Michael Stewart

As we look at the puzzling aspects, patterns, and purposes of Jesus’s baptism, we see this inaugurating event in His ministry as a declaration of His Sonship—and a call to be identified with Him.

On Easter we remind ourselves of our cleansing in Christ through our sharing in His death and resurrection. This immersion into the life of Christ is pictured in baptism.

We review the history of baptism from the time of Christ to the Reformation to get a better understanding of differing views on baptism and salvation. And we issue the challenge to show charity amidst church controversy.

We take up the controversial topic of Holy Spirit baptism and learn that it is a gift that should unite rather than divide.

The story of Acts follows a structure that unveils the plan of God for the church in the world. Far from randomness, every act in Acts reveals God’s baptism blueprint for the nations. This study will help you understand verses like Acts 2:38 and provide a framework for understanding other baptism questions.

In this introduction to our third of six elementary principles—baptisms—we discover that the familiar practice isn’t as familiar as we might think. There are different baptisms serving different purposes and people at different times.