Don't Miss Moments - Week 1 - The CORE - Pastor Mike Novotny
Don't Miss Moments
Week 1 - The CORE
Pastor Mike Novotny
Good morning. Happy Sunday, everyone. Welcome to week number, one of our brand new sermon series, don't miss moments. So the good news is, is that I have a voice, the bad news is, I could do a good Moses imitation this morning. So how's that like sweet house dinner party that I helped organize yesterday was amazing. Some of the best food. I've had in a long, long time, but I didn't realize how loud it was in the room. Until I woke up this morning and tried to talk and couldn't. All right, so we're gonna have to raise the sound levels up in the back. I'm going to do my best to get through this, but if my voice cracks…promise, you won't laugh….I'll give you make that deal to me. All right, so glad you're here today as we kick off this brand new series. Let's start with a show of hands. How many of you who are here in church today are how many of you who are watching out there at home hands? Nice. And how many of you have been Born.
Just as I suspected, tired, huh? Another easy question. How many of you who have been born know the exact day on the calendar? Out of all hundred 365 days the day you were born. Who knows that? Yeah, obviously, all right when you were born
It's a big deal. You remember it? You write it down on the calendar. You celebrated. There's the cake, there's balloons. There's the gift. There's the party and of you here today, don't just do a birthday. And if you do the birthday week kind of thing. And if you're sitting next to someone, who does the birthday week, then you can point at them. I ran into a woman on Friday night who said, oh, when it's my birthday. We do birthday month. So, pray for her husband, that's an interesting thing to do. All right, so that's the easy questions. Right? We know, like, even though it's just one day out of the year, what happens on the day that we're born is a huge deal because it really affects all the days afterwards.
So we remember it and we celebrate it. We make a huge deal out of it. Question number three is a little bit harder. How many of you who are here today or those of you were watching at home…how many of you have been…baptized.?
Lots of you suspected that too. Last question for you. How many of, you know, the exact date. That your “about test”.
Just as I suspected, it's interesting. Even in the Christian church, even in a church that does baptisms and celebrates baptisms. A lot of us, a lot of us would say. Yeah. I've been baptized but I'm not really sure when that happened. It's not on the calendar. You probably get balloons for your baptism day or a cake, or a party or a celebration. You parents. You've had your kids baptized that wonder. “You know, you're planning for weeks to make sure their birthday is just right.” But we, or some reason, we don't often think that baptism is as big of a deal as the day of our birth.
That's true for you. And I think it's true for a lot of us. It's just my big idea for today. I want to give you a front. So pick up your pen and write this down. Today. I want to prove to you with an Open Bible that baptism IS a big deal. Like BIG, BIG, HUGE BIG, bigger than birthday. Get it on the calendar. But buy a cake, splurge, have a party, invite your friends. Today. I want to prove to you. That baptism is a BIG deal. It is not just a church tradition and it's not just a Biblical obligation. Baptism is a huge deal. If you haven't been baptized today. I'm going to give you my best pitch to be baptized.
If you're sitting next to someone who hasn't been baptized, I'm going to give you my best pitch to get them baptized and if you haven't baptized like I have I want to try to convince you maybe for the first time in your life, to get that day on your calendar and make a huge deal out of it. Because according to this book, The Bible baptism is just that it is a big, big deal. So, let me take you back 2000 years. We're in first century AD. Ancient Israel we’re right by the Jordan River near where Jesus grew up and we meet a man named John. John is the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth. He's kind of Jesus. A weird relative and he is gathering a big group of people. And what's happening there by the banks of the Jordan River is a big, big deal. It's kind of a diverse crowd. Roman soldiers may be standing in their uniforms. Next to local prostitutes may be standing in their uniforms next to religious leaders and fancy robes and big hats as how I picture it next to tax collectors, whose pockets are thick with gold coins, were hated by everyone on the banks of the river. There's this eclectic crowd and John is preaching. And what John is saying is savage.
He is dropping a bomb on top of all of that. He is saying you, all you prostitutes. You, you Pharisees, you soldiers, you tax collectors, all of you need to repent. You're sinners, you’re snakes, you’re vipers. And if you think you're fine, just because you're kind of religious, God, right now in heaven, is sharpening his axe, and he is about to chop you down and toss you into the fires of hell.
What a sermon, huh?
John is saying, you gotta stop. You soldiers need to stop abusing your power. You tax collectors need to stop hustling people. You prostitutes need to stop. and you Pharisees need to stop being so self-righteous and judgmental. You have to repent because the time is now and, Just when you thought John was a little bit much, he reaches the most amazing news of forgiveness. He says, I want you to repent because like I'm near the king. The king of heaven is right here. It's a thing, but Jesus was on the way and this king is so gracious. Even if you've been self-righteous, even if you've prostituted your body, even if you've abused your power and robbed your neighbor, he is throwing open the gates of his kingdom because he wants you to be in it. He's a forgiving King. And gracious. King and a patient, calm and merciful King. So don't miss your chance right now. Repent of your sins. Come into the kingdom and believe the good news that the king is here for you. And if you know anything about his nickname, you realize that he's not just preaching. He's also baptizing. That's why they call him. John the Baptist. He's right there by the Jordan River where there's plenty of water and he's somehow connecting people to the water. We don't know exactly how he did it. Any speaking powerful words about God, is he baptizes? We're not sure exactly, which words he's speaking. But according to Luke chapter 3 verse 3, we know why he was baptizing. Look at these words with me. Luke 3:3 says, John went into all the country around the Jordan preaching, a baptism of repentance for The Forgiveness of sins.
Well, what is John's baptism for? Answer the forgiveness of sins. If you caught me in the lobby after church and said, won't Pastor Mike, why would I be baptized? What's that for?
I would say to you. The forgiveness of sins. Like you tax collectors and Pharisees. You can't forgive your own sins. You don't have that spiritual power, but God has promised in baptism this gift, the forgiveness. Of your sins. What? Why is baptism a big deal? Well, this passage could probably say all of it. Do you have sins? You should be nodding right now. Yes. Do you want those sins forgiven? Also, I hope you're not in right now, and the Bible's answer is be baptized.
For the Forgiveness of your sins.
That's exactly what the early Christians said.
Somebody history buffs might know, that Christianity was an illegal religion in the Roman Empire, until I think the year 311 AD. There was a new Roman emporer, his name was Constantine. For whatever reasons he appeared to convert and become a Christian. And so he declared it was, it was illegal to be a Christian and then soon after that, just because there were so many, like skewed twisted versions of Christianity. He called this massive kind of church conference. It was called the Council of Nicaea and invited all the church leaders from all the countries and all the cultures just to clarify and unify exactly what Christianity was and what true Christianity taught. And they left that conference in 325 AD with a Creed.
Some of you if you grew up in a more traditional Church might have recited this once or twice or 1000 times, it was called. The Nicene Creed. Like here's what true Christians believe. And it talked about that. We believe in the father who created us. We believe in Jesus who saved us. And in the third part of the Creed that talks about the Holy Spirit guests, guess what comes up?
Guess what these early Christians wanted to make sure that all Christians would remember. Baptism. And of all the things that the early Christian Church could have said about baptism, like, who should be baptized or how you should be? Baptized are all the pet. Guess. What is the one thing that these Christian leaders? They wanted to make sure that you and I remembered about baptism.
Why don't you answer that question with me? Let me put the some of the words of the third article, the third part of the Nicene Creed up. Let's read these words together. You ready? We believe in one holy Christian and Apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the Forgiveness of sins. What is baptism for? Well, why you going to check that box? Be baptized celebrate baptism. Because baptism is for: The forgiveness of sins.
The Christians ever since the days of John the Baptist and Jesus have made a huge deal out of baptism, because it's not just a symbol. And it's not just a metaphor, and it's not just a reminder. They have believed this teaching that John embraced that baptism is for The Forgiveness of sins.
BUT….
But that simple truth is what makes the baptism of Jesus a little bit confusing.
Let's jump ahead to Luke chapter 3 verse 21 where we find these words. When, all the people were being . The soldiers, tax colllectors, Pharisees, prostitutes. Jesus was baptized too.
Wait, hold up.
If baptism is for the forgiveness of sins…if there's one thing that Jesus never committed, it was sin. So, what, wait, wait, how, how can the sinless Son of God be baptized, if baptism, we just read, as for the forgiveness of sins? That's a logical question, right?
Huh? Actually, so logical that we're not the first people to ask it, you know, who asked it first. John the Baptist. Jump over to Matthe, chapter 3. Matthew records, “But John the Baptist tried to deter Jesus saying, I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me? Jesus replied, let it be. So now for it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
That means there's no, I need to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. Such a tricky little line to interpret. Jesus, the same like being Him being baptized, was the right thing to do. Like His work would be fulfilled and complete unless He did it, but why?
Some Bible commentators would say that Jesus was baptized to make sure that you and I get baptized too.
If we follow Jesus, we should follow Him into baptism. Maybe He didn't need it for the Forgiveness of His sins, but you and I certainly do. So, that's one interpretation. Other people would say, well, you know, when Jesus came to this world, He was trying to take our place and be our substitute, right? So just like He’s he's standing in the water as if He was a sinner being forgiven and later He's going to go to the Cross where He suffers the wrath of God as if He were a sinner that God was angry. Maybe Jesus is just standing in our place, being our perfect savior.
To be honest, when I get to heaven. I’m going to ask Jesus about this verse.
I'm not 100% certain which of those interpretations is closest to the truth because that the Bible doesn't really explain what Jesus meant by, but here's what the Bible does do. The Bible tells us that when it happened when Jesus was baptized, God made sure that we would know it was a big deal like what Luke records? Next.
It says in as Jesus was praying. Heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit, descended on Jesus in bodily form, like a dove and a voice came from heaven. You are my son whom I love with you. I am. Well, pleased. Can you imagine? How do you picture this in your head? Heaven is opened like the blue sky ripped open. Oh, this is like a light beam in town of Jesus. And then this, this Dove appears. So in the Bible, had of is a symbol of Purity and innocence because Jesus was pure and innocent.
Sacrificed for the poorest of sinners, because Jesus would sacrifice himself for the poorest of us as a dove had wings. So we can fly away from danger to our Rock. We would be safe because of Jesus. You can fly away from the danger of God's Wrath and be safe in heaven forever. The Holy Spirit acknowledges who Jesus is and then and then the Father speaks. And He gushes with love. This is my son. He said, so my love.
And I am well pleased.
I think about those phrases the love, it just builds and builds that this is my son like, God is acknowledging, that Jesus is His kid. And not, “My Son, that I kind of hate or wish I never had. No, this is my son whom I love. And not, “This is my son, whom I love. But you know what? Right now he's messing up and I'm kind of disappointed.” No, “This is my Son whom I love and I am so pleased with Him.”
And Jesus deserved it.
The next verse in Luke's gospel tells us that Jesus was about 30 years old when he was baptized, which means that for 30 straight years. Jesus was perfect. Right, 30 years. He had been on top. Can you imagine this, parents? He'd been a perfect toddler. And a perfect kid and a perfect teenager…perfect. When he was 18, and when he was 21, and when he was 25, he always honored Mary and Joseph. He always loved His neighbor. He's never proud or arrogant 30 years in the heavens with openness to God and say there is no one like Jesus.
It is not just the Son of God, He's holy and innocent and He's the only one who's pure enough to be the sacrifice for your sins. I am so pleased with him. And the Father and the Spirit, gosh, over the Son, that doesn't happen very often the Bible the whole Trinity shows up and makes a huge deal out of the identity of Jesus, the son of God. So I hope that convinces you over next, fill in the blank, write this down, that Jesus is baptism. What's the big deal when the heavens ripped open?
The Holy Spirit shows up when the father himself speaks. That's a big deal. The baptism of Jesus is a huge deal. And before you put your pens down, right? This next thing down to that your baptism is I'm open for some of you, your baptism will be. A big deal, too.
I just think about baptism like this.
Do you think this phone charger is a big deal? Doesn't look like much. Uh is actually hiding up here and didn't even know it. I think one of these costs, what? 10 bucks, maybe on Amazon? Doesn't look like much doesn't have any superpower to it. You might not think like the phone charger is a big deal until you remember that the phone needs the charge. But there's this device over here that I have a hunch is rather important to you in your life. Like some of you don't know where your children are right now, but if you didn't have your phone with you you'd be freaking out if it's so this phone that matters so much less with the phone is so dependent on the power on the charge, right? Our phones…we’ve said this: “My phone's dying or my phone is dead. It can't resurrect itself. Our phone is in need of something else and there in the outlet is all the power to charge all the phones in the world.
Power there. Device in need here.
Big deal. That's what I like to think about baptism.
You know, a pastor or a person putting water on someone's sprinkling, pouring dunking them in water saying a few words that might seem like not such a big deal. I've been even at baptisms where baptism happens, and everyone just sits there and looks and then we go on with our days. It doesn’t outwardly look like much and until you remember this.
Jesus, promise of forgiveness.
Big deal.
The Bible constantly uses phrases like you have been clothed with Christ in baptism. You've been buried and raised with Jesus through baptism. The Bible loves to tell us. Not that baptism just by itself is some, you know, magical church, powerful thing. But God has attached His own promise to baptism so that when you are baptized the power and the forgiveness and the salvation, and the love of God flows through baptism to you. Nothing to do with Jesus. You just be a person who got wet. But if God has made these promises in his word, then baptism becomes more than just a symbol more than just a tradition. It becomes a huge deal. Now, I had planned on opening my Bible to all the passages to prove that. Like oh Galatians 3 verse 27 or Acts chapter 2 The Gift of the Holy Spirit or 1 Peter 3 baptism. Now saves you and gives you. I was going to do that, but I thought of something better.
I thought of asking a bunch of the people who have been baptized here in this place. In this church. To share those passages for me. And I hope that when this next video is done, you're going to put your hands together louder than you have in a long time. Remember the grace of God, the power of baptism and the big deal that it is to be born again in Jesus name. Take a look.
VIDEO playing: “I've been away. I was baptized in God's name in the quarter. My name's Ali one, Jordan Barkin and I was baptized. And God today, baptized in God's name of the course. We are. The calls and these are our children Eliza Mira Jonah Jace. These are our children Jane, Anna and they were all baptized here at the CORE. My name is Steven Matzker.
My name is Penelope because they understand rich and I was baptized, baptized in God’s name, baptized in God's name at the CORE. Here's why my baptism is a big deal. Baptism. Now saves. You also not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge to clear conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Promise is for you and your children. Here's why my baptism is a big deal.
Why my baptism is a big deal, all of you, who are tied into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ for a walking time to quantity of this man.” END OF VIDEO
Oh my goodness, my goodness.
All right. All right. That is how much are we charging for baptisms these days? Because that is so good. We're never here when those people were baptized that in the you celebrate, when God gave them the script. Did you hear what they said? Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins? Like what sins have you committed? If you've been angry or impatient, or lustful, or proud, baptism, forgives all of it? That's baptism.
Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts chapter 2 said the Holy Spirit that came down on Jesus will fill your hearts going to go back to the same job. The same classroom, that the same chemo, the same struggle, the same separation, the same addiction, the same divorce, but this time God the Holy Spirit, the God who produces love and joy and self that's baptism. And it gives you a clean conscience. You overstep at night and struggled to sleep, thinking. I see that. If you're baptized, you can say I did say that but I'm baptized.
I don't watch the “in Jesus name”, the father looks at me and says this is my, my daughter whom I love. That's baptism. You're clothed with Christ. You don't gotta wear Gucci, like, they're clothed with the very Son of God. God looks at us and he sees Jesus, and he gains from having this my child whom I love and he doesn't change his mind. All of that is all of that is baptism.
It is, it is absurd to me. It's that we don't charge anything for baptism. It cost you nothing. If you get baptized and check the box, we won't charge you for the water bill. We will just celebrate this gift with you. A power cord will cost you 10 bucks being baptized in the name of Jesus cost. You nothing because your savior Jesus, Paid everything. Baptism’s powers in the name of Jesus who lived and died for you so that you could be loved by God the father as much as he himself was.
Let's talk about baptism. If you're not baptized here today. I cannot throw you a slow pitch. All right, you, if you find me in the lobby, you check the box. If any of you are watching at home, and you don't live here in the Appleton area, reach out to a local church, a local Pastor made this gift, your gift to that, you could spend the rest of your life celebrating. I was born and it changed everything. I was baptized and it changed everything. Spiritually to today's the day. Be baptized repent of your sins and be baptized in Jesus name.
And if like me, you already have been baptized, you got some homework, and it's good homework. Find out when it happens. Search the records. Call your old Pastor find the church. If you can't find the day, just pick a day. Jesus is cool with that too. Just put it on the calendar and say we're having we're having baptism day today and your co-workers going to ask you to Joe. What's what's the cake for? I'm baptized. Well, why the flowers? I've been baptized. We're having a party. You want to come over? Why, what's going on? I was baptized 5 years ago, 7 years ago, 42 years ago, 91 years ago. I was baptized in the name of Jesus and the name of Jesus changed. Everything about me for the sisters in the faith. Baptism is a huge deal. Baptism, cleanses you, clothes you and connects you to the powerful name of Jesus Christ. So be baptized. How about today? Some of you leave with the passion of that man, from Africa?
And heard the story just after Jesus returned to Heaven. There was African man who went to Jerusalem. He's in his Chariot. He hasn't been baptized doesn't really understand the good news of Jesus. So this Christian runs up his Chariot. He ends up jumping and he teaches him, the Bible and whom the light bulb goes on. Wow, Jesus forgave the sins of the whole world, and he believes in Jesus, and he's celebrating and one course later in the Bible. Guess what happens? One verse, not 10 years after he was a great Christian one verse later.
I love Acts 8:36. Here's what the guy says, look. Here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized? Who's gonna stop me? Cleansed, clothed, saved, connected to Jesus. What can stand in the way of my being baptized? That is the right question to ask. When you believe like I do like, John did.
Like Christians do that. Baptism is a big deal. That's right.
Let’s pray. Oh God. Thank you so much for the gift of baptism. Satan has tempted me a million times and I have stumbled in a billion ways, but there was just one answer to all of it. The Forgiveness that came through my baptism. I got in this very moment. Despite 41 years of sins. You, you look down just like you did on Jesus and you smile and your face shines down on me. And I live in a confidence that you like me, because of the grace that you first gave to me.
The name of your Son can feel that way. Thank you for giving us forgiveness for free. Thank you, that salvation doesn't come with a cost that we have to pay. Thank you, Jesus. That, you picked up the whole tab. You paid the bill. You didn't just make it a down payment. You bought us the whole thing and through faith. In your name. We have everything. God fill us with joy today, not just from that video, but from our own baptism stories, help us to remember them, to celebrate them and to hold on to that promise that you gave through them.
There are people here today, and I know there are those not been baptized, draw them to you. Whatever is getting in the way, whatever's making them drag their feet. May your promises just blast every reason and every excuse, and lead them just like the crowds to John the Baptist that they could repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of all their sins. God, we love you because of your unfailing love. But we believe that you loved us a million times more and that you love this first. So we pray, these things with confidence. Enjoy because we pray them in the name of Jesus and all God's baptized Sons and Daughters join their voices, and they said…
Amen.
