Good things happen in the waters of baptism

Friday, April 17, 2026

Hey there, Friend —

It’s the Smart Edit … elevate in Christ, impact your world.

In this issue: the vitality and necessity of water baptism, God has designs on your, the 5D ministry of Jesus today.

Brian

P.S. — best day to book flights.
P.S.S. — pic of our daughter in Pakistan

Each week we feature a Kingdom of Jesus Dynamic …

We are seeing a revival of Christian water baptism today. Clearly a trendline the Holy Spirit is energizing. I hope you’ll watch the video (< 6 mins). Do you see repentance and water baptism as a solution for our broken world? — Brian

The “sinner’s prayer” feels ancient, but it’s not. The New Testament never presents a scripted prayer as the entry point to salvation. Instead, people believed, repented, and were baptized without delay. And they began to follow Jesus.

Water baptism is a foundational, primal experience in Christ. It’s basic, but vital. It’s part of opening your complete future.

“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again … you don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding" (Hebrews 6:1-3 NLT).

We want to have water baptism in place so that we can move forward with Christ in understanding and experience.

On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, Peter said…
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (v. 37, NKJV).

The “sinner’s prayer” emerged much later in the 1800s through Dwight L. Moody and spreading widely through Billy Graham’s preaching and Campus Crusade for Christ’s Four Spiritual Laws.

Yes, calling on the Lord in prayer matters. But Scripture’s pattern is clear ➡ repentance and baptism as the first public expression of saving faith.

Entering into the waters with Jesus is repentance, obedience, and identifying with his death, burial, and resurrection (and we could say even his ascension).

This initiates a lifestyle, then, of following Christ daily.

In the U.S., movements like Baptism Revival and Baptize America are catalyzing large-scale, synchronized baptisms across the country.

Tens of thousands are stepping into the water—many of them young adults—signaling a fresh hunger for public, decisive faith in Christ.

What do you think? Have you been water baptized? Are you thinking about it? Sometimes people want to be baptized again later in their walk with Christ … a rededication or a deeper understanding of what it means.

Baptizing America: How a California Revival is Sweeping the Nation with Pastor Mark Francey (WallBuilders podcast)

The Great Commission of Christ: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV).

Not an Accident: God Has Designs on You! | Jesus Smart 180, Ep. 369. You are not an accident. God didn't improvise your life — he designed it. In this inaugural episode of Jesus Smart 180, a new short-form format in the Jesus Smart X feed, Brian Del Turco unpacks the Greek word 'prothesis' from Romans 8:28. What does it reveal about the deliberate, forward-leaning purpose God has for your lifetime right now?

Follow the link to listen. The JesusSmartX podcast is also available on your favorite podcast listening app including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Quick hits—where faith, culture, and global currents intersect. Curated to help you see, pray, and act with Kingdom clarity.

U.S. baby bust. Nearly half of U.S. adults say they’re unlikely to have children, with finances leading the hesitation, according to Pew Research Center. The culture is rethinking family and the ripple effects will spread. We’re seeing the same in Europe and beyond. 5 facts about global fertility trends (Pew Research)

As Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed in Israel, a long shadow from the past lingers. A new report shows a sharp global rise in antisemitic incidents, including hundreds across the U.S., U.K., and France.

Artemis II astronaut gives glory to God. “Christ said, in response to what was the greatest command, that it was to love God with all that you are.”

Ruslan KD sees big changes after the Charlie Kirk murder. “There’s a hunger for things that are deeper… things that are meaningful… a hunger for spiritual formation and walking in, I would say, the truest sense of reality.” Ruslan KD YouTube.

U.S. and Iran officials may return to Pakistan later this week to resume negotiations.

See the 5 dimensions of Christ’s ongoing ministry in Ephesians 4:11-16.

“Each of the five callings is not just a ministry function. It is a mode of Christ's own presence in and through his Body. To suppress any one of them is to suppress a dimension of Jesus' ongoing ministry. The church that operates on 2 of 5 callings is not just under-resourced. It is presenting a partial picture of who Jesus is.” — Alan Hirsch

Brian — Christ personifies completeness. The Body of Christ is complete in him. See Ephesians 4:11-16. LET’S THINK… what is the outcome of flowing with 60% or even 40% of Christ’s ongoing ministry today via his Body?

This week’s AI visual. Interest in Christianity with young men is surging. It’s said that if we can see men restored to God and his ways … it would fix a lot of downstream issues in the Family, Church, and Society. Men initiate men into true manhood.