Pantano Christian Church

Download the 2009 Lenten Guide (PDF)
We invite our church to enter and practice the Lent season in the following ways:

1. Begin Lent by coming together for the Ash Wednesday service on Wed. Feb. 25 (7pm – main auditorium) for encouragement, resources and instructions.
2. Decide to fast from a food, activity, habit or sin. See the back of the guide for help on how to fast or click here for help on fasting.
3. Commit to spend time each day with the Lord using the Lenten Guide we’ve prepared. The guide has a scripture for each day. Read it and take time to reflect or meditate on it. Click here for help on meditation.
4. Take time to pray about what you read regarding love. Make this a very real, authentic and personal time with God.
5. Conclude Lent during the Maundy Thursday celebration on April 9th (7pm). During this service we’ll remember the Last Supper of Jesus and conclude our fasts with communion.

1.  How to Pray – Listening Prayer

a. The Papa Prayer, the Prayer You’ve Never Prayed, Larry Crabb. Something new and exciting happened when Dr. Larry Crabb began practicing the four steps of what the calls the PAPA prayer–a revolutionary conversational approach to talking with and enjoying God. In this book, Crabb shares his experience and encourages readers to be drawn into their own journey of prayer.

b. Can You Hear Me, Tuning in to the God Who Speaks, Brad Jersak. This book is a compelling combination of biblical and historical research, real life experiences, and inspiring exercises on listening prayer. God desires to transform your prayer times into intimate conversations, real meetings with a living friend. Through this book, you will become aware that encountering God is simpler and more interactive than you ever dreamed.

c. Too Busy Not to Pray: Slowing Down to Be With God, Bill Hybels. Practical help to develop a rich and regular prayer life in the midst of life’s busyness.

d. Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth, Dutch Sheets. Pastor and teacher Dutch Sheets explains the nuts and bolts of prayer, with wisdom, gentleness and humor. This book will inspire readers, give them the courage to pray for the impossible and help them find the persistence to see their prayers to completion.

e. Lord, Teach me to Pray in 28 Days, Kay Arthur. A practical, step-by-step guide to learning the basics of prayer. Great when used as a study personally or as a group.  It will help the beginner out of the starting blocks and into the race.

2.  Family Prayer Books

a. Children, Can You Hear Me?  How to Hear and See God, Brad Jersak. This book is about hearing and seeing God. It encourages children (and adults) to listen for and talk to God; as well as, enjoy a loving relationship with Him.

b. The Praying Family: Creative Ways to Pray Together, Kim Butts. A practical, step-by-step approach to making family prayer time the most exciting activity a family engages in. Broken into several steps, each ‘journey’ will further enhance this essential aspect of your family life.

c. The Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian. In 30 easy “to“ read chapters, Omartian shares from personal experience as to how parents can pray for their children’s safety, character development, school experiences, marriage, and so much more.

d. What Happens When Women Pray, Evelyn Christenson. A wonderful book for men or women who want to get started on applying the truths of prayer found in scripture to your daily lives and those around you. It is simple, practical and a great starting place for many to begin applying these truths and seeing hope arise in those around you.

e. Prayer on Fire, Fred Hartley. Want to experience prayer that is not routine or boring?  Invite the Holy Spirit’s presence to come transform your daily prayer life as well as those you pray for. This is a book that will lead you into bringing heaven to earth and igniting your prayers through a powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.

3.  Spiritual growth – Pursuing God

a. The God Chasers, Tommy Tenney.  Want to truly hunger for God?  Follow the paths and examples of many Biblical and historical figures that have “chased” God in pursuit of His heart and character to be formed in them. Very few things will propel you into prayer like knowing the heart and presence of God.

b. The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer This book traces a path of thirst for divine satisfaction. It is a book that outlines the realities of who God is and who we are in relation to him. It’s deep and precious truths caused me to press into God that much more.

c. After God’s Own Heart, Mike Bickl. One of the greatest examples in Scripture of one seeking God’s heart is the life of David. His wholehearted pursuit and hunger for God, gave rise to a man called “a man after God’s own heart.” Follow the path he took and see your heart turned inside out for more of God.  This is a tremendous launching pad for powerful prayer.

4.  Spiritual Warfare Books

a. The Believer’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Wising Up to Satan’s Influence in Your World, Thomas B. White. Complete with many real-life illustrations, sample prayers, helpful techniques and answers to the most commonly asked questions about warfare, this book will help you fulfill a central call of the Gospel-to resist evil through the power and authority of the Cross.

b. Every Place Your Foot Shall Tread, Mark Geppert This is a one-of-a-kind book that will equip you with bold strategies needed to combat the forces of evil in this world. Taking the principles and practices presented within to your streets and prayer-walking through your neighborhoods, schools, cities and nations with the authority given to us, you can change your world by becoming a part of the army of God.

c. Churches That Pray, Peter Wagner.  Want to pray with power? This author is well respected and renowned for his authority and knowledge in applying “action prayer” through the church. This book gives practical steps to take to break down walls between the church and our communities

5.  Other Recommended Books

a. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala.  Jim Cymbala became the pastor of a dilapidated church in Brooklyn, New York. When all was hopeless for those he ministered too, Jim and his congregation have found power and joy in seeing the Spirit move and transform lives through continued and persistent prayer.

b. Red Moon Rising, Pete Greig & Dave Roberts. Even with the world getting darker, a new generation is learning to pray and obey like never before. Story of a prayer movement that started in 1999 and has exploded to more than 50 countries.

We often get questions asking what we believe about baptism, why we practice it and what does it means.

Who is a Candidate for Baptism?

Baptism is for anyone old enough to understand who Jesus is and who is able to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  It is for anyone who is ready to follow Jesus with all their heart for all their life to the best of their ability.  You don’t have to be perfect and have all your proverbial ducks in a row in order to be baptized.  You don’t have to go through classes and be approved.  As broken and messed up folks, we simply have to know enough about Jesus to be ready to say “yes” to Jesus and genuinely trust him to guide and influence you.

The Believer’s Wedding Ceremony

We like to describe baptism as the believer’s wedding ceremony.  In 1 Peter 3:21 we find these words: “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

Baptism is a “pledge” or a response or intense desire to say “yes” to Jesus.  It is in fact a “vow” like we make in a marriage ceremony.  Even if you’ve known Jesus and loved him for a long time, in baptism you are formally entering into a lifelong commitment like a marriage.  You are promising to follow Jesus, to obey him and to allow him to influence you as best you can.  You are choosing to enter into a lifelong committed relationship with Jesus.

It is interesting that the Bible often uses the metaphor of marriage or husband and wife to describe God’s desire for a committed and faithful relationship with us (Matthew. 25:1-13; Luke 5:34, 35; John 3:28-30; Ephesians 5:25-33; Revelation 19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17, etc.).  Jesus wants to be our spiritual bridegroom.  In the metaphor we are the bride.  In baptism we make our vow to forsake our rights of self management and any other allegiances and commit to put Jesus first and turn over the “deed” of our lives to him.

Jesus invites us (and commands us) to join him in baptism.  What an amazing invitation.  He’s waiting.

Why Baptism by Immersion

We practice baptism by being immersed in the water (rather than just sprinkling or pouring water) because this is the very meaning of the original word for baptism.  Further, Jesus modeled this.  But even more, immersion is a powerful symbol.   In Romans 6:1-10 the Apostle Paul shows us that when we go down into the water we are making a spiritual declaration – we are dying to our old way of life.  We are burying that life and all its sin and wrong doing in the watery grave.  We come out of the water and symbolize our resurrection with Jesus.  We are alive, but this time we come alive with Jesus whom we love and follow.  This “new life” marks a new beginning.

What Happens After Baptism?

When couples are wed they usually understand the basic commitment of marriage.  Yet, at the onset, few know how to really be a good spouse.  We learn that over time and through experiences and challenges.  During the difficult times and during the times we are not a good spouse; our vows keep us faithful and keep us in the relationship as we learn.  That is also true in our relationship with Jesus.  Hopefully, we learn how to follow Jesus better and better as we live life with him.  There are ups and downs.  Jesus will always be a faithful and committed partner.  We strive to be a faithful and committed partner to the best of our ability.

Salvation

Notice in 1 Peter 3:21 that it says two things – “baptism now saves you” and “It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”  That sounds a bit confusing and people have taken different views of this.  No physical act we do saves us.  Only Jesus saves.  We are saved from the punishment of our sins by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection.  We are saved by his grace, mercy and forgiveness (Ephesians 2:8, 9).  But we enter into salvation by choosing to commit to following Jesus.  If we choose not to follow Jesus, we can’t and won’t know and experience salvation from the power and the consequence of our sins.  Salvation is a partnership.  Jesus offers salvation and we must accept it.

Infants

Some parents are concerned that their child is not spiritually safe and want their baby baptized.  We do not believe that an infant has consciously chosen to sin and reject God their Father.  In fact, Jesus often used small children as the model of how we adults should live (see Matthew 18:3, 4; 19:13-15).  So small children are innocent before God.  There is no concern over their eternal destiny.  Further, a baby or very small child can’t grasp the meaning described above of commitment to Jesus.  Once a child has grown to the point where they see their need for God’s forgiveness through Jesus and can understand the basic meaning of a lifelong commitment to Jesus, then they are ready. There is no magic age as it can come in early elementary school or sometimes not until middle school or later.  We have a children’s baptism class that can help you and your child determine when they are ready.

We do baby dedications at Pantano Christian Church.  This is a special time where the parents commitment themselves to raising a child to know and love God and bring them to a point when the child can make his or her own decision to follow Jesus.  Contact the children’s department to find out when the next baby dedication will occur.

Baptism of Children

Once a child has grown to the point where they see their need for God’s forgiveness through Jesus and can understand the basic meaning of a lifelong commitment to Jesus, then they are ready. There is no magic age as it can come in early elementary school or sometimes not until middle school or later.  We do offer a children’s baptism class that can help you and your child determine when they are ready.  This 1 hour class is offered 4 times per year and, while not mandatory, we do suggest that all children go thru the class prior to (or even after if need be) their baptism.  In addition, if we offer a complementary work book entitled, Joining God’s Family, for parents that cannot make the class and/or would like help in discussing baptism with their child.  Please contact the Children’s Ministry office to find out the next class dates and/or to receive a copy of this workbook.

A Final Word

Because baptism is a vow to God, it is a very significant and important event that should not be viewed in a casual way.  Just like marriage, baptism is a declaration of a lifelong commitment and it should be considered carefully.  Also like in marriage, we are making a vow or a promise to God.  Such promises or vows must be taken with careful consideration.  We do not want to break a promise to God.

And because baptism is such a meaningful ceremony, don’t forget to invite your family and friends, just like you would to your wedding ceremony.

Help or Next Steps

If you are ready to be baptized, please contact Julie Wesley (298-5395 x278) to arrange your baptism.  You can be baptized on the church property and during a service or arrange other times and locations as well.  Any follower of Jesus can be the person who performs the baptism.

We have all that is needed for your baptism on the church property – private male and female changing rooms, towels, outerwear gowns to cover swim or street clothes, mirrors and blow dryers.

If you have questions, would like more teaching or would like to talk to someone about baptism we would love talk or meet with you.  Contact Julie and she will set up an appointment with one of our pastors.

Parents, if you have children that you think are ready to be baptized, we strongly encourage both you and your children attend our children’s baptism class.  It is a one time class that we find very helpful for both you and your child to clearly understand the meaning of baptism appropriate for a child’s understanding.  Again, contact Julie and she’ll provide you with information on our children’s baptism class.