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Welcome to FAMILY STYLE THEOLOGY! Our discussion focuses on Baptism in the six-part series guided by Martin Luther’s

Flood Prayer. Together, we will look at each section of this amazing prayer, discuss what we hear about it from the Bible,

and understand what this means for understanding our own baptism.

1. Luther’s Flood Prayer (Genesis 6-9, 1 Peter 3:20) 2. Salvation (Exodus 14, Titus 4:3-7) 3. Washing Away Sin (Matthew 3, Matthew 28:18) 4. For You (Genesis 2 &3, Psalm 51, Romans 6:1-4) 5. Safe and Secure (Psalm 2, Matthew 13:24-30, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-18) 6. Worthy of Eternal Life (Revelation 21 & 22)

Take advantage of all the resources to engage your children in this discussion! You may tailor the resources to fit your needs, or follow the suggested schedule below for a full hour of theological conversation.

• Pray the Flood prayer before you begin. (5 minutes) Use your own child’s name to prepare our hearts and minds for this conversation!

• Ask the “Think about it” question first. (5 minutes) There are no right or wrong answers, and you will hear my own kids give their responses to the same questions! These questions are meant to help start the discussion through including each child’s thoughts.

• Listen to the podcast. (30 minutes) Sit back and enjoy. Your children may want to have their own Bible to refer to as we work through our discussion. Be aware! I invite the kids to circle and highlight in this Bible. Check they have the one you have approved!

• Discussion time. (15 minutes) Read the story from scripture and ask a few review questions to craft your own conversation with your children

• Activity Page. (5 minutes) Print out the Activity page that is focused on a memory verse for each topic. As you discuss Luther’s Baptismal prayer, refer to the Bible verse that your child is meditating upon.

• Resources: For further study and other links, check out the additional resources on each topic.

Family Style Theology

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Episode 1:

Luther’s Flood Prayer Genesis 6-9, 1 Peter 3:21

Almighty and eternal God, according to Your strict judgment You condemned the unbelieving world through

the flood, yet according to Your great mercy You preserved believing Noah and his family, eight souls in all.

Think about it:

When is the last time you have been in water?

Review:

➢ READ Genesis 6 – 9:17

What is JUDGEMENT? The decision of judge. God’s divine decision between right and wrong.

Why did God CONDEMN the world? God was sorry He made man. If mankind was not acting like His creatures, the judgement is death.

How was God merciful to Noah? He remembered Noah (Genesis 8:1). He gave new life to Noah and his family. “Be fruitful and multiply”, God says to them. (Genesis 9:1). God makes a covenant with mankind (Genesis 9:11-17)

How is the Flood like baptism? Water destroyed wickedness; God gave new life to His creations.

➢ READ 1 Peter 3:18-21

How does a Baptismal Flood save you? All your sin drowns and dies with Christ, you raise up to new life in him.

MEMORY VERSE: “Baptism now saves you” 1 Peter 3:21

Resources:

• “What is baptism?” Luther’s Small Catechism • Baptismal Liturgies in Lutheran History by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson • Noah’s Ark coloring page

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Episode 2:

Salvation Exodus 14, Titus 3:4-7

You drowned hard-hearted Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, yet led Your people Israel through the

water on dry ground, prefiguring this washing of Your Holy Baptism.

Think about it:

Tell me about a time when you have felt safe.

Review:

➢ READ Exodus 14

Why were God’s people scared? They had just been released from slavery in Egypt by Pharaoh. (Exodus 5-12) But Pharaoh had changed his mind about letting them go. (Exodus 14:5-7) He summoned his army to bring the Israelites back to slavery in Egypt. (Exodus 14:10)

What did God do to the sea? “The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” (Exodus 14:21)

Where did the people walk? And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (Exodus 14:22)

Did God save His people from the Egyptians? YES! Exodus 14:23-41

➢ READ Titus 3:4-7

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Tit 3:4-7)

How did God save us? Not by works, but by his mercy. His mercy is ours in baptism, where He chooses us to be heirs of eternal life NOT based on our righteousness. He saved us because of Christ.

How does God keep you safe right now?

MEMORY VERSE: "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD.” (Exodus 14:13)

Resources:

• “Give us this day our daily bread” Lord’s Prayer in the Large Catechism

• Baptism in Luther’s Large Catechism

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Memory Verse Activity Page

Look up the Bible verse and try to find all the words in the crossword puzzle.

F_ _ _ N_ _, S_ _ _ _ F_ _ _, A_ _ S_ _

T_ _ S_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ OF THE L_ _ _ !

Exodus 14:13

F E T G C Y U X Z U A N K D W

N I E V D L C E Y X R O D N A

B R R S Q O S H D G L I W O U

I W Z M N R Q Z Q Q G T G X A

Q T P M B D F C S H B A G K C

K C L M W B R V W G Q V L Y J

M K P H R L C I E G V L R O C

S A W L D V I F C M D A Z H F

V C M N O L R V M H S S N I K

I K A E M L B D Z F H O H A N

E T H N C W H H M O T T T B J

S Z I R U I Q V G J O E X J E

U C U E J O A D X F N I M A H

S H J P S L N G O N R E X J T

F E A R M R T Y Z A M Q H D K

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Episode 3:

Washing Away Sin Matthew 3, Matthew 28:18

Through the Baptism in the Jordan of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You sanctified and instituted

all waters to be a blessed flood, and a lavish washing away of sin.

Think about it:

If you were God, what would you do?

Review:

➢ READ Matthew 3

What does John the Baptist SAY? REPENT

What does Repent mean? To feel sorry, to turn in the opposite direction.

BONUS: LOOK UP AN OLD PICTURE/PAINTING of John the Baptist

Why did Jesus come to be baptized by John? To REPENT

What did God say about Jesus’ Baptism? Behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Mat 3:17)

➢ READ Matthew 28:18-20

How are disciples made? Baptizing and Teaching

What does Baptism give? It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. “Whoever believes and is baptized

will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16 (From Luther’s Small Catechism)

MEMORY VERSE: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17)

Resources:

• Article XII of the Augsburg Confession “Repentance”

• Article XII of the Defense of the Augsburg Confession “Repentance”

• Large Catechism “Holy Baptism”

• Doodle Art Alley coloring pages

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Episode 4:

For You Genesis 2 &3, Psalm 51, Romans 6:1-4

We pray that You would behold (name) according to Your boundless mercy and bless him with true faith by

the Holy Spirit that through this saving flood all sin in him which has been inherited from Adam and which

he himself has committed since would be drowned and die.

Think about it:

What is the definition of sin?

Review:

➢ READ Genesis 2:15-17 and Genesis 3

What did God tell man and woman NOT to eat? The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

What did they do? They ate of the tree. They sinned. Their punishment was death.

➢ READ Psalm 51

What do we know about ourselves? We are sinners from the beginning. We live in a sinful world.

What is God’s mercy? His loving-kindness towards sinners

➢ READ Romans 6: 1 – 4

How does Baptism connect us to Christ? We died with him, we rise with him to new life

What does Baptismal water signify? It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever. (From Luther’s Small Catechism.)

MEMORY VERSE: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

Resources:

• Article II of the Augsburg Confession “Original Sin”

• Article II of the Defense of the Augsburg Confession “Original Sin”

• Small Catechism “Baptism”

• Formula of Concord “Original Sin”

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Memory Verse Activity Page

Look up the Bible verse and fill in the crossword puzzle with the missing words.

Create in me a 5_______ 6_______, O God, and 4_______ a 2________ 3________ 1________ me.

Psalm 51:10

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Episode 5:

Safe and Secure Psalm 2, Matthew 13:24-30, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-18

Grant that he be kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church, being separated from the

multitude of unbelievers and serving Your name at all times with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope,

Think about it:

How does your baptism keep you safe?

Review:

➢ READ Psalm 2 ➢ READ Matthew 13:24-30

Does everyone in the world trust in God? No, there are many people who fight against God and those who don’t believe in Him.

Does God want us to separate out unbelievers from believers? No this is His job to do on the last day. Believers and unbelievers will live together until Jesus returns.

Where does God give His gifts of safety and security? Your identity given in baptism. You are part of the Holy Christian Church.

➢ READ 1 Thessalonians 5:2-18

Who have you been made in your baptism? Children of the light. You have a greater wisdom of what to expect and you have been made to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and the ability to give thanks in all circumstances. You have been set free from the worries of this world.

MEMORY VERSE: “For you are all children of light, therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5,11)

Resources:

• Article VII and VIII of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession “The Church”

• Doodle Art Alley coloring pages

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1 Thessalonians 5:5

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Episode 6:

Worthy of Eternal Life Revelation 21:1-5 and Revelation 22:1-5, 13-14

So that, with all believers in Your promise, he would be declared worthy of eternal life,

through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Think about it:

How does water give life?

Review:

➢ READ Revelation 21:1-5 ➢ READ Revelation 22:1-5 and 13-14

Where is water in this vision? Water of life (22:1) River flowing from the tree of life (22:2)

How are God’s servants marked? His name on their foreheads. (22:4)

What is the promise for those who have “washed their robes”? (Revelation 22:14) The tree of life – eternal life. They may enter the new city – eternal life.

How does baptismal water look like the promise we hear about in Revelation? Water of life is without price for those who are thirsty; we are poor miserable sinners that are not worthy by our own power. Marked by God on our forehead and our heart. It’s God’s work done for us.

What does “declare” mean? To say, to judge, to proclaim.

What does “worthy” mean? Deserving

How does God declare us worthy in baptism? By the work of Christ, God sees us as his worthy son. By our connection to Christ in death and resurrection (drowning in baptism, raised to new life) God has said we are deserving of the great gifts of eternal life. Thank you, Jesus!

MEMORY VERSE: "Behold, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:5)

Resources:

• Article IV Apology of the Augsburg Confession “Justification”

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Memory Verse Activity Page

Unscramble the words and rewrite the Bible Verse below.

Revelation 21:5

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

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Flood Prayer

Almighty and eternal God, according to Your strict judgment You condemned the

unbelieving world through the flood, yet according to Your great mercy You

preserved believing Noah and his family, eight souls in all. You drowned hard-

hearted Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, yet led Your people Israel through

the water on dry ground, prefiguring this washing of Your Holy Baptism. Through

the Baptism in the Jordan of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You

sanctified and instituted all waters to be a blessed flood, and a lavish washing away

of sin. We pray that You would behold (name) according to Your boundless mercy

and bless him with true faith by the Holy Spirit that through this saving flood all

sin in him which has been inherited from Adam and which he himself has committed

since would be drowned and die. Grant that he be kept safe and secure in the holy

ark of the Christian Church, being separated from the multitude of unbelievers and

serving Your name at all times with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope, so that, with

all believers in Your promise, he would be declared worthy of eternal life, through

Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.