entire series on baptism in about 18 minutes, with some concluding thoughts on what baptism represents based on our previous classes. Please check out the app / website http://(westsidelife.org/media) for two Q&A sessions that have been posted: 1. How do I know if I'm ready for baptism? (8 minutes) 2. Is baptism necessary for salvation? (21 minutes)
Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?
October 13, 2020
Is baptism something that we should do, or something we need to do? What happens to a person who believes in Jesus but was never able to be baptized? And what about kids who pass away before being baptized? Bryan shares some thoughts on these questions in this 21 minute talk. The main point to remember is that God can choose to save whoever he wants, regardless of how they lived, but our responsibility is to teach the Bible as if it were the only standard to live by. And the Bible does seem to indicate that baptism is an integral part of the Christian faith. That being said, there are certainly times when we need to focus more on God's grace than a set of requirements.
The Gift of Baptism
October 7, 2020
Baptism is one of the most significant gifts God gives us. In our next Wednesday night Bible Study (6:30pm), our lead minister Bryan walks us through the major passages in the New Testament letters that explore the gift of baptism. We'll see how the Apostles connect baptism with the unity of the church, a fresh start with Jesus, a transformed life, and the forgiveness of our sins. Join us live at 6:30pm every Wednesday! We're posting the video to our Facebook page, website, app and YouTube channel.
Baptisms in Acts
September 30, 2020
You're invited to join us for the next part of our "Understanding Baptism" Bible Study this Wednesday at 6:30pm! So far we've discussed how water in the Old Testament serves as a foreshadowing of the hope and renewal we experience in baptism, as well as what we can learn from Jesus' own baptism in the Gospels. This week, our Lead Minister Bryan Fojtasek we'll be leading us in a study of the nine baptism stories in Acts. What we'll see is that these baptisms are part of a larger story that reveals God's longstanding desire to bring all people, from every nation, into the Kingdom of his Son. Join us live this Wednesday at 6:30, or check back on our website / app after it airs to watch it on demand on your favorite devices.
Jesus and Baptism
September 23, 2020
What does Jesus do and teach about baptism? Why did he need to be baptized if he never sinned? In this Bible Study, we'll look at the four ways that churches have tried to understand the baptism of Jesus and the three main passages where Jesus teaches us about it.
Water in the Old Testament
September 16, 2020
If you want to understand Christian baptism in the New Testament, you have to start with the way God uses water as a symbol of new life and freedom in the Old Testament. In tonight's Bible Study, we'll look at several major stories from the Old Testament that give us the right frame of reference for understanding our experience of baptism today.
Differing Views on Baptism
September 9, 2020
We're starting a new online Bible Study Wednesday nights at 6:30pm on the topic of Baptism. Our Lead Minister Bryan Fojtasek will be taking a deep dive into what the Bible teaches about this incredible gift from God. Have you ever wondered why different churches have such different teachings on baptism? A lot of it comes down to something called "spiritual anchors." Tonight's class is divided into two parts. Part 1--Introduction and the Concept of "Spiritual Anchors." Part 2--What Churches Believe About Baptism and How They Got There. In the coming weeks, we'll look at what the Bible says about baptism in the Old Testament, the example of Jesus, the baptisms stories in Acts, and finally what the New Testament letters teach us about this wonderful gift from God. Join us live at 6:30pm on Facebook, on our website, or in the app!
Introduction & Spiritual Anchors
September 9, 2020
We're starting a new online Bible Study Wednesday nights at 6:30pm on the topic of Baptism. Our Lead Minister Bryan Fojtasek will be taking a deep dive into what the Bible teaches about this incredible gift from God. Have you ever wondered why different churches have such different teachings on baptism? A lot of it comes down to something called "spiritual anchors." Tonight's class is divided into two parts. Part 1--Introduction and the Concept of "Spiritual Anchors." Part 2--What Churches Believe About Baptism and How They Got There. In the coming weeks, we'll look at what the Bible says about baptism in the Old Testament, the example of Jesus, the baptisms stories in Acts, and finally what the New Testament letters teach us about this wonderful gift from God. Join us live at 6:30pm on Facebook, on our website, or in the app!