From the outside looking in, "the church" sure does

have an affinity with grape juice, crackers, and dunking people in

pools. But to the follower of Jesus, these actions are holy and

spiritually significant. Jesus told his disciples to eat His flesh

and drink His blood as well as to baptize people all over the

world. Clearly, there must be something significant behind these

actions. Unfortunately, for many, the ordinances of communion and

baptism have become empty rituals: something we are supposed to do

because Jesus told us to do them. But these ordinances should be so

much more to us than empty rituals. This Sunday, we unpacked the

significance and purpose of communion and baptism for the

church.