A Sabbatical Encounter: Lessons on Baptism and Simplicity in Small-Town Worship
This week’s journey took us to Rogers, TX! We worshiped with Bro. Kendall Washington and the family there. It was an easy drive for our family, which I was grateful for due to the rain that morning. I didn’t know what to expect as we headed to this building for the first time. We’ve known the Washington family for quite a while, but this was our first time being with the body since they combined with another church in Rogers. There’s something to be said about the simplicity of small-town churches. For one, they are usually BIG on love. But walking into this church, the amenities were outstanding. I’m always leery about bringing my tablet to other places of worship, but this church didn’t mind sharing their Wi-Fi password! 🤣
When we got out of the car and began to see familiar faces, it put me at ease. Some of these people I hadn’t seen in almost a decade! Bro. Washington presented a message on baptism that Sunday. His title was “Is One Baptism as Good as Another?” His lesson text was taken from Acts 19:1-7. It’s a text I’ve heard many times before, but on my sabbatical journey, I’ve tried my best to hear something new from God that will benefit both myself and others. There was something in Acts 19:3 that gave me pause:
“And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’”
I have to admit I had gone into my spiritual discipline of Lectio Divina. The five steps of this discipline include the following:
Preparation
Reading
Meditation
Prayer
Contemplation
I won’t go into the details of all the steps, but I will recommend two books that have been very helpful in growing and maturing my spiritual disciplines:
After worship, there was a baptism… Check out the young lady below making an amazing decision! 👇🏿
But throughout the day, I continued to chew on the question, “Into what then were you baptized?” While in worship, I appreciated the call back to the simplicity of the Gospel and the need to talk about salvation and the means for it. But I couldn’t let go of the question. My translation came out similarly: it read, “And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ And they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’” My translation didn’t lead me into much, but as I began to ponder more on the question at hand, I realized something as I came out of my Lectio Divina and finished the pericope. I found the need for good questions and engaging Bible study.
Brother Washington, no doubt, is not just now stumbling upon this text and has probably preached it many times. But he has not lost the zeal to continue to TEACH. In this text, there is an open-ended question that prompts the person to ponder an essential matter. This led me to think about how I can be transformed by this in ministry. Am I only proclaiming the Gospel and not revealing it?
I am blessed to be a Bible teacher at a private Christian school in South Temple. One of the highlights of being there is presenting the truth of God in little breadcrumbs across the day, week, quarter, and year. As I go along, I see students’ light bulbs begin to shine brightly! Seeing someone come to know the truth of God through gentle guidance and nudging is fulfilling to me. Are we asking thought-provoking questions and allowing for a response within the hearts of our church members? They already know that you know and have studied. To give space for the Spirit to reveal what was previously concealed is not of this world. Jesus does much the same when He asks, “Who do men say that I am?” Jesus allows them to state many answers without calling each wrong answer wrong. He leaves room for everyone else to ponder the statements of their fellow disciples. But when God reveals the answer to Peter, it opens the door for God’s Spirit to be poured out! I want to thank Bro. Washington for reminding me of this truth on my journey. We often strive to do calculus and forget there are some who need to learn how to form numbers.
Another thing that I appreciate about this Church is its diversity. I have said often and consistently with the surge of postmodernism in America at this time that it is going to take the coming together of our racial divides to fight back against the wiles of the Devil. This body in Rogers is a racially diverse Church that has the BEST of both worlds. Go see for yourselves!
My Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I want to take time to acknowledge that You are my Teacher. I thank You for giving me room to grow, re-learn, and for being patient while I stumble upon what is eternally simple for You. I often worry about presenting something new and inspirational, but God, bless me to understand the need for Your necessary fundamental revelations. Help me to see that the Kingdom of God is made up of disciples of Christ on various spectrums who desire to hear what is both old and new. Help me to hear and incorporate Your entire counsel for those You speak through me to. I thank You for challenging me with questions and the prompting to dig deeper into Your Word to reveal Yourself to us. Help me to share with others Your life-saving and transforming means of salvation as many times as needed. I pray that You would be with the Rogers Church of Christ to help the new babe in Christ grow into You and continue to be change agents in their city. In Jesus' name, I pray, AMEN!