CreatingCommunity is an email devotion to guide your preparation for worship next weekend. Imagine how much more clear and relevant God's Word will be if you have had an opportunity read, reflect, and dwell in the Word prior to worship. You may do this devotion alone, with others, as a family, or over Zoom as a small group.

This devotion is to be done in preparation for this coming weekend's worship.

Please follow these three steps:

1. Read through the text
2. Respond to the questions (select one of the sets of questions)
3. Offer a Prayer
Mark 1:4-11
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
No Experience Necessary Questions:
  1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
  2. What delights me in this text?
  3. What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
  4. What is God up to in this text?
Family Questions (for the entire family):
  1. What do you know about your baptism? When was it? Where was it? Who was there?
  2. Why were you baptized? What does baptism accomplish? Can you be a Christian without being baptized? 
  3. What is the difference between your baptism and the baptism that John the baptizer provides?
Advance Questions:
  1. Why was Jesus baptized? What did Jesus' baptism accomplish? Was Jesus baptized with the same baptism you were baptized (careful, trick question)?
  2. Why do Lutherans make such a fuss about baptism? What does baptism accomplish? What is the relationship between baptism and Confirmation (hint: Confirmation is also known as ....)?
  3. What does being a baptized Christian mean in your life? When do you think about your baptism? How does being baptized affect your daily living? Share a perosnal connection.
Click here to listen to this week's CreatingCommunity song,
"At the Font We Start Our Journey".

Say a Prayer of your own or offer this one.

Almighty God, parent of all who call upon your name, in the waters of baptism you have transformed us,
marking us as your children, and recreating us through the work of your Son and the power of the Holy Spirit. Shower us once more with your grace that we might be renewed in your spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen
Pastor Lutz would love to hear your responses, questions, thoughts about your experience with CreatingCommunity. You can reach him at poppastorpaul@sbcglobal.net