Baptism
Community Church practices believer’s baptism, meaning baptism is reserved for people who have voluntarily made a commitment to Christ, placing their faith in His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave as the sufficient sacrifice for their sin. If you have placed your trust in Jesus but have never been baptized, we would invite you to consider baptism as a “next step” in your spiritual journey.
Baptism is Important to the Christian.
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” When we love Jesus Christ we want to do what He says. Love and obedience include baptism. Jesus was obedient to the Father, and to fulfill all righteousness was baptized. The disciples were baptized. The early Christians were baptized. In Peter’s first sermon after Pentecost, he preached saying, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38).
Obedience to Jesus Christ is a privilege, a joy, and also a responsibility. More important than our personal ideas about baptism is our Christian commitment to please Jesus Christ. And, Jesus commanded us to be baptized!
Baptism is a testimony of our conversion to Jesus Christ.
In the Bible, baptism always demonstrates belief in Jesus Christ. First comes faith, then comes baptism as an outward symbol of faith. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9); therefore, baptism is not necessary for salvation. However, salvation is necessary before baptism. In baptism we are telling others that we are now Christians.
Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32,33). Baptism is a great expression of Christian discipleship.
When we are baptized we are declaring our participation in the body of Christ. There is a mutual responsibility; the individual is responsible to submit to and love the church; and the church is responsible to love and nurture the one baptized.
When we are baptized we are humbly admitting that we are sinners who can’t forgive our own sins. We admit we need Jesus Christ as Savior. It is an act of submission to God to be baptized in front of witnesses.
Baptism is a witness (an acting out) of the gospel story—Christ died and we are dead to sin through salvation; Christ was buried and we are burying our old sinful life; Christ was raised and we are raised to a new life in Christ.
When Jesus died, was buried, and rose again he was buried in the ground. Baptism is a drama reenacting what Jesus did for us—only it is in water and only for a few seconds. That’s why we practice baptism by immersion at Community Church. The Christian is completely immersed in water in order to follow the Bible’s practice as closely and meaningfully as possible.
Baptism is a testimony of our identification.
The original Bible word (in Greek), baptidzo literally means “to dip, to plunge.” Just as a cloth placed into a vat of dye is “identified” with the dye, so in baptism a Christian is identified with Jesus Christ. You have “clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
We also identify with the church (the body of Jesus Christ), “for we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Our baptism is a powerful testimony to others.
What should you know?
First and foremost, be sure to investigate who Jesus Christ is and receive Him as your personal Savior and Lord of life.
Decide to be baptized. Your decision will obey and please Jesus Christ. To be baptized at Community Church, check “Baptism Class” on your Sunday connect card, speak to one of the pastors, or fill out the form below. Attendance of this class and meeting with a pastor is a prerequisite in preparation for baptism. Baptisms are held quarterly.
Remember your baptism with delight! Recall the vows and testimony of your baptism. Pass on to others what the Bible says about baptism (your children, other family members, and friends). Personally “adopt” those who are baptized into the fellowship of Community Church and encourage them to faithful living.
Tell me more about baptism
Baptism FAQ
No, Community Church does not baptize infants. Instead, we practice Parent-Child Dedication. To learn more about about dedication and how it differs from baptism, please see our Parent-Child Dedication page.
Children can be baptized as soon as they understand the Gospel message, can conversationally talk about it, and respond to it in faith. Each child is different; some children reach this point around age 6-7, while others are not ready until their teen years.
A children’s version of the baptism class is offered each time we offer the adult class. If a child is wanting to get baptized, they need to register for and attend that class, meet with Children's Ministry Director Amanda Cords to talk through their faith story, and then attend the baptism service.
Absolutely. But the size of the baptismal restricts the number of baptisms that can be done simultaneously.
Community Church has a baptismal built into the stage floor in the auditorium. It is filled and warmed in preparation for a baptism service.
Yes, but we ask the photographers to be discreet, causing as little distraction as possible.