Baptism of the Lord

Opening Prayer

Jesus

You meet me in the wilderness

You understand the rocky path

You hear my cry for help

You bring cleansing rain

You give me new perspective

You open my eyes to see

You clear the pathway before me

AMEN

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 42 :1-4, 6-7

• Use your own words to describe what it means for God to be pleased with you.
• Do you want to God to be pleased with you? What do you want God to be pleased about?
• Describe a real-life desert experience. Where do they exist and what positive things can come from wandering through the desert?

Acts 10:34-38

• Why does God give salvation?
• What does it mean that God has no partiality? How does that affect the way you accept others? How does that affect the way you accept yourself?

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

• The scripture says the people waited in anticipation for the Baptism; explain in your own words how baptism makes you feel. Must you have a personal connection to the one who is baptized to feel this anticipation? Why or why not?
• John the Baptist brought many believers to follow Jesus. Who first introduced you to Jesus?
• When did you last see someone whom you knew had Jesus within them? How did you know? What did you feel? What did you see?

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you see God’s love?
• When did you last experience Baptism? What can you do to keep that experience real and close to you all the time?
• How do you give thanks for the extravagant gift of eternal life God has given to you?
• God is so generous with His gifts; what can you do to be more giving of love, mercy and understanding?
• Where do you find value in your life? What validation do you seek?
• Do you ever find faith hard to comprehend or figure out how it works?
• Why does turning on the light in the middle of the night when it is dark hurt? Describe the feelings and thoughts you have in those seconds it takes to adjust to the light.
• On the flip-side, how do you adjust to the darkness when you turn off the lights? How often is there complete darkness?
• How do you proclaim your dedication to God?
• Can you always see darkness coming? Is it possible to avoid darkness?
• What can you do to get yourself out of darkness? Is it possible to do it alone?  How can you help others out of darkness?
• When do you feel strongest in spirit?
• What does the power of God feel like?
• What does the power of the devil feel like?
• Do you see/feel God’s presence guiding you as this new calendar year begins? Be specific.
• How do your “new year resolutions” pertain to your faith?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Through the waters of Baptism…

ALL:  I have been CLEANED!

Leader:Through the waters of Baptism…

ALL:  I have been made PURE!

Leader:  Through the waters of Baptism…

 ALL:  I have been SATISFIED!

Leader:  Through the waters of Baptism…

 ALL:  I have been made WHOLE!

Leader:  Through the waters of Baptism…

ALL:  I am LOVED and called BELOVED!

Challenge for the Week:  There is not one person who has ever wanted to be the last one picked to be on a team.  The anticipation of being the next person chosen can be agonizing, silently screaming “pick me, pick me” and then the feeling of defeat when your name is not the one called.  This is not a feeling God EVER wants His children to experience. So when it comes to His choosing you, God chose you BEFORE you ever existed.  This is one amazing thing to contemplate!

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