YOU SHOULD EXPECT…

1. A warm welcome. We’ll do our best to greet you warmly, answer your questions clearly, and show you that you matter, no matter who you are or where you’ve been. 
2. Biblical preaching. We believe that the Bible is the primary and only infallible way we can learn what Jesus Christ our Lord wants for us and from us. We keep expository preaching that seeks to speak to the mind and reach the heart as a dominant feature of our worship service. Expect to hear long and challenging sermons here.
3. Simple singing. The musical instrument God most wants to hear is the human voice—specifically the combined voices of his people lifted to him. Expect congregational singing to be the focus of any music ministry we have.
4. A clear gospel challenge. Who Jesus is, what he has done for us and our salvation, and our expected response (repentant faith) will always be clearly set forth in every sermon. We may or may not have a public altar call. However, the invitation to come to Jesus for transformation or come back to him in rededication is always open. There will always be a leader standing at the main entrance door to talk to you about it after the service.
5. The Lord’s Supper. We take Communion every Lord’s Day because it was a key reason the New Testament churches gathered together each week. It happens near the end of every service. The way we do it is designed to be confrontational because that’s how the Bible describes it. It may be a little intense if you don’t know what to expect. Here are a few basics:
• The Lord’s Table is the Lord’s, not ours. It’s his party, so he sets the guest list. We don’t have authority to invite anyone he has not invited, nor forbid anyone he has not forbidden.
• At his Last Supper, Jesus invited the twelve key members of his band of disciples. For every Lord’s Supper service since, it is once again members of a band of his disciples (a church) whom he invites. At the First Baptist Church of Dundalk, we take that as meaning that our observance of the Lord’s Supper belongs properly to the members of this church family. It is our communion with our Lord and each other. Every member in regular standing is expected to participate faithfully and joyfully week by week.
• Faithful disciples of Jesus who are members of other churches visiting with us are also welcome and encouraged to participate.
• In the Bible, disciples of Jesus are baptized (immersed) in water and thereby admitted into churches. That’s why we believe Jesus invites only scripturally baptized church members to partake of his Table.
• When Paul lays out principles of good order at the Lord’s Table in 1 Corinthians 11, he warns believers to examine or judge ourselves before we eat and drink from the Table. Our observance includes time for us to examine ourselves and prepare to receive the Bread and the Cup.
• Although we do not believe that our Lord is really present in the Bread and the Cup (because the Bible never clearly says he is), we definitely and joyfully confess that he is really present in us as we take the Bread and the Cup (because the Bible does indeed clearly say that the Lord is present wherever two or three are gathered in his name). And we take it he is present among us as we gather at his Table in a manner unlike any other setting. It is the family supper table.
• We absolutely do not believe that we are in any sense offering the Body and Blood of the Lord anew to the Father when we serve the Lord’s Supper. The Bible is clear that the sacrifice of Christ was offered on the Cross once for all.
• If, as you’re here with us, you come to see you should not participate, please feel free either to quietly excuse yourself from the service or quietly indicate to those serving you that you are not participating.
• Of course, we WANT you to participate as soon as you are ready. Please let us help you get ready. If you need to be baptized, we would love to baptize you. Let’s talk about when that can happen. If you need a church home, we’d love to be that church home for you. Again, let’s talk. Ask a leader when you come, or just email [email protected].