INTRODUCTION
Baptist churches are among the practices that are frequently described as "non-liturgical"
in terms of collective worship. This can be confusing because, properly speaking, every Christian
church and tradition, regardless of how formal or casual, "scripted" or "free-flowing," or even
historically significant, adheres to a liturgy or liturgies. In other words, they practice their
communal worship in line with fundamental and defining convictions and values. This is true in
the Baptist tradition. Within the tradition, because of the autonomy of each local congregation,
there is no standard order of service or liturgy prescribed by a higher or overarching
ecclesiastical authority. Thus, each Baptist congregation is free to formulate corporate worship as
common among Baptist churches. (“Worship and Devotion in Daily Life” 2022) In this essay, I
will discuss those exact common characteristics. I will also lay out an order of service that can be
used in most all Baptist churches today. The order will consist of an opening prayer, worship,
Scripture reading, sermon, and altar call.
Opening Prayer
So why do we or should we pray before we start service? Good question. Prayer helps us
connect our hearts and minds in gratitude, humility, and love for God. When we come into the
church house with hearts and minds filled with regret, fear, anxiety or any number of things,
prayer helps us calm those feelings right from the start so that we have a clear mind to serve God
with.
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly.
