How can a church meaningfully integrate the ordinance of baptism into church gatherings?
- Feature baptism in public services. Baptism in the New Testament is a public profession of faith in Christ. So churches should celebrate the ordinance of baptism in their public services.
- Ask the people being baptized to share their testimonies. Those who are to be baptized can give a public profession of their faith in Christ, explain how they came to believe the gospel, and confess their commitment to live in light of the gospel. These testimonies both encourage believers and teach unbelievers.
- Place the baptism immediately after the sermon. Of course, baptisms can meaningfully fit into a number of places within a service, but placing it after the sermon provides a picture of the appropriate response to the preaching of the gospel. The assembled congregation hears the gospel and then sees a response to the gospel.
