October 22, 2026

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On November 8th, we will host another baptism Sunday. While we are still finalizing details, it looks like we will have around 4-6 persons being baptized that Sunday morning, followed by a Thanksgiving lunch together after our service concludes. What a joy!

One of the discussions we have before baptism is what I would call the “necessity” of following Jesus. Some feel that following Jesus is just a suggestion, but I believe it's a necessity for multiple reasons.

When we choose to follow Jesus, we are choosing to align our lives with His teachings, His values, His character and His commands. This is not always an easy path to tread, but it is the path that leads to eternal life. That is part of what baptism symbolizes – that we are making an outward statement about our inner faith decision to follow Jesus.

People don’t like to admit it, but Paul makes it clear in scripture that nonbelievers who continue in sinful behaviors without repentance will not inherit the Kingdom of God. This is a stark reminder that our actions do have consequences. However, Paul also reminds us that when we come to faith in Christ, we have been washed, sanctified, and justified in His name and by the Holy Spirit. This is the transformative power of following Jesus. The sacrifice of Christ bridges the gap between us and God – we cannot have access to the Father without Jesus.

But when we begin to follow Jesus, we are not just avoiding sinful behaviors, we are also actively pursuing righteousness. We are seeking to live in a way that reflects the love, grace, hope and mercy of God. We are striving to be more like Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions. As our faith grows stronger, so does our desire to serve and honor Him – righteousness becomes a way of life.

Following Jesus also means surrendering our lives to Him. It means giving up our own desires and plans and trusting in His plan for our lives. This can be a difficult thing to do, especially when His plan doesn't align with our own. He is our anchor in the storm and our peace in the midst of chaos. His ways are not always our ways, but He is faithful in every valley and every mountaintop.

Following Jesus also means being a part of His mission. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, to bring hope to the hopeless and healing to the broken. When we follow Jesus, we are called to join Him in His mission. We are called to share the good news of the Gospel with others, to love the Lord with all our heart, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to serve those in need.

And finally, the necessity of following Jesus is not just about avoiding punishment (that’s incomplete theology)! It's about so much more! Following Jesus means we get to experience the fullness of life that He offers to us in this messy and broken world; it means being transformed from the inside out and becoming the people God created us to be; it means joining in God's mission and making a difference in the world. It's about living a life of purpose on purpose, where we can find meaning and joy. And yes, ultimately, it’s about our place with Him in the eternal Kingdom of God, which is secured by simply saying YES to following Him.

Join me in praying for those who will be baptized on Nov. 8th! To God be the glory, amen!

Praying for you, our church leadership, and our church! To God be the glory, amen!

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