What Are Baptism, Communion, and the Church, and How Do I Find One?

You were not made to do this alone

Christian faith begins in the heart and cannot stay there. From the first, followers of Jesus were gathered into a people. The New Testament does not know of a believer without a family. It gives that family three marks that new Christians often wonder about: baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the gathered church. Each one is a gift, not a hoop to jump through, and each can feel foreign if no one has explained it. Here is an honest introduction, written to be fair to the wide range of Christian traditions.

A note on that fairness. The church has held different views on parts of this for centuries: how baptism is done, who should receive it, what happens at the Lord's table. We name those differences honestly, because it is better for you to hear them from a friend than to be surprised by them. What all the historic churches share is more than what divides them: Christ crucified and risen, salvation by grace through faith, and the gathering of His people.

Baptism

What it is. Baptism is the water ritual by which a person is publicly identified with Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself was baptized, and just before He ascended He commissioned His followers to make disciples and baptize them.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

What it means. The New Testament describes baptism as a picture, and in some sense a means, of what God does in a person: being washed clean, dying to the old life and rising to the new.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

To go under the water is to be buried with Christ, and to come up is to rise with Him. It is the first public act of someone who has decided to follow Him, which is why in the book of Acts, people were baptized right after they believed.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Who and how. Here Christians differ, and kindly so. Some traditions baptize believers who have professed faith, usually by immersion, sometimes by pouring or sprinkling. Others also baptize infants into the believing family, as a sign of God's promise, with the child later confirming the faith. Some Christians see baptism as an essential means of grace, others as an act of obedience that signifies grace already received. None of this makes a person more or less a Christian. If you were baptized as a child, ask your pastor about your next step; if you were not baptized, ask about it in your first weeks of faith.

There is one more detail worth knowing, which is a beautiful one. In the book of Acts, an Ethiopian official reading Isaiah met Philip on the road, and asked about the meaning. When they came to some water, he asked what hindered him from being baptized.

“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”

He asked and was baptized on the spot. The point is not that you must be quick, but that nothing in the way of the water is meant to hold you back. For the question of whether you must be baptized in order to be saved, do I have to be baptized to be saved? discusses the traditions, and what is baptism? offers a short answer.

Communion, or the Lord's Supper

What it is. On the night before He was crucified, Jesus shared a meal with His disciples, took bread and wine, and told them to do this in remembrance of Him. Christians have done so ever since. Different traditions call it communion, the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, or the Mass.

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”

What it means. At the very least, it is a vivid remembrance of His body broken and His blood poured out, and a proclaiming of His death until He comes. Beyond that, traditions differ more sharply. Some teach that Christ is truly and substantially present in the bread and wine. Others teach a real but spiritual presence received by faith. Others understand the meal chiefly as a memorial and a pledge of faith. What nearly all agree on is that this is a meal Christ Himself gave His people, that it is for those who trust Him, and that it should be approached with sincerity, gratitude, and repentance. What is communion? and baptism and the Lord's Supper are good places to read further.

If you are new, you can ask what a church's practice is before you attend. Many churches invite all believers to the table; some ask visitors to refrain until they have joined; some give a blessing to those who do not take communion. It is perfectly appropriate to ask.

The church

What it is. The word church in the New Testament does not mean a building. It means the gathered people, those called out to belong to Jesus. The Bible calls them His body, with Christ as the head, and describes each believer as a part with a place.

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

You are not a spare part. If you are in Christ, you belong to the body, and the body needs you. At the same time, you need the body: for teaching, for encouragement, for correction, for the help you cannot provide yourself. The Bible says not to give up meeting together.

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”

What it does. From the earliest days, the church has gathered to hear the Scriptures, to pray, to break bread, to sing, to share meals, and to care for the poor and the sick. Look at the portrait in the book of Acts.

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

The apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers. If a church does these, it is doing the basics of being a church. What is the church? tells the story further.

How to find a church near you

Finding a church can feel like dating, and there is no shame in taking time. Here is a short, practical approach.

• Begin with what you need. Do you want a place that is traditional or contemporary, large or small, in a particular denomination? Don't worry about knowing. Visit and see.
• Search near you. On this site, you can find a church near you, browse churches by city, and see state and country pages. Visit the websites, read what they believe, and watch a service online if you can.
• Check the basics. Does the church teach the Bible and center on Jesus Christ? Does it agree with the historic Christian faith: the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the death and resurrection, salvation by grace? You can see an outline in what Christians believe.
• Visit more than once. The first Sunday is often awkward. Go twice before deciding. Visiting a church for the first time tells you what to expect.
• Look at the fruit. Are people kind, honest, and growing? Do leaders admit mistakes? Do they care for the vulnerable? Are children and women safe and honored? Is there accountability?
• Watch for red flags. Pressure to give money, control of members' lives, secrecy, shaming of questions, a leader who cannot be questioned, or a message focused on a person rather than Christ. If something feels wrong, trust the feeling.
• Ask questions. A healthy church welcomes them. Ask how decisions are made, how they handle abuse allegations, how they welcome newcomers, and how they support people in need.
• Look for people. Do you meet someone who could become a friend? A church is made of relationships.

If you are not near any church you can attend, are housebound, or live somewhere with little access, look for an online congregation as a supplement, and look for a way to meet in person with even one or two believers. The early church often met in homes. How to choose a church goes deeper, and the church directory lists congregations across many countries.

Questions of tradition

New Christians are sometimes surprised by the range: Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, nondenominational, and many more. They differ in worship style, structure, and some beliefs. They are not all the same, and it is fine to ask about the differences. They also share the core of the faith. You can learn about them at Christian denominations explained and choose slowly. If you grew up in one tradition and were hurt, the previous chapter, doubt and church hurt, speaks directly to that.

If you cannot find one yet

Finding the right church can take months, and that is acceptable. In the meantime, keep reading, praying, and connecting with believers wherever they are. Living Bread is built to help in the gap: a family of believers you can pray with and be known by, while you look for a local congregation. It does not replace a church; it points to one. You can read more in how Living Bread walks with you.

Where to go next

More on the site: Find a church near youChurches by cityChurch directoryHow to choose a churchVisiting a church for the first timeWhat Christians believeChristian denominations explainedWhat is the church?

Back to the whole guide: How to come to Christ