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Sermon Notes

Date of Sermon:    March 16, 2025

Main Idea:   Jesus started His mission by wholly giving Himself over to the will of His Father, to accomplish the mission for which He had been sent.
  
Key Verse:   ““This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:17b

Bible Reading:    11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
 
Outline:

Primary Passage: Matthew 3:11-17

            Romans 7:24
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             1 John 2:6

             1 Peter 2:21

             John 13:15

             John 14:12

• Jesus’ baptism served as His commissioning ceremony.

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             Luke 1:39-45

             John 1:33

             Matthew 3:11-12

             Matthew 3:13a

• During this ceremony, He made His oath of commitment.

             Matthew 3:13-15

             John 6:38

• During this ceremony, He received anointing.

             Matthew 3:16

• During this ceremony, He received acknowledgement.

             Matthew 3:17

             John 1:29

             Acts 2:38

             Hebrews 3:15

For next week’s message: Read and reflect on Luke 4:14-30.

Things to Consider:

1. All people, in part or in whole, seek to avoid the reality or experience of the lack of shalom (peace and harmony) in their relationship with God, self, others, and the rest of creation. They may do so by:
   1. avoiding it (through risk aversion at one extreme or control at the other extreme), 
   2. anesthetizing it (through drugs, entertainment, leisure, play, etc.), or 
   3. trying to fix it (through counseling, technology, or scientific break-throughs). 
2. What is your preferred or most-used method(s)?
3. What insights and/or direction did the Holy Spirit give you in this area, as you considered the message?
4. If you have been baptized, reflect on your baptism:
   1. How would you describe its significance in your life?
   2. To what degree did you understand the significance of baptism at the time you were baptized?
   3. If you sensed the Holy Spirit asking you to be baptized again, in full understanding of its significance, how are you planning on responding?
5. If you have not yet been baptized, how are you planning to respond to the example that Jesus laid before you?

As always, feel free to contact Charles if you have questions or concerns regarding the message; its content, meaning, or application to your life. The easiest way to do that is by submitting a Bridge Card at steamboatbiblechurch.com/bridgecard. 
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