Once people respond to the Gospel what are we to do next? What are they to do next? Jesus gave us an example of baptism, and a command not just to evangelize, but to make disciples. 

Baptism

“Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in the newness of life in Jesus Christ. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and the Lord’s Supper.”

– Baptist Faith and Message

• Baptism is for Believers in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:14-17).
• Believers are baptized because Jesus showed us and told us (Matt. 3:13-17; 28:18-20)
• Baptism by immersion does not save, it is a symbol of our salvation and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Col 2:12). 

Discipleship

• Why Discipleship?
  • The Command of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20)
  • The Example of Christ and the early Church (Mark 3:14; Acts 14:21-22;        Col. 1:28-29)
  • The vulnerability of new believers (1 Peter 5:8)
• How To Disciple (Col. 1:27-29)
  • DELIGHT – Christ in you, the hope of glory
  • DISOBEDIENCE – warning everyone
  • DOCTRINE – teaching everyone with all wisdom
  • DEVELOPMENT – present everyone mature
  • DISCIPLINE – for this, I toil
  • DEPENDENCE – struggling with all his energy

The Application: Start a discipleship plan with someone or for yourself. You can make your personalized discipleship plan at rockycreek.church/discipleship.