January 11th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

"At the Jordan" (Matthew 3:13-17)

Lectionary Readings — Baptism of the Lord — January 11th, 2026

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

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Call to Worship (based on Matthew 3:13-17)

Leader: Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

People: He came not because he needed to repent, but to stand in solidarity with us.

Leader: John said to him, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

People: But Jesus insisted, saying, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Leader: When Jesus was baptized, he went up from the water, and the heavens were opened to him.

People: He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

Leader: And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

People: We come to worship the One upon whom the Spirit rests, the Beloved of God.

Leader: Let us worship the God who claims us, names us, and sends us forth in the power of the Spirit.

All: Come, let us worship the Lord!

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Opening Prayer (based on Isaiah 42:1-9)

Let us pray:

Gracious and faithful God,

We gather this morning to remember and celebrate the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we hear again the ancient words spoken through your prophet Isaiah, we recognize in them the one upon whom your Spirit descended, the one you called your beloved. We come as those who have also been claimed by you in the waters of baptism, marked as your own, and called to follow in the way of Christ.

We give you thanks that you are a God who does not break the bruised reed or snuff out the flickering wick, but who deals gently with our fragility and fans into flame even the smallest spark of faith. We confess that we often come to you feeling bruised and dimmed, worn down by the struggles of life, uncertain of our strength or purpose. Meet us in our weakness this day, and remind us that your Spirit rests upon us still.

We pray for those among us and in our world who live in darkness, who are imprisoned by circumstances or despair, who long to see a way forward but cannot find it. Use us, your baptized people, as instruments of your liberating love. Help us to bring your justice with gentleness, your truth without breaking spirits, your light without overwhelming the fragile flame of hope in others.

Open our hearts today to receive again the good news of who we are in you—beloved children, servants empowered by your Spirit, witnesses to your faithfulness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

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[NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon]

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Sermon Outline: "AT THE JORDAN"

Based on Matthew 3:13-17

INTRODUCTION:

• The strangeness of this moment: Why does the sinless Son of God seek baptism?

• John’s protest reflects our own confusion

• This scene inaugurates Jesus’ public ministry and reveals essential truths about God’s mission

• Three movements in the text: Solidarity, Spirit, Sonship

I. SOLIDARITY (verses 13-15)

A. The Unexpected Journey

B. John’s Resistance

C. Jesus’ Insistence: “To Fulfill All Righteousness”

D. Theological Implications

II. SPIRIT (verse 16)

A. The Heavens Were Opened

B. The Spirit Descends Like a Dove

C. The Trinity Revealed

D. Implications for Our Spirit-Empowered Life

III. SONSHIP (verse 17)

A. The Voice from Heaven

B. “This Is My Son, the Beloved”

C. “With Whom I Am Well Pleased”

D. Our Adopted Sonship

CONCLUSION:

Just as Jesus emerged from the Jordan waters to begin his ministry of bringing good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, and light to those in darkness, so we emerge from the baptismal waters to participate in that same mission. We are beloved. We are claimed. We are sent.

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Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers