The Bible teaches that baptism is the next step of obedience after making a commitment to Christ. During the act of baptism, the believer communicates to the world their heartfelt commitment to Christ. Believer Baptism is for elementary aged children, youth, and adults.
Ask Open Ended Questions
“Who is Jesus?”Jesus is God’s son. He chose to pay for our sin by dying on the cross. He rose again and went to be with God. Because of what Jesus did, our sins can be forgiven. Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and our Savior, we can follow Jesus now and join him later after he comes back.
“What is sin?”Sin is when we do not live up to God’s standards. We can sin by doing something God doesn’t want us to do. Or we can sin by not doing something God wants us to do. Sin needs to be forgiven by God so that we can live with him and Jesus later.
“What does baptism mean?”A person is baptized after they have made a commitment to follow Jesus. Baptism shows people that you follow Jesus. When a person is baptized, the pastor immerses the person in water and blesses them. Baptism is a symbol of a person’s choice to live a new life the way God wants us to live by following Jesus.
“What does it mean to follow Jesus?”Following Jesus means that you learn how Jesus wants you to live and then do those things. You can learn about how Jesus wants you to live by attending church weekly in our Kids Ministry and by reading about Jesus in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in your Bible.
“Why do you want to be baptized?”Since baptism is our response to making a commitment to follow Jesus, your child’s answer should reflect that commitment.
Bring other people in
If your child has other trusted adults in their life, encourage them to talk with others, too. Maybe it’s a grandparent, a family friend, or even a Bay Hope Kids Ministry staff member or volunteer.
Know when the answer is "not yet"
Sometimes after talking with your child, it’s clear they don’t understand yet what baptism means and why it’s important. Baptism is not always the next step for your child to take.
A child should only be baptized after committing to follow Jesus and choosing to receive Jesus’ freedom from sin. If your child can’t remember a time when they’ve asked God for forgiveness or started to believe, they’re probably not ready for baptism yet. And that’s ok!
Encourage your child to keep seeking and understanding what it means to follow Jesus. Let us know how we can help your child learn more about Jesus and what he has done for them.
Know when the answer is “yes.”
Your child is likely to be ready ask Jesus to be their Lord and their Savior when they:
• know who Jesus is
• know what Jesus has done for them
• know what it means to follow Jesus
• and wants to ask Jesus to be their Lord and their Savior
If they are ready, you can use this prayer to lead them through their commitment to Jesus:Dear God,I know that Jesus is your son. I know that he died so you could forgive me for my sins. I will follow Jesus by learning how he wants me to live and then living that way. I want Jesus to be my Lord and my Savior. Thank you for making my salvation possible. Amen.
If your child said "Yes", let us know!
We’d love to celebrate this important moment in your child’s life. We can answer questions you or your child has and help you get registered for our next Believer Baptism.
Have questions?
Email us at kids@bayhope.com
