The reason that the best built temples in ancient Egypt are still standing thousands of years later is because their foundation is so strong.

The preparation phase of a building project was so important, the king would initiate a “foundation ceremony” to begin the construction.

The practice included burying “foundation deposits,” items made of clay, wood or other inscribed materials, at key places around the site.

The purpose of the ceremony was to secure protection from the deities, to keep the building from falling into ruin.

Foundational principles

Building a strong foundation wasn’t invented by the Egyptian builders or their deities. The idea was established by God, the Grand Architect, the Master Builder who “In the beginning, laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens.” (Hebrews 1:10)

And God’s creation, the world, is so strong, its foundations so firm, that it cannot be moved out of its place; overthrown, destroyed. (Psalm 104:5)

It is often taken for granted that Christian digital builders and workers already know and apply God’s absolute foundation principles…

• God no longer lives in a man-made temple; He lives in you; in your body. Your body is holy and you should be employed in the service of God alone. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
• There is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Any venture built on man or anything else is doomed to fail. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
• God has provided the only “foundation deposit” you need, the indwelling of the Spirit. The Spirit gives you total access to God’s personal treasures and power, enabling you to lead a Godly life, do good works, and have a secure future. (1 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:22-25)
• If you build with cheap or inferior materials – the love of power, instead of the power of God – you will be found out. There is an inspection. If your foundation is in good shape, great. If not, you won’t lose everything, but your part of the platform may be torn out so you can start over and get it right. (1 Corinthians 3:12-13)

Foundational words

The Son of God upholds all things by His all-powerful word. Hebrews 1:3

This new age is moving so fast that we (I) too often treat as incidental the foundational instruction, “So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

The beginning of any digital missions project is an occasion for the digital builder to first, pay honor to the One who laid the foundation.

Thank God for His almighty power that could create something out of nothing; for the firm foundation, Jesus Christ; and for the privilege of building gospel platforms on the word, the salvation of the the Lord, extended to all nations of the earth.

Make Creator God the sole object of your worship. Celebrate with a “foundation ceremony.” Have a hallelujah moment. A sacred jam session. Then build.

Churches are using the Internet to communicate with leaders and members, to create community, to conduct worship experiences, to evangelize and disciple and … to baptize.

This YouTube video features the first online baptism for Flamingo Road Church (recently renamed Potential Church) in Fort Lauderdale, Fl.

Pastor Troy Gramling and Internet Campus Pastor Brian Vasil baptized Alyssa Eason online. She lives in Fayettteville, GA and attends the church’s Internet Campus.

Here’s another video of Pastor Rusty Hutson of Cornerstone UMC, Auburn, AL officiating in the online baptism of Cindy Wall.

Hutson was attending a conference in Granger, IN and used Skype to interact with Cindy who was in Auburn.

Internet campuses and online churches have their detractors and supports.

Some believe “There Is No Virtual Church.” Others are standing “In Defense of Virtual Church.”

Ready or not, technology is changing the world around us. Churches will have to decide what tools to incorporate into ministry.

So where does online baptism fall in these considerations? Defining the practice is a good place to begin the discussion.

The ordinance of baptism has been defined as “a ceremony instituted by the Lord for public observation and regular participation in the local assembly.”

Here’s another variation. Baptism is “an ordinance of the Lord by which those who have repented and come to faith express their union with Christ in His death and resurrection, by being immersed in water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

Baptism is a symbolic act that allows the believer to share in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By being baptized the believer is essentially saying to the world that he identifies with what Jesus went through for him.

So we see the ceremony, the process, the spiritual meaning, and the witnesses.

In my own experience, I don’t recall ever seeing the location mentioned as an essential aspect of baptism. Many of us have probably seen or taken part in baptisms at the ocean, in a lake or swimming pool. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River (picture of the traditional location of Christ’s baptism above).

So location aside, online baptism leaves us with the opening question. Does the “virtual” vs. “physical” nature of online baptism invalidate the experience for the believer, the participants and the Church?

One thing is certain: The Church will face questions like this with increasing regularity in a globally connected world.

Footnote: Cindy Wall passed away a few days after her online baptism. A friend of hers wrote a tribute to Cindy.

Question: If participants embrace the broadly held biblical positions on the Church ordinance, is online baptism a legitimate practice? Why or why not?

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can hear this riveting special, recorded at Saint Andrews Church, Newport, CA, right here on the SermonCast Channel beginning Monday, January 11.

From facing cancer, to the death of a marriage, to dealing with unemployment and a sense of failure, these are topics we all grapple with. And in a way unique to Max Lucado, he reminds listeners that life with Jesus is a life of trust at the foot of the Cross.

Over the past 7 years, General Mills® has given away children’s books inside specially marked boxes of Cheerios®. One of those booklets is titled, “Everybody Needs a Rock.”

The book’s hollow premise is that all children should carefully choose a rock to carry around with them as a source of friendship and meaning.

They explain: “This story shows us that joy is abundant in the quiet and beauty of nature.” Every person does need a rock—a solid foundation upon which to build a life.  But…

that base is not a literal rock or a deeper appreciation of nature.  In fact the Bible warns against worshiping and serving created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).

The rock we really need is God Himself.

The Psalmist wrote, “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:1-2).

The rock upon which we are to build our lives is living.  Why put your confidence in an inanimate, unresponsive stone when the living, eternal Creator offers to assist you?  He is able to wait, turn, hear, and lift us up.

This rock is capable of saving.

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire.”  Only God loved you enough to die in your place so that you could be lifted out of the foul sewer of this sinful world.

In the story, “Everybody Needs a Rock” the children are advised to “keep your rock for as long as you can—maybe forever.”  When we make the Lord the rock of our salvation He keeps us forever.  What a positive difference!

This rock is dependable.

“He gave me a firm place to stand.”  We can know assuredly who we are—not an evolutionary accident but a divine creation.  We can know where we are going—not to extinction in the ground but to eternal life in heaven.  We can be confident of why we exist—not to be self-indulgent but to glorify God and influence others.

This rock brings joy.

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God” (verse 3).  “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, ‘The LORD be exalted!’” (verse 16).  Abundant joy is not found by putting a pebble in your pocket but by inviting Jesus to abide in your heart every day.

This rock is true.

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods” (verse 4).  How imprudent to encourage children to focus on a powerless stone!   How much wiser it would be to teach, “On Christ, the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

This rock is filled with wonder.

“Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done.  The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare” (verse 5).  A lifeless stone doesn’t have much of a resume but God’s impressive accomplishments are too numerous to list!

This rock needs to be shared.

In the children’s story, “Everybody Needs a Rock” the author writes, “If somebody says, ‘What’s so special about that rock?’ don’t even tell them.  I don’t.  Nobody is supposed to know what’s special about another person’s rock.”

Just the opposite is true for those who discover the solid rock of Jesus Christ.  The Psalmist wrote, “I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.  I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.  I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly” (verses 9-10).

General Mills® is to be commended for its effort to encourage children from poverty-stricken homes to read.

But the sad truth is that if someone provided a book of spiritual substance to be distributed to children it would meet certain rejection.  Such is the nature of our fallen world.  But those who put their trust in Jesus Christ always meet certain acceptance.

Such is the nature of our faithful God.

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Bob Russell retired from his position as the senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky where he served for 40 years. During his tenure, Southeast grew to become one of the ten largest churches in America. Russell is nationally known and respected for his clear, biblical preaching. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including When God Builds a Church and When God Answers Prayer.

Sermons from Bob Russell’s preaching archives are broadcast every week on the SermonCast Channel.