After taking most of July off from preaching, I’m excited to be back this Sunday.
The time away was good for me. I was able to take a trip with my family, get some needed rest, and step outside my normal rhythms for a while. But coming back has reminded me of something: Returning requires intention.
It is one thing to come back to the office, return to a schedule, or show up again in the places you usually go. It is another thing to ask, “How do I want to return? What do I want to give my attention to again? What matters enough to choose again?”
I think faith can be like that too.
There are moments when we first say yes to Jesus, but there are also moments when we need to say yes again. Not because God has gone anywhere, but because life gets busy. We get distracted. We walk through difficult seasons. Sometimes we simply realize that we have been going through the motions and want to live with greater intention.
That is one reason I’m so excited about what is coming at Good Shepherd.
On August 30, we will celebrate Baptism Sunday. We will have immersion baptisms for those who have never been baptized, along with an opportunity for all of us to remember our baptism and recommit ourselves to following Jesus.
If you have never been baptized, maybe this is the step you are ready to take.
You do not need to have everything figured out. You do not need to feel as though you have reached some spiritual finish line. Baptism is not a finish line. It is a beginning. It is a public way of saying, “I want my life to be shaped by Jesus.”
And if you have already been baptized, maybe this is a season when you need to choose again.
Remembering your baptism is not being baptized a second time. It is an opportunity to remember God’s grace, renew your commitment, and intentionally step back into the life you have been called to live.
If you are even considering baptism or recommitting to your baptism as a step in your faith, we would love to walk with you in that journey. Simply fill out the link below and we will be in touch.
As I return from time away, I find myself thinking about the things I want to choose again—the rhythms, relationships, and commitments that matter most.
Maybe this is a moment for you to do the same.
What step of faith are you ready to take for the first time—or choose again?
This Sunday, we are also beginning a new series called JUST ASK. We’ll explore why inviting someone into something meaningful can feel so intimidating, what often holds us back, and what can happen when we find the courage to simply ask.
I’m looking forward to being back with you.
See you Sunday,
Matt
