“John answered all of them by saying, “ I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16 

John the Baptist had an interesting view of who Jesus would be. Fire and  judgement was top of mind for John. What does it mean for Jesus to baptize with the Holy spirit and with fire? We are beginning a new sermon series today on what it means to be the church. Most of our time will be spent in Corinthians, but we begin with baptism. When we are baptized we are joined to Jesus and sealed with the Holy Spirit and assured that we are the wheat Jesus gathers and not the chaff that he will burn. I like the image of being baptized with Holy Spirit and connected to God in that that way. But fire? That scares me a bit. Maybe that’s where we need to hear a word from God this week. Fire that refines and purifies. As we enter the new year, we might ask God to refine and purify our faith. What would that look like for you? 

-Pastor Travis Norton

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