Defining Baptism

Many churches explain what baptism is and the biblical foundation for baptism before any baptismal candidate participates in the service. This can reaffirm to the teen candidate why baptism is important. Pastors could begin with Matthew 3:11-17, which explains John the Baptist’s ministry and tells the story of Jesus’ baptism. The pastor could also include Matthew 28:18-10, which details Jesus’ command to baptize believers and teach them what they need to know to live as Jesus taught. If there is anyone in the service who doesn’t understand baptism, this part of the service helps clarify the place of baptism in the believer’s life.

Renouncing Sin

During the baptismal ritual, the pastor or priest asks the teen whether she repents of sin and will live a righteous life. Repentance is an important part of the ritual because the use of water in the service symbolizes cleansing of sin, as explained in Colossians 2:12-15. After baptism, the teen is expected to follow the example of Jesus in righteous living, as explained in Romans 6. For each of these questions, the teen must answer in the affirmative.

Profession of Faith

The teen makes a public profession of faith before his actual baptism. He affirms that he has accepted Jesus as his savior and promises to serve him through prayer, church attendance, offerings and service. Some baptismal services take the teen through a series of questions about what he believes, such as asking if he believes the Bible is the word of God, that God created the universe and all that is, that Jesus is both God and man who died to forgive sins and rose again, and the existence and role of the Holy Spirit as the third part of the Trinity.

The Water

Once the teen has affirmed that her beliefs are in accordance with those of the church, she is ready for baptism to take place. Depending on the denomination, a teen could be immersed in a water tank or natural body of water, have water poured over his head or have water sprinkled on his head. In churches where immersion is the preferred method of baptism, the teen wears a robe or pants and a shirt that does not become transparent when wet to preserve modesty and to allow the teen to change into dry clothes after the baptism. Most churches baptize the teen “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.”

Prayer and Wrap-Up

The pastor’s prayer for the teen could take place before or after the actual baptism. The pastor could individualize the prayer for each candidate with the teen’s name and personal information. After the baptism, many pastors present the newly baptized teen to the congregation and ask them to support the teen in prayer and provide a suitable example of what it means to be a Christian.