What does First B Jackson teach about baptism?
Drawn from the messages where it was actually addressed: the words said from the front, the passages taught, and where to hear the whole thing.
At First B Jackson, the teaching on baptism begins with what the word itself means. Pastor Mark has explained that the Greek word baptize means to dip or to plunge, and that the symbolism of burial and resurrection calls for immersion. The church practices believers baptism, meaning it is for those who have come to personal faith, not for infants, and the act follows confession rather than preceding it. When Philip asked the Ethiopian official whether anything hindered him from being baptized, the man answered that he believed Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that was the only requirement named in the text. That pattern, faith first and baptism as its public expression, runs through the teaching here consistently.
The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch has been the clearest single text for this. Pastor Mark and Pastor Nick have both preached through Acts 8:26-40, and both have stopped at the moment the official sees water on a desert road and asks what is stopping him. Modern translations generally omit verse 37, but the New King James preserves Philip's question: do you believe with all your heart? The man's answer was a straightforward declaration of faith in Jesus as the Son of God. They went down into the water together, and when they came back up, the official went on his way rejoicing. The teaching draws attention to the joy and the immediacy, no long delay, no committee to consult, just water and faith and the act.
Baptism also shows up in the broader arc of Acts as a marker of genuine reception of the gospel. When Peter preached at Pentecost, repentance and baptism were named together as the response to what the crowd had heard. When Cornelius and his household received the Spirit, baptism followed at once, and Pastor Mark has used that account to press the question of whether the lesson about making no distinctions belongs only to Peter or to this congregation as well. The baptisms that have happened at First B Jackson during these series, sometimes spontaneous, sometimes long planned, have been treated not as the cause of something but as the outward sign of something that has already happened inside a person.
Taught from Acts 8:26-40 · Acts 8:36 · Acts 8:37 · Matthew 28:18-20 · Acts 2:1-47
The passage taught · Acts 10:1-48
1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
3 At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4 He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.
World English Bible
The messages that teach on it
- February 9, 2025 No Favoritism With God Peter enters a Roman soldier's home and the Holy Spirit falls on Gentiles. A modern miracle from Gaza shows God still works the same way today.
- February 9, 2025 God Shows No Favoritism Peter visits Cornelius in Acts 10, and Pastor shows how God breaks down every barrier we build between ourselves and people we consider outsiders.
- January 19, 2025 Here Is Water, What Hinders You Acts 8:26-40: Philip follows God's lead on a desert road and shares the gospel with an Ethiopian official, showing how ordinary obedience fuels the spread of the good news.
- January 19, 2025 This week's Sermon from First B Jackson January 19th Philip dropped everything when God said go, and ended up baptizing an Ethiopian official on a desert road. What happens when you actually want the ball?
- January 19, 2025 Philip Wants the Ball Philip runs alongside an Ethiopian official's chariot and shares the gospel from Isaiah 53, leading to baptism. A study of obedience, readiness, and the Great Commission.
- November 10, 2024 Confused Because They Understood The pastor walks through Acts 2, the birthday of the church, tracing Pentecost from rushing wind and tongues of fire to 3,000 baptisms and what it means for us today.
- January 1, 2023 Here Is Water, What Hinders You A New Year's Day sermon on baptism, tracing Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, followed by an invitation to be baptized and the Lord's Supper.
Mentioned along the way
- October 4, 2026 Christ Is Good Enough A sermon through Colossians 2-3 on what it means to walk in Christ, free from legalism, empty tradition, and self-made religion, with Christ as fully sufficient.
- July 6, 2025 In Him We Live and Move and Have Our Being The pastor walks through Acts 18-19, tracing Paul's journey from Corinth to Ephesus and showing how God works through the ordinary details of life to spread the gospel.
- July 6, 2025 The Way of God More Accurately Pastor Ray walks through Acts 18, showing how Paul, Apollos, and a handful of disciples in Ephesus were all taught the way of God more accurately, and what that means for us.
- February 16, 2025 No Distinction Peter's vision and Cornelius's angel encounter show how God breaks down barriers between people to bring the gospel to everyone, Gentile and Jew alike.
- February 2, 2025 This week's Sermon @ First B Jackson January 26th A Jackson Hole pastor traces the conversion of Saul in Acts 9, showing how God humbled a zealous persecutor and transformed him into a chosen instrument.
- January 26, 2025 Saul, Why Are You Persecuting Me? Paul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus shows how God humbles the proud, hears prayer, and transforms even the fiercest enemy of the church into His chosen instrument.
- November 19, 2023 Relational Wisdom That Leads to Peace Carl preaches through Philippians 4:1-9, showing how joy, prayer, gratitude, and right thinking lead to God's peace even in the middle of conflict.
- July 23, 2023 As You Are Going Nick Stern shares stories from hiking the Camino de Santiago and how conversations along the trail opened doors to share the gospel with strangers from around the world.
- July 23, 2023 What the Camino Taught Me About Sharing Faith Nick Stern shares how hiking the Camino de Santiago opened unexpected doors to share the gospel, and why every Christian can do the same wherever they go.
- January 1, 2023 Here Is Water, What Hinders You A Wyoming congregation rings in the New Year with a baptism, new members, communion, and a sermon on Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8.
- October 2, 2022 He Was Transfigured Before Them Ray walks through the Transfiguration in Matthew, connecting Jesus's transformation to Romans 12 and the ongoing work of God in every believer's life.
- September 18, 2022 Nothing In My Hand I Bring Jesus warns against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, a blind man receives sight in stages, and a pastor reflects on having nothing to offer but faith.
- September 18, 2022 Beware the Leaven of Both Sides Jesus feeds thousands, warns of divisive leaven, and heals a blind man gradually. A sermon on faith, factions, and following Christ over ideology.
- August 21, 2022 Jesus Walks Jesus walks away from a crown, walks on water, and walks with twelve who stay. A study in following Christ for who He is, not what He gives.
- July 3, 2022 Set Your Sights, Put Off, Put On Carl walks First Baptist Jackson through Colossians 3:1-17, calling believers to set their sights on heaven, put off the old nature, and put on Christ's love.
- April 17, 2022 Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead Easter Sunday sermon tracing Luke 24 and Acts 1: an empty tomb, a road to Emmaus, and a risen Christ who calls ordinary people to be His witnesses.
- February 16, 2020 A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken Hebrews 12 traces the contrast between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, calling believers to pursue peace, receive grace, and worship God with gratitude in a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
- February 16, 2020 A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken Hebrews 12:14-28 calls believers to pursue peace, guard against bitterness, and hold fast to an unshakable kingdom secured not by law but by Christ.
- July 7, 2019 God Has Spoken Through His Son Pastor Ray opens Hebrews with four verses that present Jesus as supreme above prophets, angels, and all creation, the radiance of God's glory and our only source of redemption.
- April 14, 2019 Save Now: The Triumphal Entry Palm Sunday sermon on John 11-12: the raising of Lazarus, the triumphal entry, and what it means that Jesus is the one who saves.
- April 7, 2019 God Is Sovereign, Man Is Responsible Peter opens his second letter by grounding Christians in what God has already given, then calling them to respond with lives marked by faith, goodness, and love.
- April 7, 2019 Grace and Peace in Abundance Peter opens his second letter with a bold claim: God has already given believers everything they need for a godly life. Learn what that means and what it asks of us.
- October 7, 2018 Done with Sin Peter calls believers to be done with sin. The pastor walks through 1 Peter 4:1-6, Christ's suffering, holy living, and the hope that grounds it all.
- October 7, 2018 Done With Sin Peter calls believers to be done with sin, armed with Christ's purpose, ready to suffer for righteousness, and assured that God will judge the living and the dead.
- September 30, 2018 Bearing Witness Through Suffering A sermon on 1 Peter 3:13-22 exploring how Christ's unjust suffering and vindication give Christians courage to stand firm, suffer well, and speak honestly about their faith.
- April 22, 2018 A Tree That Cannot Be Cut Down Jesus heals a bent woman on the Sabbath, then describes God's kingdom as a mustard seed: small in its beginnings, growing until every person finds shelter in its branches.
- February 11, 2018 The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ Be With You All The pastor closes Philippians with a look at grace, unity in Christ, and how every book of the New Testament begins and ends with the same gift.
- December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve Morning Service (3) A Christmas Eve sermon from First Baptist Jackson exploring the phrase "God rest ye merry gentlemen," unpacking what "merry" truly means and why the good news of Christ's birth brings real comfort and joy.
- February 26, 2017 Christ Hits the Center of the Target Paul's letter to the Colossians warns against rules, rituals and angel worship as substitutes for Christ, who alone hits the center of every target.
- February 26, 2017 The Substance Belongs to Christ Colossians 2-3 sermon on why rules and rituals can't change us, and why Christ alone is the center that holds our faith together.
- February 26, 2017 The Substance Belongs to Christ Paul's letter to the Colossians cuts through religious rules and rituals to show why Christ alone, not law-keeping or self-denial, is the center of the Christian life.
- May 22, 2016 Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ Romans 5, 6 traces humanity's default identity in Adam's sin and the life available through Christ's obedience, culminating in what baptism declares about belonging to Him.
- May 22, 2016 With Whom Will You Identify Romans 5-6 shows death as Adam's legacy and life as Christ's gift. Pastor Ted walks through what it means to identify with Jesus, including a baptism.
- August 30, 2015 Written on Human Hearts The pastor walks through 2 Corinthians 3, contrasting the law written on stone with God's new covenant written by His Spirit on human hearts.
- March 29, 2015 Fickle Followers of the Faith Pastor Brian preaches from Galatians 1 on Palm Sunday, showing how fickle people turn from God's grace, and why the gospel of Christ alone is enough.
- November 30, 2014 The Message of the Cross Is Where It's At A review of 1 Corinthians traces one steady theme through every chapter: the message of the cross is foolishness to some, but God's power to all who believe.
- August 3, 2014 Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So A Wyoming congregation gathers for baptisms, communion, and a reading of Psalm 107, reflecting on God's power to calm every storm.
- July 13, 2014 Grace to You and Peace Paul's letter to a divided, sin-riddled Corinth still speaks today. Pastor Carl opens 1 Corinthians, tracing its context and calling believers back to the cross.
- May 4, 2014 Weep and Howl, Then Wait James 5:1-12 calls the wealthy to account and urges suffering believers toward patience, using farmers, prophets, and Job as anchors for enduring faith.
- January 5, 2014 Proclaiming God's Word in Ephesus Paul in Ephesus shows what faithful gospel proclamation looks like: go where God leads, work hard, preach Christ, engage people in your path, and leave results to God.
- August 11, 2013 Philip Acts in Obedience, Traditions Philip obeyed God's call immediately, crossed cultural lines, and changed a life forever. A sermon on what happens when we say yes without waiting to know why.
- December 4, 2011 Caught in the Answer A woman caught in adultery, a crowd holding stones, and Jesus kneeling in the sand. See what grace really looks like in John 7-8.
- August 7, 2011 And Such We Are Ray walks through 1 John to show why the letter is meant to assure believers of their salvation in Christ, not condemn them.