What We Believe: Church Ordinances

"We believe the two scriptural ordinances given to the local church are
baptism by immersion (the Greek word for baptism means
inherently to immerse) of believers only,
and by this token were thus opposed
to infant baptism, but we do approve of and practice infant
dedication upon the request of the parents,
and the Lord's Table to be partaken by the obedient Christians."
Bethel Bible Church Constitution - Articles III - Statement of Faith - Section 12

The Blessedness of Church Ordinances
1 Corinthians 11:17-34

I. Baptism
     A. The Semantics of Baptism
          1. Ordinance or Sacrament? Either can be used but must must clarify that it doesn't gain favor or grace. A means of grace?
          2. "baptizo" = to immerse 
     B. The Symbolism of Baptism (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Romans 6:3,4; Colossians 2:12) It is a picture of what's happened with the Spirit's work of identifying us with Christ.
     C. The Subjects of Baptism - those who have trusted Christ (Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 16:14-16)
     D. The Seriousness of Baptism (Matthew 28:19-20) Christ ordained it and commanded it.
II. The Lord's Table - Communion
     A. The message of Communion
          1. The Gospel
          2. The unity of believers
     B. The misunderstandings of Communion
          1. Transubstantiation (the elements become the body and blood of Christ) Hebrews 9:25-28 corrects this position.
          2. Consubstantiation (within the elements is the body and blood of Christ) 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 corrects this by stating, "we remember"
     C. The methods of Communion
          1. Elements of the bread and juice
          2. Exhortation to participants
          3. Examination (self) of participants
Next Steps:
     > Obediently respond the imperatives!
     > Cherish and honor the privilege of proclaiming the Gospel through the ordinances!