In the very first Christian sermon, the apostle Peter declared the death and resurrection of Jesus. When the crowd was cut to the heart and asked what they should do, Peter replied: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).

From the beginning, baptism has been the visible sign of turning to Christ — a public act of repentance and faith, commanded by the Lord and practiced by the early church. At COS, we joyfully call believers to follow Jesus in this step of obedience, not as a means of earning salvation, but as a declaration that we belong to Him.

A lot of people these days are Christians for years before getting baptized. That’s unfortunate because, in the New Testament, baptism comes at the start of your Christian life. Peter told a group of non-Christians that their first step in following Jesus was to get baptized. Jesus made the same point in Matthew 28:19–20: Baptism comes at the start of a life of obeying his commandments. It is initiatory. If you’re a new Christian, you should be baptized. If you’ve been a Christian a long time but have never been baptized, it’s time to do what Jesus commanded you to do at the beginning of your Christian life. It’s never too late to do what is right!

Notice who is called to be baptized—it is the same people who are being called to repent. Repenting means turning from your sin. Only people old enough to consciously turn from their sins should be baptized. You don’t get baptized because you are related to someone who has repented—you get baptized when you have repented.

We know that there are many fine Christians who do not agree about who should be baptized and how they should be baptized. Yet, we believe the word "baptism" literally means “to dip.” Biblical baptism involves sinners being immersed completely in water. Why? Because it is symbolic (see below).

If you have read the Bible before, you might be surprised that Peter said, “Repent and be baptized.” After all, didn’t Jesus say, “Repent and believe” (Mark 1:15)? Are we supposed to repent and be baptized or repent and believe? Well, the answer is both, and the reason the words "baptism" and "believe" can almost be used interchangeably is that baptism is an act to symbolize our faith. In 1 Peter 3:21, the Bible says that baptism is, “an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Baptism symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Just like we are dipped into the water, he was immersed in the grave. Just like he came up in the resurrection, we come up out of the water to symbolize or new life in him. The waters of baptism don’t do anything to save you, but in baptism, you are expressing your faith. You are saying to God, “Lord, I want the death and resurrection of Jesus applied to me. I am appealing to you to cleanse me of my sin through what Jesus did in dying and rising again.” Baptism is the perfect symbol of our faith.

When Peter told the crowd to be baptized, 3000 of them did. These same three thousand people immediately “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). In other words, they devoted themselves to committed church life. If you are baptized at COS, we trust you will enter yourself into committed church membership as well.

After reading these words, you may be saying, “That’s me! I have repented of my sins. I believe in Jesus! I want to be immersed in water as a symbol that proclaims my trust in Jesus to cleanse my conscience through his death and resurrection.” If that is you, we encourage you to talk to a pastor, or maybe even fill out a membership form today. As you move towards membership, we would be happy to talk to you more about baptism.

On the other hand, some of you may be confused after reading these words. You may be asking common questions like, “I was baptized by sprinkling, does that count?” Or, “I was baptized before I repented and believed, does that count?” Or, maybe you’re asking, “Can my child be baptized?” All of these questions are common, and we would be delighted to talk through them with you. We encourage you to talk to one of our pastors to help you think through these issues.

We share bread and fruit of the vine to remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ for us. The bread symbolizes his body given for us. The fruit of the vine celebrates his blood shed for us for the forgiveness of our sins. We do this because Jesus commanded us to: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:24). When we take the Lord’s Supper, we are remembering the central treasure of our faith. If you are visiting COS, we want to help you decide if you should take the meal with us!

The Apostle Paul tells us that this meal is to be taken “when you come together as a church” (1 Corinthians 11:18). But who is the church? The true church is made up of those who have turned from their sin and trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord—not simply those from a Christian background, but those who have been made new by grace. If you know you are a sinner deserving God’s judgment, but you have trusted in Christ’s death and resurrection for your salvation, this table is for you. The Lord’s Supper does not save us; it reminds us of the salvation that is already ours in Jesus—His body broken and His blood poured out for His people.

Throughout church history, most Christian traditions have affirmed that baptism should come before participation in the Lord’s Supper (see Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:38–42). At Christ Our Shepherd, we hold to believer’s baptism by immersion as the biblical pattern, and for that reason, we recognize it as a prerequisite to the Table.

We know this may differ from the practice of other faithful churches. Our aim is not to offend brothers and sisters who follow Christ, but to honor what we sincerely believe the Scriptures teach. We’re thankful for others in the body of Christ who may see this differently but still seek to be obedient to God in all things.

Each week, Christ Our Shepherd is blessed to welcome guests from a variety of backgrounds — some from other Christian traditions, some from other faiths, and some who are simply exploring or unsure. Whether you are curious, skeptical, or just visiting, we’re truly glad you’re here. It would be a joy to meet you and hear your story.

While the Lord’s Supper is a meal for those who have trusted in Christ, our hope is that you will stay, ask questions, join a Bible study, or visit one of our fellowship gatherings. You are welcome here, even if you’re still considering what you believe. It’s our prayer that you will encounter the kindness and truth of Jesus among us.

From the very beginning, believers were devoted to meeting together (Acts 2:42), and the book of Hebrews urges us not to “neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). Gathering regularly with God’s people is not optional for the Christian life.

But what about joining a church? Is formal membership actually in the Bible?

While Scripture doesn’t issue a direct command, the pattern is clear: membership is assumed throughout the New Testament. In fact, many of the commands given to believers—such as accountability, leadership, discipline, and care—only make sense within the context of a clearly defined local church.

In Hebrews 13:17, we’re told to “obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” This verse assumes something important: that every Christian knows who their leaders are—and that those leaders know who they’re responsible for.

But how can that happen if you’ve never committed to a specific church family? Are your leaders the pastors down the street? The ones you follow online? The Bible points us toward something much more personal and relational: a local church where your elders know your name, care for your soul, and are accountable to God for how they do it.

At Christ Our Shepherd, we believe meaningful church membership is how we live out this call. It’s how we say to one another: “You can count on me, and I trust you to help me follow Jesus.” It’s not about paperwork—it’s about committing to walk together in love, accountability, and discipleship as we grow into maturity in Christ.

Now, you might wonder, “Why would I want to be held accountable by an entire church?” But according to Jesus, this kind of loving accountability is part of what it means to belong to His people. In Matthew 18, Jesus paints a picture of life together in the church—a community where we don’t ignore sin, but gently confront and care for one another. When someone goes astray, we’re called to pursue them in love. And if they won’t listen, Jesus says, “tell it to the church” (Matthew 18:17).

That might sound harsh in an age that values personal freedom over everything else—but it’s actually one of the greatest gifts of church membership. When you know how easily your heart can drift, it’s a comfort to be part of a church that will come after you—not with shame, but with grace and truth.

If you were to wander from the Lord, who would pursue you? If someone close to you was caught in sin, which church would you walk with to care for them? If you can’t answer those questions, it may be time to commit to a church that will walk with you faithfully.

The Christian life isn’t meant to be lived at a distance. It’s meant to look like a family—marked by joy, sacrifice, and shared life in a local church. This is where we learn to walk in the way of Christ: “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2–3).

Who have you committed to walk with in love, even when it’s hard? And who has committed to walk with you, even in your weakness? If you don’t have an answer to that—then it’s time to join a church.

Anyone who has trusted in Christ for salvation! Jesus is building a people for Himself from every tribe, tongue, and nation—and we are simply following His lead. We invite anyone to join us who shares a common life, a common faith, and a common commitment.

What does that mean? It means our members have been made alive through the gospel. We recognize that apart from Christ, we were dead in sin—but through Him, we have been forgiven, redeemed, and given new hearts that love God.

It also means we share a common confession. While none of us articulate it perfectly, we stand together on the truths of Scripture. You can read more about what we believe by reviewing our doctrinal statement above.

Finally, it means we share a common commitment: to walk in obedience to Jesus together through the life and rhythms of this local church.

If that describes you, we would be thrilled to welcome you into the life of Christ Our Shepherd.

At Christ Our Shepherd, membership is a way of publicly committing to walk together in faith and fellowship. The process involves a few simple steps:

First, fill out a membership application.

Next, complete our Introducing Christ Our Shepherd class, where we walk through what we believe, how we live it out, and what it means to be part of this church.

Then, meet with one of our elders so we can hear your story, your testimony of faith, and your desire to join our church family—and so you can get to know us as well.

Finally, you will make vows before the congregation, and the congregation will affirm their commitment to you as well.

We would be honored if God leads you to join us as we seek to treasure Christ and make Him known together.