Weekly Newsletter – January 19, 2026
đź“–Sunday Recap
In Matthew 3, Jesus steps into the waters of the Jordan to be baptized by John, a moment filled with tension, humility, and divine revelation. John hesitates because he knows Jesus has nothing to repent of. John’s baptism was for repentance, and Jesus is sinless. Yet Jesus insists, explaining that this moment is necessary “to fulfill all righteousness.”
Jesus’ baptism was not about repentance but identification. By stepping into the water, Jesus aligned Himself with sinful humanity without becoming sinful Himself. This act marked the beginning of His public ministry and pointed forward to His mission to bear our sins and provide righteousness we could never earn. As Isaiah foretold, He was “numbered with the transgressors,” willingly taking His place among us to save us.
As Jesus comes up out of the water, heaven opens. The Spirit descends like a dove, visibly resting on Him, fulfilling Old Testament promises that the Messiah would be empowered by the Spirit. Then the Father speaks, declaring, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” In this moment, the Trinity is revealed: Father, Son, and Spirit acting together, and Jesus is unmistakably affirmed as God’s chosen Messiah.
This scene reminds us that Jesus did everything in perfect obedience to the Father, relying fully on the Spirit in His humanity. His baptism shows us not only who He is, he Son of God, but also how following Him begins and continues: through surrender, obedience, and dependence on the Spirit.
Following Jesus begins with obedient surrender. Jesus stepped into the Jordan in submission to the Father, and John had to trust God’s plan despite his hesitation. Following Jesus doesn’t start with understanding everything but with saying yes. That surrender leads to baptism, the first public step of obedience that declares new life in Christ. And the life that begins there is sustained by the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus relied on the Spirit, we must depend on Him daily for faithfulness and growth. The question is simple: where do I need to surrender, obey, or rely more fully on the Spirit this week?
Happening This Week
Sunday
- 9:00am – Worship
- 5:30pm – Thrive
- 6:00pm – Small Groups
🗓️ Mark Your Calendar
February 5th: Winter Jam – We will leave the church at 3:45 pm. A light meal will be provided for the drive over. We should return to the church around 1 am. Tickets cost $45. 6th grade and up can attend without a parent, 5th grade and under are invited with a parent. Please get in touch with Ms. Ryan before January 23rd for more information or to sign up.
February 6th: Men, join us at Oilbelt Christian Service Camp for an evening focused on Messy Grace: Bridging the Tension of Truth and Grace with guest speaker Caleb Kaltenbach, pastor at Shepherd Church and author of Messy Grace. Caleb brings a powerful perspective shaped by his upbringing and will help us think biblically about living with both truth and grace. The night includes a meal, worship, and the main session. Cost is $25. Sign up at church—we’ll take a bus.
Check out the video below to get more info.
🙏 Prayer Requests
Please be praying for:
Dale Weber – hospice
Gale Balding – health issues
Wes Clodfelter – surgery recovery
Angie Hayes – cancer treatments
Kayanna Smith – health issues
Kay Mason – Placed on Hospice
Elizabeth Stevens – surgery recovery
Tyler Mason – Praise! He is home.
Alechia Roosevelt – cancer
Joann Garrison – cancer
Family of Sharon Speir Whetstone
If you have a prayer request, contact church office at 618-456-8563 or fill out a card on Sunday.
See you Sunday!