Baptism

Another act of worship is Baptism. After a person has trusted in Jesus as Saviour, the first step of obedience is baptism. Baptism is a public testimony that a person has been born again.

When the person being baptized is immersed under the water, he is picturing the death and burial of Jesus. He is saying by his actions that Jesus died in His place. In baptism, he is publicly declaring that he has trusted in the death of Christ to pay for His sins.

When the person comes up from under the water, it is a picture of the resurrection of Christ. Jesus rose from the dead. When we are saved, we die to our old lives and take on a new life obeying God. Baptism pictures this in a public manner.

Being at a service where people are baptized, should lead us to renew our own commitment to God. A person being baptized reminds us that God is still seeking and saving people. It encourages us to go out and witness to those who have never accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

It reminds us that we are not alone in serving God. Here is a new Christian taking the first step of obedience to Christ. Here is a new member of God's family publicly announcing that they will follow Christ. It reminds us that when we are gone, others will be there to take our place.

Baptism is important for the individual being baptized and for the encouragement of the Church family.

Giving As Worship

One activity, which is part of almost every worship service, which we do not always think of as being worship, is the taking up of the offering. To many the offering is viewed as a necessary evil. Yet giving to God our offerings should bring us joy and be a very important part of our worship.

We honour God by giving to His work. We should be thankful that God has provided our needs and that we can give back to Him a portion of what He has given us. We should rejoice because we have something to give.


The Apostle Paul taught some principles of giving. Paul wrote, "Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.'' (Philippians 4:17 19)


There are three major principles taught in this passage. First, giving brings blessing. It truly is more blessed to give than receive. If we give with the right attitude, we feel good and happy.

The second principle is that God is pleased with those who give to His work. Paul said that the offering given by the Church at Philippi had a sweet smell to God.


The final principle is that God supplies the needs of those who support His work. Paul promised the Philippians that God would give them everything they needed because they had supplied his need. If we want God to provide for us, then we should worship Him by giving.

One final word about giving, when we give to God, we should give primarily through our local Church. It is the local Church that God wants to use to send the Gospel around the world. It is the local Church that is God's witness in a community.


The Church that we attend is God's first line of defense against wickedness in our community. It is also where those who will go out and attack the strongholds of Satan should be trained and prepared.

Worship By Prayer

Prayer is another important part of a public worship service. Although most of our praying should be done privately, there are examples throughout the book of Acts of groups praying together.

In Acts 4:24, we are told that the believers "lifted up their voice to God with one accord.'' In Acts 12:12, the Bible says, "Many were gathered together praying.'' Acts 13:3 states, "When they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.''

We should be careful to keep our public praying general and relevant to the worship service. Public prayer should concentrate on the Missionaries that the Church supports, the ministry of the local Church, specific needs which are public knowledge and thanking God for His blessings.

A public prayer should be something to which all present can "Amen," that is, so be it, or I agree.