>> All right, you guys ready for baptism. >> I I showed that video because as you noticed, there's no tank in here. So, that's how we're doing baptism this morning. Y'all ready for it.

If you are new or visiting here, my name is Josh Myers. I'm the lead pastor and I am so excited. This is a destination first that you are witnessing this morning. There are 12 people ready to be baptized.

Let's get ready for it. Now, here's the thing. We might not be dunking Gatorade on your heads, but I expect the cheers from all of you guys for these participants this morning sharing their stories and getting baptized to be Super Bowl level big. Okay, that's how much applause I want this morning.

It's going to be a hype morning. , and again, a destination first. You guys are the first people to get baptized here.

, and this is also my first time that I get to wear sweatpants on stage, so I'm a I'm in a good mood. , but you know, I show that video for another reason, too. Because if you didn't grow up in the church, kind of like me, you might look at the action of baptism or maybe you'll have your kids ask this question.

Why are we dunking people in a tank. Like that really doesn't make any sense. Because what's the difference between baptism and a bath. What's the difference between baptism and me going to swimming lessons. Or what's the difference between baptism and a Gatorade bath for a coach.

And so, , today just for a little bit, , I would like to talk to you about what baptis baptism is and why we do it. And to do that, to answer this question, I want you to grab your blue Bibles. We are a church that opens our Bibles every week. , and we will be on page 995 in 2 Corinthians chapter 5. , by the way, if you do not have a Bible, please take that one home with you.

It is our gift to you. We've given away about a hundred Bibles since we started our church here in September. , and so we are just so excited because we want you to open the word of God , and see how your life can be transformed, too.

, so in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, here's what's going on. You're going to meet this guy named Paul. Paul is an apostle and he writes letters to churches.

Now, this passage that we're going to read is not necessarily about baptism, but what it's about is your new life found in Christ. And it's going to answer for us these two key questions. So starting in verse 14, if you follow the numbers down there to the number 14, it says this, for Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died and he died for all and those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. I want to pause for a minute because this answers a really good question for you guys and for all of us here, which is what does it mean to be baptized. Well, what Paul is saying here is that in Christ, you are made new.

You are a new creation. And he is talking about how there's this symbolism here that when Christ died that we too as we accept Jesus into our hearts are also made into this new creation. And so in a little bit here we're all going to take a little bit of a road trip because honestly there is no tank in here. And the reason for that is because we don't want to destroy the gym floors.

That's the real reason. But there is down the hallway going to be a baptism tank. And we're going to go down there together and we're going to witness all 12 of these individuals getting baptized.

And what you're going to see is you're going to see them go under the water and up out of the water. But what that symbolizes is it symbolizes us taking part in Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection. And so what that means is as you go down You are dying to yourself and you are made new as you come up out of the water in Christ.

And it's the same a visual representation of what Jesus did for each and every one of you that Jesus died and was buried and came back. We are made new. And so it's this outward expression of this inward thing. , anybody who's been at destination for a while knows this is how I compare this.

, this wedding ring represents my outward expression of how deeply I love my wife. When I take it off, doesn't mean I love her any less, right. If I lose it, I'm in trouble.

, but so I'm going to put it back on. So what this represents is my outward expression of my inward commitment of my love for my wife. Similarly that is what baptism is.

That is what we are witnessing is 12 individuals who say I want to outwardly express that Jesus changed my life. That Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Whether it happened when I was two years old or it happened two weeks ago, I want everybody to know that I am allin for Jesus.

And so what this outward expression is is this outward expression is saying he must become greater and I must become less. That's what John the Baptist says in John. He says this about Jesus that he must become greater and I must become less.

Which by the way, speaking of the Gospel of John, which I'm quoting here, we've been in this message series called Who is Jesus. , and kind of leading up to this, and I want to invite you back. We're going to continue it next week. And it's a bunch of those hard questions about life like, , does Jesus still still heal. Why do good things happen to bad people.

And all of the big questions that we kind of ask about God and who God is. Because we are a church that wants to ultimately help you find and follow Jesus. And so these 12 people have taken these steps to finding and following Jesus. I mean, you guys want to tell me. No, I'm just kidding.

Why would they do that. And even scripture in this passage answers us. Look at verse 16.

It says, "So from now on we regard no one form of worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, this is one of my favorite Bible verses. I'm going to get so pumped about this.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone. The new is here.

And so this is what we celebrate. This is why we cheer is because we're cheering this old life being gone. This old life apart from Christ that's regarding the worldly point of view. And this inward expression that says I want to live for Jesus.

And all of these people up here, myself even included, say we don't follow Jesus because he makes our lives better. We follow Jesus because he is better than life. Then he is better than what this world has to offer us.

All the power, all the money, all of the different things that we can chase after, nothing fulfills in the way that Jesus does. And that is what Paul is trying to give us a picture of that we are made new in Christ. That a new creation has come. I'll give you just one quick example and then I want them to talk about their new lives in Christ. But just to illustrate this a little bit further, my old house that I used to live in was a hundred-year-old house.

I loved this house because somebody came in before me and they flipped the house. Okay, they came in and they fixed everything up. So when I walked in, it was like a brand new old house, right. It had been completely renovated, and that's all I had ever known. Well, we found some old pictures of this 100-year-old house before it was flipped, guys.

It was a mess. Like, it was really bad. There was like mold and all of the walls were all dented up and like it looked unrecognizable comparatively to what it looked like new. And yes, the old house still had its kinks.

We still had to, you know, fix a thing or two there. But the house had been renovated from the inside out and made new. And that's what's happened in each one of your hearts.

That you have been made new by Jesus and for Jesus. That something has changed in you and that God is is putting in you this new life. And what I just really want to point out before we hear the these stories, what you're going to hear is a theme in these stories.

And this theme is what life looked like before Jesus or what life looked like growing up to this point. And then this kind of same language all throughout all of their stories that says, I don't have it figured out, but I have Jesus. And that is where we are as a church, where I am as a follower of Jesus, too.

That we don't always have all of the answers. We don't always have everything figured out, but we can have Jesus. And so, , as I bring up these baptism participants, I want to tell you something.

They're really nervous. I want to tell you this is not like a high school speech. We are going to be the most supportive people in the world for these people taking this brave and courageous step. >> So for me, I I'll stay up here and talk all all I want to, but no, I'm just kidding.

But for for them, this is like, oh my gosh, in my wildest dreams, I would never step on a stage. But they're doing it because of this new life that they found in Jesus. And so, can we welcome up our first four participants up to the stage here.

Give it up for them as they come on up. >> All right. This microphone isn't working.

You want to see what's going on there. >> Riley and Todd are gonna There we go. So, , this is I didn't want all of my, , baptism participants to have to come up here by themselves, so I've I brought them all up together, and I want to I'm going to interview them.

And, , there we go. Like I said, we're a new church. , here you go.

So what I'm going to do is I'm going to ask two different or sorry three different groups just a series of questions so you can see kind of how they got to this decision. First off is oh and we have all their names behind me here. I want you guys all just to tell me what was your life like before following Jesus.

Let's start with you Riley. >> I was blessed with knowing Jesus my whole life because I had a family who always made that a priority. So, I never really knew what it was like not knowing him.

But over the years, my parents had always encouraged me that I had to make the decision to have my own faith so I could have my own personal relationship with him. >> Well, let's see. I I grew up going to church. I had a great family and that part was really good. I ended up moving out, you know, in my 20s like most kids do.

, I kind of walked away from the church at that point and went into partying, drinking, , just really hanging out friends and really just liking the worldly things and not really thinking of what Jesus has provided for me. , I had gone through a divorce , kind of in my 30s and was kind of feeling pretty depressed about that and ended up moving to Zimmerman for kind of a change of scenery. I used to live in Minneapolis and moved out there.

, couple years after that, I found out that my dad had meaththeloma. , sorry, that one's a little hard one to talk about, but , I love my dad. He was my hunting partner, hiking partner, just a guy I could hang out with.

, and when we heard that diagnosis, we knew that there really was no cure for that cancer , at the time. So, , in January of, , 2009, I lost my dad and ended up going into a pretty deep depression at that time. , let's see.

Where am I here. I'm losing it. Thinking about my dad.

>> You're good. We can we can go to Alicia. You got >> Oh, I can go.

>> You got the next question, too. >> All right. Well, I'll just tell you that I entered my 30s and I got in a good relationship.

, I still felt something was kind of missing and Yeah. So, looked around for a church. So, >> yeah. >> Hey guys.

, I was born into a Christian family. , I've always known Christ. , I was always in and out.

, went to private school, youth group, Sunday every morning, youth group at night as well. , like he kind of said, you know, you get into your youth and yeah, you want to have fun and do the worldly things. And I got into drugs and alcohol as well. Got into my 20s. Did a lot of partying, a lot of drinking.

Had a lot of fun. I'll be honest. Then my 30s came, you get older, you you kind of feel like, oh, what's next. And you know, I got married, I bought a house, had my children, have a have a nice car, have a job I like, but you know, there always was something that was always missing. Like I was trying to fill a void.

, I always knew he was there, but I just never wanted to surrender. But anyways, , it just Yeah. , and here I am, right.

>> I felt lost. You know, I tried to find fulfillment in things that weren't in Christ and and it just wasn't there. >> So then there's a turning point, right.

So Riley , and Tell me about like how how did you come to put your trust in Jesus. >> I was like seven years old and I was talking with my mom and I was like, "Mom, can I have the purple juice at church. " And she was like, "Well, it means more than that.

" But so that night I ended up becoming Christian, accepting him into my heart. And it was really the best decision I've ever made. Like even though I didn't know what it meant like then, it means so much more than it did in that moment today. , a couple years ago, , I, you know, picked up a Bible really for the first time. It had always been kind of a kind of an ornament in the house and not really used, right.

Dusting it off and opening it up and I decided to really dig into it and , started with the Gospels and and working my way through the Bible and it really touched me. , and yeah, I just reading the scripture what really really turned it around for me. >> And for you, Alicia, like for how did you how has life changed since following Jesus then, like when you kind of made that turning point.

>> , I'm just going to read what I have written down. , the winter of 23, I started going back to church and reaccepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. It has been a bumpy ride. But God doesn't expect perfection.

He just wants your time and honesty. God has been testing and stretching my faith to let go of control and to give it to him. I go to praise and worship and reading the word and I find peace every time.

I now know my identity is in Christ and he is all I need. , all right. So, I want to all of you guys this question and go through one by one and then we'll we'll get the next group up here. Why did you decide to be baptized today.

>> I chose to be baptized today because I want to publicly show my faith and show how Jesus has continued to change my life for the better even in the hardest times. Jesus and scripture really just put me on a path to really truly love what he has to offer me. , and so I kind of just declared that I wanted to share that faithfulness, that love for Jesus with with everybody.

>> , I'm getting baptized today because the Holy Spirit and well, my mom, she won't leave they won't leave me alone about it. , but really to be obedient to my father and to show others that there's no life without God. >> I'm getting baptized today because today is the day. And destination gave me a place where I finally feel like my faith in Jesus can come alive. So I thank my destination family.

By the way, I'll have you give them a round of applause too again in a second. But by the way, I also asked them all at the very end, how has Destination Church helped you come to this decision today. Riley, can you can you read your answer for me.

, it says, "Being surrounded by family at church and growing my faith through serving every Sunday has helped me make my decision because I just felt so supported and I think it's really cool that my uncle also get to baptize me. So, , give it up for them. >> I'll take your All right, let's bring up group two. I'm very excited to baptize my niece in a little bit here.

So that's why I had her say that answer. Let's get right to it. This is Matt, Jill, Sherry, and Randy. Welcome them. And yeah, you can give them a round of applause.

Just getting them warmed up for later. , I want to go kind of down the line here and just tell me for each of you what was your life like before following Jesus. Starting with you, Matt.

>> Before I followed Jesus, I lived my life instead of or I lived for myself instead of God. I stayed busy, but I wasn't fulfilled. I struggled with stress, anger, and deep down I felt empty because I didn't have true peace. Jill, >> before I began following Jesus, I struggled deeply with anxiety and low selfworth. I didn't truly love myself, and I often felt like I wasn't enough.

As I've gotten older, I've developed an intense fear of death and dying. The fear became almost paralyzing. I wake up in the middle of the night with severe panic attacks, convinced I was taking my last breath. The fear would completely take over my mind and body. Over time, I found myself just going through the motions of life, checking boxes, surviving each day, but not truly living with peace or joy.

>> I didn't know we could have notes. >> I don't have yours. No, my life my life before this similar to some of the others going to church my entire life hardly missing a a service because it was so conservative and strict that we thought if you miss church something bad is going to happen to you.

But I think mostly growing up and even in my in my adult life, I was more of a Sunday morning Christian knowing I had to go to church. But after Sunday, there wasn't a lot of talk about Jesus throughout the week. >> just checking a box on a Sunday.

And yeah, kind of walking the walk but not talking the talk. And like you said in service one day, maybe I had all the information but no transformation. And I always felt like there was something more.

And sometimes I would go look for things and try things. Nothing seemed to to fulfill that need though. And also I had a church family all those years.

Same church for 63 63 years. I had a church family that I loved and they loved me but it wasn't quite enough. >> Andy morning folks. Well I I guess my story is kind of similar to what you've heard other folks say. , I attended a Catholic school in first, second, and third grade.

And, you know, we learned about God, about Jesus, about the Holy Spirit. I all those years ago, I still remember a story that I was taught about how Jesus was tempted. And oh, I see my granddaughters. , >> we hear grandpa talking. So I I that was a a good start.

First, second, and third grade was up in Morehead, Minnesota. Dad was transferred down here to the cities. We moved down here and that's kind of when a drought of religion, of learning about God, learning about Jesus. That that's when the drought hit. And you know, our family, we went to church on Easter and Christmas and maybe sprinkled a few times in there throughout the year, but that was about it.

And >> I had a good life. >> I mean, I I had clothes, I had food, we had some toys, things were good. And unfortunately, I got really really messed up with drugs and alcohol like some of the other folks said.

And it was by the grace of God, I'm I'm still alive. It was not a good situation. And and I just want to I just like to add one more thing here. The drugs and alcohol, that was my choice.

That had nothing to do with mom or dad. They were good people. I There's an old saying, the apple doesn't fall off too far from the tree. Well, mom and dad were good people. >> And the drugs and alcohol were strictly my choice.

They had nothing to do with that. >> So then what was the turning point for each of you. Like faith in Jesus, how was your life changed.

That kind of thing, Matt. >> Since I began following Jesus, my life has changed from the inside out. Where I once felt empty and stressed, I now have peace and purpose.

I'm learning to trust God with my life instead of controlling everything on my own. >> Since following Jesus, I have been learning to put my trust in him. It's an ongoing journey and I'm growing day by day.

Where I once felt incomplete, I now feel more fulfilled. I am building meaningful relationships within a welcoming church community, destination church. My marriage is becoming stronger as we intentionally center it on God and grow in faith together. And Josh actually married us, which is really awesome. >> , I have a developed and renewed hunger for learning and understanding the Bible.

I don't have everything figured out, but I have Jesus, and that changes everything. So my turning point, it's hard to pinpoint because this journey has been a 63 year old journey, but I'd say the biggest starting point would be about 13 years ago when I got divorced after 30 years. , and that was when my need for Jesus really became apparent because I was alone and afraid and didn't think I could do it on my own and it was scary. And so I started seeking Jesus more by trying to read the Bible, devotionals.

, but I realized I don't know the Bible at all. I've been to church my whole life. I don't know the Bible.

I I couldn't read it and even understand. And then I met Bob and we dated for about six years. And in that time, I really got exposed to other Bible studies, the the word.

He's just so knowledgeable about the Bible and that. And then I started going to women's Bible study and I'm like, "Wow, these women know so much and I knew so little. I just feel like a baby in the in the walk.

" but and then I married Bob and he never ever put pressure on me to to change. He didn't agree with all the things in the doctrine in my church. , but he never talked bad about it and I'm grateful for that because I think I would have got defensive.

, but he just gently nudged me, guided me, gave me information, answered my questions, debated with me, and , I'm grateful to him. But I'd say that's when I decided one day that I need to do something. I need a change. So, I did this little selfjourney where I went and visited like every church or most churches in this northern area and I was hoping for the Holy Spirit to speak to me. , and he sure did.

There wasn't a bad church out there. It wasn't that. But my my first visit here was beautiful.

Verl, his wife, is the one who told me about it on the bus one day, the school bus. And so I decided that's going to be my first church. And seeing Julie worship inspired me to come back.

Everything inspired me to come back. But so I went to many other churches and I came back to this one. And like I said in my thing, I I never thought, well, one thing, there was one really nice church in Andover. And it's like, wow, I hope this one's it because I really like this building.

It was cool. And I never thought I'd end up in a church in a school, but as I told Josh, it's not like a church in a school. It's like heaven to me.

>> I would I would arguably say though that heaven probably has more comfortable chairs. >> Well, like I said, I I was messed up with drugs and alcohol big time and I played in a band and and that was kind of a recipe for disaster because the money I although I was pretty young, the money was there. And one night I'm driving out to band practice and I was doing things that shouldn't I shouldn't have been doing.

It was it was terrible. And I I had enough awareness to say, "God, normal people don't do this. " And I'm a mess. I need your help.

And I got help that night. It wasn't easy. It wasn't soft.

It wasn't comfortable. It was It was a tough summer after that, but I I got help. And I guess that would be my turning point.

>> And I I believe in prayer. I I mean sometimes it takes a long time for prayer to be answered. That prayer was answered in about four hours after I asked for help. >> So after that, like Sher said, my wife is Verl and we've we've been married quite a while now.

And this is kind of a neat FYI, we've known each other since fifth grade. And and together her and I have we've attended different churches and the the last church we attended was Renovation. We we went to Constance for quite a while and and like that Pastor Randy there spoke out of the Bible.

That's what we wanted. That's what we liked. Verl and I have gone to Bible studies together. And we ended up down at renovation because our daughter, son-in-law, and grandkids were going down there.

And but now we're here and and it's really neat. I I'm just I'm excited to see it seems like every week there's more people coming and more people coming and I this is >> and life's being changed like this. >> Y awesome. Thanks, guys. Give them a round of applause.

We'll welcome our third group up here. So, after this third group here, we'll be transitioning up. , but man, the courage of these guys just to stand up here and thank you guys for like listening and hearing these stories because they're so awesome to hear.

And so, let's give it up for our next group one more time. All right, we got Sam, Trevor, Tanya, and David here. , I'm gonna ask you guys the same questions I've been asking everyone.

What was your life like before following Jesus. >> My life was a roller coaster. There would be days I wouldn't even want to be here anymore and others that I would be happy. But my happiness was only temporary. And I came to find Jesus because I knew that he would help.

Hey, microphone. >> There we go. There we go.

>> My life before finding Jesus was a roller coaster of institutions and drugs and not living a good life. That was it. , the really short version, I am a caregiver by nature.

I took on the role as the glue of my family at a very young age and carried it with me through my life as if it were my obligation to hold everything and everyone together. Even with the best of intentions, without proper balance between the needs of others and my own, I ended up losing myself somewhere along the way. My life without Christ was u miserable. I spent much of my early teens struggling with loneliness, depression, overwhelmed by fear, and I hurt a lot of people during that time.

And I can't think of anyone who was better off for having met me afterwards. I think I left everyone worse off for having known me during that time. So what was the turning point for each of you. Like how did you come to put your trust in Jesus and how has your life changed since.

>> Go ahead, sir. >> I have been lucky enough to have people in my life who showed me who Jesus really is. Jesus helped me get out of a really dark place in my life and helped me realize that there are more people I would be hurting than to end my pain. I got given a a prayer token and I let Jesus do my life.

And the way I felt physically and mentally right after saying the prayer, there was no mistake that it was real. >> Oh, you're going to make him say it. >> You're good, Trevor.

Don't worry. I I'll translate. >> , I did not come from a religious upbringing, but I always believed there was something bigger than myself.

Every time a soularching season came about, it led me to God. However, I could never fully wrap my head around why he commanded me to put him first over my family, my children. I was not conditioned that way.

So, every time I walked away until last year when he came for me just months before my whole world fell apart. Oddly, he came through a movie I was watching late one night. In the scene, a book was handed from one person to another.

Something powerful came over me and triggered me to order it right there on the spot at that very moment. The book was called The Purpose-Driven Life, and it changed the way I saw everything. Looking back, it was as if he was bracing me for impact. In the coming months, my life flipped on its head.

I learned very quickly that God was all I needed when he was all I had. I finally I finally understood what it meant to put him first and now fully trust his plan is better than mine. >> You know what's so cool about that story. I didn't get to comment on this so I'm going to do it in front of everybody. The Sunday that you came to visit, I quoted the purpose- driven life and that was so cool that like no coincidences God.

>> That's the reason I am here. >> Yes, David. My turning point came when I was just completely fed up and unable to continue on feeling the hurt and the pain that I did and causing the hurt and pain that I did to others.

And I wish that I could say that the turning point completely turned my life around but it's been a long journey and a few things have remained consistent through that journey. One is that God has always been present with me and he's always made that presence known. He's given me a hope that tomorrow can be better than today.

That's something I never had before. I had a relationship with Christ. He's delivered me from pain, depression, fear. It's given me a focus to be able to aim towards healing instead of hurting.

And one of the biggest things is that nothing has been wasted with Christ. >> Everything that I've experienced, all of the hardships, all of the challenge, not a single one of them has been wasted since I've come to Christ. Let's give it up for these guys.

Thank you guys. So, here's what I want all of you to do is afterwards, you can put them right there on the chairs. Afterwards, you're going to see all these guys get baptized and then they don't know I'm doing this.

Love you guys. You're gonna you're going to go and find them and if you felt moved or compelled by one of their stories, ask them questions because right now you just saw a trailer to a movie that is their life. You saw just a little glimpse into some of their stories, into some of their past, into some of the things that they have gone through and some of the ways that God has transformed their lives.

And those stories can be told by you, too. Maybe not on a stage, but in your life. And so, one thing that we do here almost every Sunday at Destination Church is just have a moment to reflect on Jesus. And so, would you just close your eyes, bow your heads for just a moment, and I just want you to reflect on these stories.

I want you to reflect on the fact that in every one of these stories, there was a theme. There was a I once was lost, but now I'm found. There was a life before Christ, whether that was just a broken, terrible situation or it was I was brought up in a home that was centered around Jesus. All of these people have made this decision to say yes to Jesus. To say that I don't want anything that the world is going to offer me or I don't want any part of what the world has already offered me because those things have destroyed what life should be.

Because we acknowledge that we don't follow Jesus because he makes our lives better. Although it does happen. You heard it in these stories.

But we follow Jesus because he is better than life. That we don't have it all figured out, but we can have Jesus. And so, what about you.

What is your next step. What is your what is God pulling on your heart right now. Because maybe you've been walking in some of the same situations that these individuals have walked in. Institutions, divorce, depression, whatever it is.

Maybe you've been walking in it, too. And you want to say, "I need something different. I need Jesus.

" If that's you, if you want to Say yes to Jesus this morning. Would you just in a moment of boldness, would you just raise your hand so I can just pray over you. I just want to lead you in a simple prayer. This prayer doesn't change you, but what changes you is the new life that you have in Christ. And so I just want you to pray this in your heart if that was you who raised your hand.

Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner in need of a savior and that you are that savior. And Jesus, I give you my life. I no longer take the worldly point of view, but I am made new in you.

In Jesus name. Hey, can we celebrate one more thing. Can we celebrate the four individuals that just said yes to Jesus this morning. That is one of our favorite numbers to celebrate around here. Not just because you are a number, but because heaven gets a little bit fuller.

And we are so happy about that here at Destination. And so if you were that person who raised your hand, I just want you to take one second before we transition. Fill out a connect card, go connect with one of us at the next step table, just make sure that you make a connection this morning and make sure you know that we're here and that we want to give you some resources.

For the rest of you, this is how it's going to happen. You're going to get up out of your seats and this door out here, you're going to exit out that door. There is a yellow tape line on the hallway that you're going to follow down. We'll have the baptisms in the cafeteria as well as our potluck.

The bounce houses will be in here. I'm going to pray now and then you guys are just going to be able to witness the baptism. So let me pray us out.

God, I thank you so much for today. I thank you for these stories of life change. Now God, as we go and celebrate and just witness this baptism moment as a church and as family and friends, God, we just give you all the glory, all the praise in Jesus name.