The Baptism Conversation

Why a conversation and not a class

We do not run a baptism class. We always have a conversation. The person shares their testimony, and leaders use discernment about whether they have given their life to Jesus.

That conversation is also what lets us baptize someone the same day, and baptize spontaneously, without skipping the part that matters.

Before you start

• Find a spot where the person can talk without an audience.
• Decide ahead of time which leaders in your church may have this conversation and say yes.
• Have a Bible open to Acts 2:38 (opens the passage on Bible.com) and Acts 22:16 (opens the passage on Bible.com).
• You are listening more than you are teaching.

Questions that draw out their story

Pick the ones that fit. You do not need all of them.

1. Tell me how you came to follow Jesus.
2. What was your life like before that?
3. What changed?
4. Who is Jesus to you?
5. What do you believe he did for you?
6. Why do you want to be baptized, and why now?
7. What do you think baptism does?
8. Have you been baptized before? Tell me about that.
9. Who do you want to be there when it happens?

What you are listening for

• They know they have sinned and need a Savior.
• They are trusting Jesus, not their own effort and not the baptism.
• It is their own decision, not someone else's.
• They understand baptism is a public response, an outward picture of what Jesus has already done.

If they say baptism will wash their sins away or save them, stop there and open Acts 2:38 (opens the passage on Bible.com) and Acts 22:16 (opens the passage on Bible.com) together.

Children and parents

There is no set age. A child needs to understand three things:

1. Jesus loves them.
2. They have sinned.
3. Jesus rose and can save them.

We rarely baptize a child under 5. Seven or older is the norm.

We ask for a parent's consent. With a teenager it is a discussion instead.

• Ask the child to tell you in their own words. Let them answer before a parent does.
• Use simple questions: "Who is Jesus?" "Why do you want to be baptized?" "What is sin?"
• Decide ahead of time what you will do when a teenager wants to be baptized and a parent is not on board.

When you are not sure

• Ask one more question and keep listening.
• Bring in another leader or the pastor.
• It is fine to say, "Let's keep talking and do this soon." Set the next conversation before they leave.
• Decide ahead of time who makes the final call in your church.

When they have been baptized before

Ask them to tell you about it, then listen for which of these it is:

• They believed, were baptized, walked away and came back. They are not baptized again. Celebrate that they are back.
• They were baptized as an infant, or as a child before they truly believed. They are baptized.
• They were baptized as a religious tradition or because their parents wanted it. They are baptized.

Be careful but lenient when the Holy Spirit has convicted someone. Always bring theological clarity: what baptism is, what it is not, and why they are doing this now.