Encouragement to Parents about the Baptism of Children (By Thomas Hill)

Encouragement to Parents about the Baptism of Children
In the last point of yesterday's sermon, I shared some encouragement and guidance for parents as they shepherd their children toward baptism. In case you missed it, I want to post it here:

It is common for the children of believers who grow up actively involved in the church to profess faith in Jesus at an early age. This response to the gospel is wonderful! Do not discourage children from receiving Jesus and expressing their faith in him. The Lord can save a child at any age. We unashamedly want to see children saved at a young age.

However, when it comes to whether a child is ready for baptism, we should look for some specific markers of maturity. In baptism, a believer should make a credible, mature, responsible profession of faith. Young children love the Lord with their hearts easily. As they grow, they come to cognitively grasp the gospel and its significance. As they mature into their teen years, they learn that trusting and obeying Jesus can be challenging, and they must count the cost and continue to volitionally embrace him. A credible profession of faith involves all three of these: the heart, the mind, and the will.

We desire to see a child make a credible profession of faith that our elders and church members can witness. For these reasons, typically, children are teens before we see this level of baptismal maturity.

Parents, the evangelism and discipleship of your children are among the most important roles you have! Remember the refrain, “time will tell.” As your child grows, you will observe their spiritual development. Hold forth the gospel and teach your children to love and obey Jesus by faith. Teach them that faith saves, not baptism. Look for signs of regeneration and the work of the Spirit in their attitudes and behaviors. Point them to baptism, teaching them what it is—the time for the church and elders hear a mature, credible profession. Teach them about the blessing and goodness of a church that loves them by confirming their profession and giving them assurance that they appear to be in Christ.

Baptism is not about being “old enough” or reaching an arbitrary age. It is about the new birth and the maturity to personally own walking as a disciple of Jesus.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

You Can Be Part of Mystery Island VBS

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:13-14

This Sunday night, June 27, Mystery Island Vacation Bible School begins at 6:00 PM! The theme of the week is “Tracking down the one true God”. Each evening kids will explore an exciting and mysterious tropical paradise while learning about the attributes of the Lord:

• Sunday: God is GREAT! As we stop in Acts 17 and find a city full of idols, we’ll hunt for clues about our great God and discover we must have the right view of him. We can’t make up a god of our own choosing.

• Monday: God is ALMIGHTY! Our mighty God knows everything, is everywhere, and has the power to do anything. As we study the account of Jonah, we’ll oooohhh and aaahhh as we focus on the three big Os of God – his omniscience, his omnipotence, and his omnipresence.

• Tuesday: God is RULER! We’ll check in with Isaiah and realize God Is not like us. Our minds will be blown away by his vastness, beauty, and holiness.

• Wednesday: God is EMMANUEL! God is high and mighty, Lord of all creation. And yet he also came to earth and desires a relationship with the people he has made. He is good and he loves us.

• Thursday: God is TRUSTWORTHY! With the account of David, we’ll learn that God is great, God is good, and God is perfect in all things, so we can trust him with our lives. He is our rock. [1]

 Ways you can be part of Mystery Island VBS:

• Bring Your Own Kids: No child is too young to learn about God and hear they need to receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Combined with the example of godly parents, family worship, and active church involvement, VBS can be a useful evangelism approach for parents and grandparents. Have you registered your kids yet? What are you waiting on? Do so today: Child Registration

• Invite Others: Do you know kids who are between the ages of kindergarten and 5th Grade? Do you know neighbors, co-workers, friends who have kids? Invite them to join us. Online registration is open through Crestview’s Facebook and website.

• Serve: It is not too late to help! Among other needs, we are looking for hospitality volunteers nightly to help with campus supervision. It’s going to be great fun serving together and strengthening the bonds of community between us. Email: cole@crestviewbaptist.org

• Give: Your consistent financial support to the Crestview Ministry Budget is an important way you help make this week of ministry possible: Give Online Now.

• Pray: Please pray daily for kids, their families, and for volunteers. Ask the Spirit of God to use VBS to glorify His Name and reveal to kids (and adults!) their need to know the Lord and trust in Christ. Pray for lasting, eternal fruit.

 For His Glory,

 Pastor Thomas

[1] Answers VBS director guide (7).