🌊 Baptism

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Becoming an Adult: It marks a step into adulthood.
• 👪 Preparation for Adult Roles: Girls learn to be responsible mothers and wives, and boys learn to be responsible fathers and husbands.
• 🌍 Community Role: Teaches them to be responsible community members.

• 🧼 Washes Original Sin: Symbolically cleanses the child from sin.
• ⛪ Membership in Church: Allows the child to join their parents' church community.
• 🙏 Encourages Godly Fear: Helps the child grow up with a respect for God.
• 🌟 Imparts Eternal Life: Seen as a step toward eternal life.
• Way of Salvation: A start on the path of faith and salvation.

• 🌊 Immersion: Dipping the person fully in water.
• 🚿 Pouring: Pouring water over the person.
• 💦 Sprinkling: Sprinkling water on the person.

📖 Scripture References:

• Matthew 3:12-17
• Mark 1:9-11
• Luke 3:21-22

Significance of Jesus' Baptism:

🔔 Significance of Jesus' Baptism:

• 📜 Commanded by God: It was a command given by God.
• Sign of Agreement with God: A sign of the covenant between God and Abraham.
• Mark of Belonging: Showed belonging to God’s people.
• Promise to Abraham's Descendants: Guaranteed God’s promises to Abraham’s family.

✝️ Christianity

• 🆕 Symbol of New Life in Christ: Baptism represents dying to the old life and starting a new life in Jesus.
• 📜 Commanded by Christ: Christians are commanded to be baptized, showing repentance and commitment.
• Becoming a Church Member: Baptism symbolizes joining the Christian Church.

🕉️ Hinduism

• 🧵 Sacred Thread for Boys: Hindu boys receive a sacred thread as a sign of adult status, showing that they are now "twice born."

☪️ Islam

• 🔖 Belief in the Kalima: Becoming a Muslim involves believing in the Kalima ("There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His prophet").
• Learning Gradually: Muslim children gradually learn their beliefs, taking full responsibility as adults.

🇿🇲 Zambian Tradition

• Puberty and Marriage Rites: These rites prepare boys and girls for adult responsibilities in the community.

1. Narrate the story of Jesus’ baptism.

Reading: Matthew 3:13-17

2. Describe three events at Jesus' baptism.

• Heaven Opened: The sky opened up.
• Voice from Heaven: God spoke.
• Holy Spirit as a Dove: The Holy Spirit appeared like a dove and rested on Jesus.

3. Why do Christians get baptized? (Three reasons)

• It’s a Command from Christ: Jesus told His followers to be baptized.
• Shows Repentance and Faith: Baptism shows a heart change.
• Obedience to God: Baptism shows commitment to God’s word.

4. Compare Christian baptism and Zambian Traditional initiation:

• Similarities:
  • Both are public acts, marking a new life stage.
  • Both use symbols to show inner changes.
• Differences:
  • Christian Baptism: Shows repentance and connection with Jesus.
  • Zambian Tradition: Marks the transition into adulthood.
  • Christian Baptism: Reflects faith in Christ.
  • Zambian Tradition: Shows joining the adult community.

Baptism

• Becoming an Adult: It marks a step into adulthood.
• Preparation for Adult Roles: Girls learn to be responsible mothers and wives, and boys learn to be responsible fathers and husbands.
• Community Role: Teaches them to be responsible community members.

• Washes Original Sin: Symbolically cleanses the child from sin.
• Membership in Church: Allows the child to join their parents' church community.
• Encourages Godly Fear: Helps the child grow up with a respect for God.
• Imparts Eternal Life: Seen as a step toward eternal life.
• Way of Salvation: A start on the path of faith and salvation.

• Immersion: Dipping the person fully in water.
• Pouring: Pouring water over the person.
• Sprinkling: Sprinkling water on the person.

Scripture References:

• Matthew 3:12-17
• Mark 1:9-11
• Luke 3:21-22

Significance of Jesus' Baptism:

• Declared as God's Son: At His baptism, God declared Jesus as His Son.
• Identification with Humanity: Jesus was baptized to relate fully to humans.
• Commitment to God's Purpose: His baptism showed His commitment to winning people for God’s kingdom.

• Commanded by God: It was a command given by God.
• Sign of Agreement with God: A sign of the covenant between God and Abraham.
• Mark of Belonging: Showed belonging to God’s people.
• Promise to Abraham's Descendants: Guaranteed God’s promises to Abraham’s family.

Christianity

• Symbol of New Life in Christ: Baptism represents dying to the old life and starting a new life in Jesus.
• Commanded by Christ: Christians are commanded to be baptized, showing repentance and commitment.
• Becoming a Church Member: Baptism symbolizes joining the Christian Church.

Hinduism

• Sacred Thread for Boys: Hindu boys receive a sacred thread as a sign of adult status, showing that they are now "twice born."

Islam

• Belief in the Kalima: Becoming a Muslim involves believing in the Kalima ("There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His prophet").
• Learning Gradually: Muslim children gradually learn their beliefs, taking full responsibility as adults.

Zambian Tradition

• Puberty and Marriage Rites: These rites prepare boys and girls for adult responsibilities in the community.

1. Narrate the story of Jesus’ baptism.

Reading: Matthew 3:13-17

2. Describe three events at Jesus' baptism.

• Heaven Opened: The sky opened up.
• Voice from Heaven: God spoke.
• Holy Spirit as a Dove: The Holy Spirit appeared like a dove and rested on Jesus.

3. Why do Christians get baptized? (Three reasons)

• It’s a Command from Christ: Jesus told His followers to be baptized.
• Shows Repentance and Faith: Baptism shows a heart change.
• Obedience to God: Baptism shows commitment to God’s word.

4. Compare Christian baptism and Zambian Traditional initiation:

• Similarities:
  • Both are public acts, marking a new life stage.
  • Both use symbols to show inner changes.
• Differences:
  • Christian Baptism: Shows repentance and connection with Jesus.
  • Zambian Tradition: Marks the transition into adulthood.
  • Christian Baptism: Reflects faith in Christ.
  • Zambian Tradition: Shows joining the adult community.