Theological Question 11

We'll start with what is actually the final question in the theological section...

11) Explain the significance of the sacraments in the ministry to which you have been called?


The sacraments are permanent, visible signs of God’s mercy, faithfulness, and love. Baptism and Holy Communion are recurrent celebrations that serve as outward signs of God’s grace. They were initiated by Christ as he commanded us to observe them both (Matthew 24, Matthew 28). The sacraments are a means of grace that serve to focus the church on God’s real presence in their midst and the grace that God has made available to them.

Baptism is the entrance into the church and is analogous to circumcision in the Old Testament. It signifies that one is joining the faith community based on the grace that God has poured out on their lives. It is an outward representation of the inward spiritual grace that God gives to us. In Baptism, God “bestows upon baptized persons the presence of the Holy Spirit, marks them with an identifying seal as God’s own, and implants in their hearts the first installment of their inheritance as sons and daughters of God” (By Water and the Spirit). It is also a sign of new life that is given through Christ and his work on the cross. It represents the beginning of “that process of growth in grace and holiness through which God brings us into a closer relationship with Christ, and shapes our lives increasingly into conformity with the divine will” (BWATS). Baptism is the beginning of our journey with God.

As a Deacon, Baptism will play a two-fold role in my ministry. For those who have been baptized, the role of the Deacon is to challenge them to live out the grace bestowed upon them in baptism in service to the world. Baptism is an entrance into the community of faith, but it is but one landmark on the journey of faith. In my ministry I will call those who are baptized to grow in their knowledge of God and take the grace they have been given into the world. For those who have not been baptized, part of my ministry will be to guide them in their seeking and help lead them to a place where they are ready to accept the grace freely given and be baptized into the community of faith.

The Lord’s Supper reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice and his real presence in our midst to strengthen us for our daily lives. Grace is offered in the sacrament and is active in “conviction, repentance, conversion, forgiveness, and sanctification” (This Holy Mystery). This grace enables us to perform the ministry and mission that God has called us to, the work of redemption, reconciliation, peace, and justice (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Christ is truly present in communion, making it more than merely a remembrance, but a means of grace for God’s people.
As a deacon, communion will play an important role in my ministry. As one who is charged with service to the world, it is imperative that I celebrate communion regularly as part of the means of grace that strengthen us to do God’s work. I will also call those to whom I minister to celebrate communion and remember that they are partaking in the grace of God, and that it is a celebration that nourishes them spiritually so that they can live out the calling God has placed on their life.

Both communion and baptism also emphasize the communal aspect of faith, with baptism reminding us that we are all a part of God’s family, and communion reminding us that we celebrate God together. These sacraments help remind us that we are not alone on our journey. This is also a reason that I will encourage those to whom I minister to remember their baptism, celebrate and encourage those who are baptized into the faith, and celebrate communion regularly.