Salvation & Baptism

As a multi-generational church here in Parker County, we recognize that North Side is made up of all kinds of families – old and young, big and small – experiencing life and issues in so many different seasons. Our desire is to lead, care, and support you and your family no matter the makeup. One of the ways we are seeking to best accomplish this challenge is through our FAITH@HOME strategy which is based on a biblical belief that God designed the family as the primary place for discipleship.

To support this belief and your family, we have a great tool in this enclosed Faith Path initiative to partner with you as you guide your child’s spiritual journey one step at a time. It is based on age-appropriate kits that have been created to help you leverage the best faith formation strategy for your child’s stage of development. On this SALVATION & BAPTISM page, you will find practical ideas and suggested resources to help you celebrate and reinforce your child’s faith decision. We urge you to start today by taking the following simple steps and look forward to watching your child and family grow in your biblical understanding, relationships, spiritual discussions, and life application.

CELEBRATING WHAT GOD HAS DONE
This is a joyous time for the entire family. If you have any questions about the decision or what’s next, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your child/teen’s age-group pastor to walk this journey with you. To help you celebrate your child’s faith decision, this kit includes a Now That I’m A Christian bookmark for your child and Spiritual Birthdays celebration tips for you.

We hope you find this kit helpful in the process of forming the faith of your child at home. It can be life-changing not only for your child, but your relationship with them and family as you walk through this kit and the Faith Path strategy together in the years to come. Feel free to visit with your child or teen’s age-group pastor to learn more or to determine if they are ready for other Faith Path steps.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” – Deuteronomy 6:6-7, NIV

There is nothing more exciting for a parent than guiding a child to faith. Once your child has accepted Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior it is time to help them tell others about that decision through baptism. If you are not sure if your child has made this decision, please visit the Prepare to Lead Your Child to Christ page.  

BAPTISM
Baptism is a public announcement of belief and a visible picture of an inward transformation. All who experience God’s 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 his or her sins and take control of his or her life. 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.

You can schedule your child’s baptism by contacting Kids Pastor, Brian McKay, or the church office at North Side at (817) 599-8612.

COMMUNION
The Lord’s Supper is a special time when those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior remember that He died for their sins. We remember this by eating bread, which represents Jesus’ body, and by drinking juice, which symbolizes Jesus’ blood. Celebrate your child’s first participation in communion. Discuss the meaning around a special mealtime as a family where you revisit the meaning of the bread and drink.

SYMBOLS & CELEBRATIONS
Consider giving your child something to signify the decision he or she has made. This can be a cross, a new Bible, a Bible study or a hand-written note in the front of a blank journal. As children get older they sometimes question their earlier faith decision. Help your child feel secure by providing a firm foundation.

Use the Spiritual Birthdays card included with this kit for ideas on how to celebrate your child’s spiritual birthday. Take time to talk about what he or she is learning. Allow your child to ask questions and talk through new areas of spiritual growth opportunities at home and church through quiet time, Bible study or experiences. Pray for the upcoming year in his or her journey. This will also give you great insight into where some extra help or attention is needed and how you can pray more specifically for your child.

HELP YOUR CHILD TO BEGIN TO WALK WITH JESUS
Show your child what a Christian life looks like. Teach your child how to pray, and coach him or her on how to read the Bible.  Salvation and baptism are only the beginning of a wonderful journey with God. Now that you have helped your child take these exciting first steps, you have the opportunity and responsibility to disciple him or her into a fully developing follower of Christ.

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...

• Celebrate on 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. Consider making his or her favorite meal, baking a cake, serving cupcakes or some other treat that will make the occasion special. Include a candle for each year since your child was born again. 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.

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. Put the letters in your child's My Faith Box so they will have them as a treasured keepsake later.
• 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.

How will you be intentional this next year?

• Pray daily for and with my child.
• Consistently spend time in God’s Word.
• Bless my child daily.
• Schedule and have regular family times.
• Schedule my child’s baptism and celebration.

The next step on the Faith Path is Prayer, recommended at age six. We will offer a Prayer kit to guide you.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

My Faith Box by Lydia Randall from myfaithbox.org
Baptism: Bible Study for Kids by Richard E. Todd
Communion: Bible Study for Kids by Richard E. Todd
Family Night Tool Chest: Basic Christian Beliefs from heritagebuildersglobal.com

© 2012 Inkling Innovations & Lydia Randall

Brian McKay, Children's Pastor
brian@nsbcweatherford.com
Jim Garner, Family & Missions Pastor
jim@nsbcweatherford.com