NATHAN: Baptism is a symbol of new life. It is a fresh start for a person to be clean of sin. It's a way of expressing publicly that you're a Christian. There are lots of symbols in a baptism ceremony. The water can represent coming clean to God and starting a new life. For a Christian the most important thing that happens is that they meet the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a personal encounter which is a life-changing thing. And baptism is a public declaration. It is a declaration to people around and to God that this is a new life for me. Old life's gone new life's arrived.
NATHAN: I was baptised as a baby but some Christians believe that people should be able to make the decision themselves. When a baby is baptised the parents and godparents promise to support and encourage the child in their Christian faith. When a person makes their own decision to follow Jesus it's called believer's baptism. I've decided to follow Jesus
No turning back. No turning back.
Ben is 12.
Hey everyone I'm Ben and I'm from the Lighthouse Church.
NATHAN: He's decided to make a commitment to God by getting baptised.
BEN: In church once God touched my heart and I just thought in my head that I should be baptised. It's important for people to make their own decision about baptism because it's important for them to make their own decision about following Jesus. It's a personal encounter it's a relationship. This is a great opportunitybecause it shows… It can show everyone that I'm Christian.
NATHAN: The Bible teaches us that Jesus was baptised in a river by his cousin John the Baptist. In the Bible we talk about being born again new life and when you know that's happened to you whatever age that is then it's not only a good idea it's a commandment in the Bible to make it public to say to people 'This is who I am. I'm going to be baptised now.' In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.
NATHAN: Baptism involves either immersing a person in water or applying water to them. In infant baptism water is applied. This water is usually taken from a baptismal font. In believer's baptism like Ben's he has to go underwater completely so a baptismal pool is used. Some churches have one of these pools inside. On confession of your faith we baptise you now "in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit."
CHEERING
I was shaking. I feel different. I feel new. It was great. I just…I loved it. It was good.
Video summary
We find out about baptism and what it means to young Christians.
Baptism is a ceremony that symbolises a commitment to living a life as a Christian.
Jesus was baptised in the New Testament by John the Baptist.
Holy water is put on baptised people by a church leader as a symbol of being cleansed and made ready for a new life for God.
We see how baptism is different for different types of Christians.
Some are baptised as babies, while others chose to be baptised later in life.
We follow the journey of 12 year old Ben, who we see being immersed in a ceremony at the Lighthouse Church.
This clip is from the series My Life, My Religion: Christianity.
Teacher Notes
Read the new testament account of Jesus being baptised with the pupils from one of the gospels.
Pupils could be asked if they can see how the trinity is connected to the baptism of Jesus (dove, voice, Jesus). Look at art works - such as the one in the clip - about this Bible story.
Ask pupils to identify and describe 5 or more connections between the Bible story and the clip.
This topic will be relevant to teaching Religious Education at KS2 or KS3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 2nd and 3rd Level in Scotland.
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