This week Chris and Jeremy talk about the sacrament of baptism in the Methodist church.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Crash Courses in Youth Ministry - https://store.umcdiscipleship.org/product-category/leadership_resources/crash-courses-youth-ministry/
Belong - https://store.umcdiscipleship.org/product-category/belong/

Episode 196 - Methodist Traditions

The Mission Continues: When God Orchestrates Divine Appointments

What does it take for the gospel to spread in a world that desperately needs to hear it? In this message from Acts 8:25-40, we explore how God continues His mission through ordinary believers who are ready, equipped, and willing to follow His leading—even when it takes them in unexpected directions.
The passage follows Philip as he transitions from revival ministry among the Samaritans to a seemingly random encounter on a desert road. An angel directs him to meet an Ethiopian official who happens to be reading Isaiah 53, wrestling with the question: "Who is the prophet speaking about?" This divine appointment reveals a beautiful pattern that continues today: God is already working in people's hearts, preparing them to hear the gospel, and He uses faithful witnesses to enter into that sacred moment.

What makes Philip's ministry so compelling is his readiness. When told to go, he went. When he encountered someone seeking truth, he was equipped to meet them exactly where they were—starting with their questions rather than his own agenda. He preached Jesus from the very Scripture the Ethiopian was reading, demonstrating what it means to be a witness who listens, engages, and proclaims the Word of the Lord with both conviction and sensitivity.

This passage challenges two common errors in evangelism: being so passive we wait for miraculous signs before we witness, or being so self-reliant we forget our dependence on God's leading. Philip shows us the balance—faithfully proclaiming Christ wherever we find ourselves while remaining open to divine direction.

The Ethiopian's baptism that same day reminds us that the gospel invitation is urgent and immediate. There's no need for extensive programs or waiting periods when someone believes. Philip trusted God with the fruit of his labor, even as the Ethiopian traveled home and Philip was miraculously transported to continue preaching in other cities.

Perhaps most encouraging is this truth: we don't always see the full impact of our witness. Someone had to first tell the Ethiopian about Israel's God. Someone planted seeds before Philip arrived to harvest. And Philip planted seeds in countless others that other believers would later gather. God gets all the glory because the mission is His, and we simply participate as willing vessels.

Preached on November 16, 2025 at Howell Bible Church

Key Themes: Divine appointments, evangelism, witness, obedience, Philip the evangelist, Ethiopian eunuch, baptism, gospel proclamation

The Mission Continues - Acts 8.25-40 - 11.16.2025

Christian community should be heavenly!  See how the Bible's depiction of the Church impacts our relationships with each other.

✖️First Time? - BlueprintChurch.tv/firsttime 
✖️Worship & Kids Resources - BlueprintChurch.tv/kids 
✖️Give Online - BlueprintChurch.tv/give

(11-16-25) Ekklesia -- One Body and One New Person

[Verse]
Ten hearts like rivers flow wide
Each one a story
A journey inside
Stepping into waters
No fear to hide

[Chorus]
Grateful waters
Cleansing light
Ten new voices
Hearts take flight
Together we rise
In His sight

[Verse 2]
The sun kissed the ripples today
Faith like a flame that won’t fade away
Ten lives reborn
Love’s sweet array

[Bridge]
Every tear
Every scar
Washed anew
Grace like rain
Shining through
Ten hands held high
Skies turn blue

[Chorus]
Grateful waters
Cleansing light
Ten new voices
Hearts take flight
Together we rise
In His sight

[Outro]
Today we witnessed heaven’s embrace
Ten souls
Ten lives
Endless grace
Grateful waters
This sacred space

Grateful Waters (Version 1)

Grateful Waters (Version 2)

Alice Glass [no hay perdón]

Creator, the Maker
Of heaven and the earth
The Author and the Finisher
Of faith and rebirth
He said let there be light
And there was day and there was night
And He saw it was good
He parted the waters from the waters
And Heaven stood
The morning stars sang together
The sons of God did shout for joy

All hail the Creator of all things
Bow before the Lord
All praise the Creator
He is the King of Kings
Lord of Lords Supreme

The sea and land were fashioned by His hand
Every plant every tree 
The stars up in the sky
The sun by day the moon by night
So all the earth could see
He separated light from darkness
And the glory of the Lord prevailed

All hail the Creator of all things
Come bow before the Lord
All praise for the Maker
And for the light He brings
The life that springs because He lives

Let there be the creatures of the land and sea
Let there be all kinds to magnify My Majesty
And My Creativity

I will make the bird of every feather fly up in the sky
As the eagle on high
I will make machines I know a man will never see
Well they’re just for Me

Let there be the creatures that look just like me
Let there be the soul into which the life I breathe
And bring them before me 

I will give the man the dominion over everything
Every work of My hand
I will give him truth that he might keep My every way
And with all his heart obey

Looking to Me every day his Creator
I Am his Creator
I Am the Creator
And I live forever
And nothing can stop what I do

Creator

Pastor Mike preaches on how we put on Christ: through baptism, mortification, and faithfulness.

1st Sunday of Advent, Year A: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 24:29-44

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

A modern gospel song with deep roots: “Amen” recounts key moments in the life of Jesus—from the manger to discipleship—in an impressive call-and-response tradition. Powerfully sung, simply orchestrated, and carried by spiritual energy.

Amen

der swag von den tweakern

MEMBERS:

SWAGMANE
SHADOWSWAGGER
BIGSWAGGERGAMMA
YNWSWAGGY
G7IGOTSWAGINMYSYSTEM
SWAGSIZESLIMplusTIPS

I am Gentle Savage, an artist from Berlin. In my music, I combine melancholic depth with a cinematic atmospheric - a mixture of alternative pop, cinematic folk, dark ambient, and singer-songwriter elements.

The weekly sermons from Rev. Mike Landsman, pastor at Zion's Stone UCC in Northampton, PA.

We exist to edify the saints, evangelize the world, and do all things to the glory of God.

Youth ministry is not a solo sport, but far too often youth workers feel like they have to do it alone. We are here to help with that. Every week some of the top United Methodist youth workers offer free resources from their real-world ministries. You’ll find everything from games to downloadable lessons to coaching on how to put together a budget.

We hope that when you get online to work, you don’t feel like you have to do it all yourself. We want to be the first place you turn for games, lessons, ideas, coaching, and personal devotions.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 📖 Colossians 3:16

New tracks tagged #baptism