Baptism

One of the first commandments we are given as believers is to be baptized.  Jesus gave us the example in his own baptism, but also commands us to be baptized in the great commission in Matthew 28:19-20 which says "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  At Onancock Baptist Church, we observe the ordinance of Baptism which is reserved for those who give their life to Christ.  We believe in full immersion and baptism after salvation as a sign of your salvation and commitment to following Him.  Baptism is a wonderful time of celebration in the church body as we rejoice over the testimony of another soul who gave their life to Him.

Church Membership

The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone.  The early church met daily in the temple and in each others homes.  Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching."  The next step after giving your life to Christ and publicly confessing your faith through believers baptism is to get connected to a local body of believers.  It is important in the life of every believer to be connected with other believers who can spur us on to good works and keep us accountable to one another in our walk with Him.  At Onancock Baptist Church we have New Member meetings throughout the year where you can find out about what Church Membership means and how to get plugged into this local body of believers.  We want to partner with you as you navigate your life in Christ.

Spiritual Growth

The spiritual life is one of growth and is a process that requires intentional commitment.  There are two main areas in which we must commit as believers in order to grow in our faith:

1. Prayer:  prayer is an important aspect of spiritual growth.  Prayer is simply talking to God.  Prayer is the time where we confess sins in our own lives, because we are not going to be perfect.  Prayer is also a time where we praise Him for who He is and what He has done in our lives.  We can also use our times of prayer to pray for the salvation of others and for God to deepen our walk and devotion to Him.  We can pray for our families and friends and prayer requests that may come up from time to time.  God desires to hear our prayers and prayer is a mighty tool in the life of every believer.  There are many good resources and books on the topic of prayer.  If you are not sure where to begin we would love to talk with you and point you in the right direction and help you to get started.
2. Devotions: devotions are times that we set aside to read God's Word and to get to know Him better.  It takes intentionality and purpose to set aside a time where we can purposefully disconnect from all that is going on around us and focus on His Word.  If you are not intentional in doing this the problems and worries of live will prevent you from doing it.  We recommend a time in the morning before your work day begins where you can set aside 15 minutes to read and think about the passage you are reading.  There are many devotional resources that can guide you through a quiet time and there are Bible reading plans as well.  The important thing is to set aside the time or you will never spend the time in reflection.  Click here to access a list of devotional resources.