Jesus’ Baptism
Apr 6, 2022.
Baptism means many things to the Church in the West. For some, it is outwardly demonstrating the inward cleansing of salvation. For others it means they have decided to follow Jesus and become a Christian. And for still others it means they are joining a denomination, or a church. While scripture gives multiple images of baptism, Paul’s statements in Romans 6:3-5 about becoming baptized into the life, death, and resurrection of Christ deserves special attention. We view salvation as inviting Jesus into our life. But when do we accept Jesus’ invitation to become immersed into his life?
#JesusStories: Mark 8:34ff captures a moment when Jesus invited his disciples into a deep baptism indeed. Peter had just rebuked Jesus for talking about crucifixion, to which Jesus told Peter to stop thinking like everyone else and to stop playing into the hand of Satan’s plans. Then he huddled the disciples and the crowd together and told them to take up their own crosses, die to their own plans, forget about living in their own lives, and start living in Jesus’ life and mission to announce the Good News. In other words, become immersed into the very life of Jesus. This is the baptism Jesus had in mind.
Many years ago I began hearing about the ‘bounded-set’ organizations vs. the ‘center-set’. And to be honest, I found it confusing until I applied it to the historic Church. All ‘bounded-set’ churches throughout history created a boundary that people had to walk through to join. Whether is was a year-long catechism of ancient days or repeating the sinners prayer and committing to the biblical lifestyle as is commonly practiced today, they were boundaries that separated the saints from the sinners. These boundaries were formed in the second century during the rise of several heresy’s that threatened the teachings of the Apostles, and has continues unquestioned through to our day. Most churches have some kind of filtration that separates those who are worthy to be a part of their Christian expression. Interestingly, the First Church held no such organizational boundary. While 1 Corinthians 11 has been used to justify spiritual boundaries patrolled by the church leaders, I would argue the unworthiness Paul was confronting was based on their unwillingness to include outsiders, not an argument for exclusion. All-to-say, the First Followers saw the Church as anyone who was moving toward the life of Jesus. They were a ‘center-set’ group who’s only goal was to draw the sinner to the Savior day-by-day, step-by-step, grace-by-grace, and faith-by-faith. For them, the center of the faith was becoming immersed into the very life of Jesus – baptized into the very life of Jesus. This was intensely supported by their speaking content which revolved around the telling and retelling of the Jesus Stories. But we live in a different day; many Christians skip through the Gospel stories, then delve deeply into the rest of scripture. Some even think the Jesus Stories are for children, while the rest of the book is the deeper material for mature Christian. It should be exactly the opposite; the Jesus Stories are the highpoint of the Bible. Leadership Question: How can we become immersed into the life of Jesus without becoming immersed in the 468 stories and eyewitness reports about him?
#DinnerChurchQuotes: Each Corinthian Christian brought their own food basket to the communal meal. Eranos (Gk) can be translated as ‘potluck dinner’. But Paul criticized their premature beginnings rather than waiting for everyone to arrive to share the meal together. (Leslie Houlden)
#PracticalStuff: Everyone on your team needs to be involved in telling Jesus Stories, both at tables and up front. For this to happen, they must be immersed into the Jesus Stories in their own meditations and devotion times. What can you do to encourage that with your team? Further, can you start scheduling your team to tell a Jesus Stories at your dinner church? Or if they are shy, call them forward and interview them on a Jesus Story that is stirring in their heart lately? This is not only necessary for your churches baptism into the life of Jesus, it is also necessary for your team’s baptism. What do you think?
Blessings & Boldness,
Verlon
Dr. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have led a multi-site Assemblies of God Dinner Church in Seattle, Washington since 1999 (www.CommunityDinners.com). In this decade when more churches in the U.S. are declining than thriving, and when ninety-six churches a week are closing, Verlon and Melodee sensed that a different way of doing church was needed for their 100-year old Seattle congregation. It soon became obvious that they were not the only ones in need of a different path. They joined the FX team in 2016 and founded the Dinner Church Collective. And then in 2019 founded the Dinner Church School of Leadership. There is a lot to be gained when church leaders begin to see open doors in the American landscape that they had previously overlooked. Therein lies the journey for those who will forge a new future for the American Church.
Categories: Uncategorized
04.7.22
By: Anthony Johnson
One of the benefits of being in the Dinner Church School of Leadership (which you should join, by the way) has been the invitation to elevate the stories about Jesus and the stories He told. It’s been refreshing spending more and more time in the Gospels, believing that these are the anchor points of the faith.
I also really appreciate the ease with which the early church invited people to be a part of the church. I think back to the Jerusalem council in Acts.
“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” (Acts 15.19 NLT). Thanks for the encouragement to keep erasing the boundaries that keep people from being in the family of faith.
04.7.22
By: Verlon Fosner
Anthony, this is a great verse. Thank you for reminding us of it. I’m going to put it in my slide-deck for next years class.
04.7.22
By: Brad Andres
Agreed. The exclusive vs inclusive tendencies carry a variety of connotations from our cultural setting in America. Yet, the goal of making Jesus the center; centering upon the Jesus stories in the gospels and guiding people step by step closer to Him is certainly a refreshment to the nature of organizing our faith communities and practicing our trust in Jesus.
I have my first interview tonight with an individual who has come to faith from within our community dinner. Not a volunteer starting the dinner with us, but an individual who met Jesus through the dinner. This person will be reading a Jesus story with me. Then, we will discuss it together.
How do I know this individual came to a place of trust in Jesus? From the bounded-set, I don’t know. There’s no clear boundary action that was performed. From the centric organization, this person has been joining us since we started. This person communicated to me with such joy that they were no longer agnostic (which was a clearly articulated point from the moment we met). Curious and smiling, I questioned: “What changed your mind?” The reply: “I’ve been reading the Jesus stories in the little black book, and I’m convinced Jesus is who He claims to be.”
04.7.22
By: Megan Monterrosa
I believe this discussion is very important because being “on the inside,” we are likely to be unaware of barriers we create as the church to those who don’t know Christ and aren’t used to “churchianity.” The funny thing is, part of my job at my church is the membership of the church! God continues to teach me in areas like this through the Dinner Church School and other things; I’m amazed at how my thinking is changing. In all honesty it is stretching to live in both worlds and carry divergent trains of thought, respecting the ones I work in and yet gaining new understanding about issues like this (and many others).
In dinner church, I treasure the joy and inclusion of our meals which is welcoming and compelling to unbelievers. We’ve had many people comment how much they love coming for this reason and because we are not a “show.” The table is a place where barriers come down, not up.
The simplicity of leading people to follow Jesus, and not our rules, is worthy of deep reflection. I am so thankful to you Verlon for showing this to us.
Anthony- great verse and spot on, thank you.
Brad- great story, so awesome!
04.7.22
By: David Dalton
First off, what a great story, Brad!
I love the description of bounded-set vs. center-set organizations. That is a great explanation and a great visual. It is something we have talked about a few times with people in our group.
We are actively trying to get more people involved in telling the Jesus stories up front. My ultimate goal is to be the one who does it about half the time and have other people do it the other half of the time. I hadn’t thought about interviewing someone about the story. That is a great idea. I may have to try that with some of the people who are a little more reticent.
We are also starting a second round of dinner church training next week. I am looking forward to starting each of those sessions with asking people what Jesus story is burning in them as a way of encouraging them to spend more time meditating on the Jesus stories in daily lives.
04.8.22
By: David A. Brakke
‘Bounded-set’ organizations vs. the ‘center-set’ is an interesting idea. To be perfectly honest I am not quite sure if I totally understand the concept. And because of my lacking understanding, I am also unsure whether I agree. With that said, I will do my best to state what I do believe on the topic and maybe it will lead to helpful conversation.
One thing I am certain about is that Jesus desired that all would come to Him and non would perish. Also, Jesus actively tore down typical spiritual blockades of his day and correct those who taught these ideas. With that being said, is it possible or appropriate to say that Jesus acknowledged what we might call a “boundary” in his declaration for repentance? I have always understood repentance to mean “Changing one’s way”. If this is true, it’s ironic that Jesus’ one possible “boundary” is an invitation to come and follow Him
04.13.22
By: Angel Porubsky
Megan,I appreciate your heart in this, especially the sentiment of “treasuring the joy and inclusion of our meals which is welcoming and compelling to unbelievers”. Too often the Western church gets caught up in structure and rules and misses the people it wants to reach by focusing on systems instead of the hearts of man. Your heart combined with Verlon’s blog sharing how “First believers saw the Church as anyone who was moving toward the life of Jesus” beautifully illustrates how inclusion works in the body. As a child of addicts who didn’t have a spiritual upbringing, when I experienced Jesus, I knew in my heart my lifestyle had to change–nobody told me. The Holy Spirit does an incredible job at what He does. I would never want someone to feel excluded because they weren’t clean enough; Christ does the heavy lifting in that department. We must come as we are and allow others to do the same.
04.20.22
By: Kristina Meece
I’m not going to be able to say anything that hasn’t already been brought up. I always find it amazing how we as humans take something that seems so simple and make it very complicated. Thanks for sharing another great blog.
05.18.22
By: Daryl Miller
I try to maintain to concept of “center-set” at our dinner church. our people love the concept, but not necessarily the accountability and faith it requires to put in practice. we’ve had several robust discussions on codes-of-conducts. I remind them that it’s not the “code” that scares me its the “enforcer”.
So far, we rely on grace/grace and the holy spirit.