Welcome to this important next step along your child's Faith Path, Baptism!
Baptism is a public announcement of belief and a visible picture of an inward transformation that has taken place in the heart of a new believer.
All who experience God’s incredible saving grace and respond through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins should be baptized in obedience to Jesus’ commands as recorded in the New Testament and modeled in the early church.
Explain to your child that being baptized does not make him or her a Christian. There is nothing magical about the water. What makes someone a Christian is the decision to ask Jesus Christ to forgive their sins. Your child might be nervous about getting baptized. Assure your child that he or she will just be dipped under the water for a couple of seconds and that this is an exciting time.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20
Plan a Celebration
• Ask you child who they would like to invite to witness their Baptism. Invite nearby relatives, close family friends, and of course, their Faith Family and Sunday morning friends will be there.
• Consider making his or her favorite meal, baking a cake, cupcakes, or some other treat that will make the occasion special.
• You might also give your child a gift that will help them grow spiritually during the coming year, such as an age appropriate Bible, a devotional book, or an iTunes gift card to download Christian music.
Make sure you record the date on their My Spiritual Development Tree when your child is baptized. Download a pdf here or pick up one in the Faith@home Center at church. This companion piece is the children’s version of Faith Path and provides a place to record their spiritual growth and history. Your child is now old enough to tuck it inside their own Bible for them to keep record on. Your child will see a rich history develop that is rooted in the firm foundation of the Faith Path you have led them on.
• Consider making his or her favorite meal, baking a cake, cupcakes, or some other treat that will make the occasion special.
• You might also give your child a gift that will help them grow spiritually during the coming year, such as an age appropriate Bible, a devotional book, or an iTunes gift card to download Christian music.
Make sure you record the date on their My Spiritual Development Tree when your child is baptized. Download a pdf here or pick up one in the Faith@home Center at church. This companion piece is the children’s version of Faith Path and provides a place to record their spiritual growth and history. Your child is now old enough to tuck it inside their own Bible for them to keep record on. Your child will see a rich history develop that is rooted in the firm foundation of the Faith Path you have led them on.
tips and tools
Celebrating your child’s faith decision every year can help them establish a firm foundation to prevent unnecessary doubts. This is especially important if your child came to faith at a young age. Many children raised in church begin to question the authenticity of their faith when they get older simply because they can’t recall the specific date or some dramatic event surrounding their moment of conversion. An annual “Spiritual Birthday Party” can reinforce your child’s faith by reminding him or her that our salvation is firmly rooted in what Jesus Christ did for us.
SCHEDULE
Decide what date you will celebrate your child’s spiritual birthday as a fun tradition that also reinforces his or her faith decision. Consider any of the following options…
• The actual date your child trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
• If you don’t know the actual date, using your child’s baptism anniversary would be the next best option.
• If you don’t have a record of either date then you might consider celebrating the day after your child’s physical birthday to highlight his or her “born again” day.
CELEBRATE
Just like for a physical birthday party you may choose to invite guests to join the celebration; perhaps nearby relatives, close family friends, or a teacher from church. Ask your child who they would like you to invite. Including the child’s friends might be a wonderful opportunity for your child to explain what a spiritual birthday is all about. Make his or her favorite meal or party food. You might also give your child a gift that will help them grow spiritually during the coming year.
REINFORCE
Take time to talk about what Christ did for your child and what happened when he or she decided to believe. Some specific suggestions include…
• Help your child write a letter to God thanking Him for what Jesus did on the cross, for things that happened during the past year, etc. Write your own letter to the child encouraging his or her walk with God, mentioning how you’ve seen growth this year, etc.
• Invite your child to read John 3:3 aloud and explain that you are celebrating the child’s “born again” birthday. Then read 2 Corinthians 5:17 together and ask the child how Jesus Christ made
them a new person when they believed. (i.e., He saved me from sin, He gave me eternal life, He gave the Holy Spirit to guide me, etc.)
• Pray for your child, asking God to help them continue to grow a strong faith in the coming year.
SCHEDULE
Decide what date you will celebrate your child’s spiritual birthday as a fun tradition that also reinforces his or her faith decision. Consider any of the following options…
• The actual date your child trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
• If you don’t know the actual date, using your child’s baptism anniversary would be the next best option.
• If you don’t have a record of either date then you might consider celebrating the day after your child’s physical birthday to highlight his or her “born again” day.
CELEBRATE
Just like for a physical birthday party you may choose to invite guests to join the celebration; perhaps nearby relatives, close family friends, or a teacher from church. Ask your child who they would like you to invite. Including the child’s friends might be a wonderful opportunity for your child to explain what a spiritual birthday is all about. Make his or her favorite meal or party food. You might also give your child a gift that will help them grow spiritually during the coming year.
REINFORCE
Take time to talk about what Christ did for your child and what happened when he or she decided to believe. Some specific suggestions include…
• Help your child write a letter to God thanking Him for what Jesus did on the cross, for things that happened during the past year, etc. Write your own letter to the child encouraging his or her walk with God, mentioning how you’ve seen growth this year, etc.
• Invite your child to read John 3:3 aloud and explain that you are celebrating the child’s “born again” birthday. Then read 2 Corinthians 5:17 together and ask the child how Jesus Christ made
them a new person when they believed. (i.e., He saved me from sin, He gave me eternal life, He gave the Holy Spirit to guide me, etc.)
• Pray for your child, asking God to help them continue to grow a strong faith in the coming year.
PARENT INTENTIONAL FAITH PATH PLAN
• Pray daily with and for my child.
• Consistently spend time in God’s Word.
• Schedule and have regular family times.
• Schedule my child’s Baptism and celebration.
• Consistently spend time in God’s Word.
• Schedule and have regular family times.
• Schedule my child’s Baptism and celebration.
going further resources
Take advantage of these resources as you commit yourself to guiding your child’s faith journey.
Your Child’s Next Step
As children get older, they become ready for additional steps along the Faith Path. As a commitment to our growing families at Faith Bible Church, when your little one has a birthday, we will offer you the resource for the next step on the Faith Path.
Be encouraged as you practice being intentional about guiding your child’s faith journey!
Be encouraged as you practice being intentional about guiding your child’s faith journey!
