Immanuel is a family of God inviting people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, cultivating and empowering disciples beyond busy lifestyles into a meaningful service in the harvest field.   We are here to help you become more like Jesus at his invitation.  Jesus invites you to come and see him, to come and follow him, to come and be with him, and to remain with him in faith and life.  We invite you to join us in embracing the great invitations of Jesus that we might fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus!  (Matthew 28:18-20). 

“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” 

Relation 19:9

              Throughout his ministry and by his Word and Spirit still today, Jesus has extended to all his invitation into salvation and a life of discipleship.  Having received that invitation the moment we believe, a place at the marriage supper of the Lamb has become our own.  Our life then becomes a continual RSVP of service under his reign.  Through his people and his church, Jesus continues to extend his invitation to a dying world.  This is what ministry at Immanuel is about. 

              Ministry at Immanuel is patterned after Jesus’ ministry.  Jesus’ ministry was invitational in many ways.  In the Gospels Jesus often approached others with open arms and words that invited them into a relationship with Him and a place in the kingdom.  He spoke and ministered to the heart of the needs of those he encountered and led them into a journey of life and service with him.  Following the Bible as it describes his relationship with the Twelve and many other disciples who followed Jesus, we are able to identify four stages of discipleship and a spiritual growth process that can help us organize ministry and fulfill our God given purpose as individuals and as church.  (Stages and insights into this process come from/are inspired by “The Disciple-Making Pastor” by Bill Hull; © 2007 Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan).

              First some definitions might be in order:   

Definition of Discipleship (spiritual growth)

Discipleship or spiritual growth is becoming more like Jesus by coming and seeing him, following him, being with him, and going forth remaining in him for a God-given impact on the world around us. 

The kind of disciples we seek to produce at Immanuel are mature disciples who spiritually reproduce and ones who are trained disciple makers.  Therefore, Immanuel is a family of God helping people become more like Jesus at His invitation.

These are the Great Invitations of Jesus that we might fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).

               Jesus invites us to come and see Him – John 1:39

               Jesus invites us to come and follow Him – Matthew 4:18-22

               Jesus invites us to come and be with Him – Mark 3:13-14

               Jesus invites us to go and remain with Him – John 15:4, 7-8

COME AND SEE JESUS

              In John 1:35-42 as Jesus gathered his first disciples, his call was not a demand to be followed but a simple invitation to “come and see” what he was about.  Scripture says that Andrew and another disciple went and spent the day with him.  Andrew then went and extended the invitation to his brother Simon to come and see the Messiah, the Christ.  Thus, the first several disciples embarked on an introduction to Jesus and his work and the gift of their lives!  This initial phase of their discipleship would extend four months. 

              Jesus’ ministry continues today as we also have received his invitation and rich welcome into his kingdom.  Through his people and his Means of Grace, Jesus continues to reach out to the world around us and extend his invitation into life with him. 

              During this phase of discipleship at Immanuel, people are invited to come and see Jesus through our congregational ministry and personal witness.  They come to faith in Christ, receive spiritual nourishment from God through the Word and Sacraments.  People also develop spiritual relationships through fellowship and service activities. 

              This is a time when people encounter the invitation and consider following Jesus – what that looks like and where he leads.  In this phase we interest and care for people.  “Come and See” includes opportunities for people to connect with other people and care for one another in what are called “Velcro Ministries.”  Velcro Ministries build relationships and hold people in until they are ready to take the next step in discipleship.  Velcro ministries include:  choir, Ruth Society, Sonshine Gang, small groups, sports teams, cancer support, prayer team, shepherding ministry, greeters/ushers, youth ministry…et. al. 

              Disciples exit this phase understanding that reaching others with the Gospel of the Kingdom is paramount and they can be a part of it. 

 COME AND FOLLOW JESUS

              In Matthew 4:19 Jesus said, “Come, follow me.”  With this invitation, Jesus called his disciples into a ten month training to make them fishers of men.  Jesus showed the disciples how and did it with them.  He built them up in the foundations of Christian life and ministry and established them in tools for a lifetime commitment of discipleship and the mission of making disciples.  He rooted them in his Word, in prayer, in shared life or fellowship, and in witness to the Gospel. 

              In this phase we train and establish people as mature disciples.  People are invited to grow in their faith and follow Christ more closely through intentional study of God’s Word and the development of Christian disciplines.   A Spiritual Life Inventory is available to help people discover opportunities for growth.  There is also a series of Bible studies that covers each of the main areas of discipleship.  As people grow in faith and knowledge they are invited to put their faith and knowledge into practical use in service to our Lord.  To that end, there is also a Spiritual Gifts Inventory available to help people discover their special gifts that God has given to them by His Spirit through baptism. 

COME AND BE WITH JESUS

              In Mark 3:13-14 Jesus “called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.”  The Twelve disciples were invited into a special responsibility and authority for which Jesus would train them by increased personal time with them.  He would train them to multiply disciples by explaining, clarifying, demonstrating, letting them do it themselves, and then critiquing them. 

              In this stage of the discipleship process we do the same.  This phase is for the few who are interested and who are suitably gifted, with character and skills for leadership and disciple making.  These have the gift to lead.  They are future elders, leaders of community outreach ministries in the church, and the like.   They are trained through apprenticeship, growth groups, and other leader training initiatives such as Focused Living Retreats. 

              People are invited to enter positions of spiritual leadership within the congregation.  There is specialized training provided for various areas of leadership including Elders, Church Council, etc.  Their service will enable us to reproduce disciples. 

 GO AND REMAIN WITH JESUS

              The fourth phase of discipleship is one of deployment.  Jesus said in John 15:4-8, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you…I am the vine, you are the branches…This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”  Even before his Passion and Great Commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations,” Jesus emphasized his will that we “bear much fruit” which can only come as we remain in him, receiving his Word and Sacrament, gathering with his Body for worship, depending upon him in prayer, etc. 

              In this phase God’s people are deployed in all directions to serve him and work with the pastors in the task of making disciples.  They will continue to grow in their faith and bear fruit to God’s glory.  Some will take over responsibility for an area of ministry within the congregation.  Others will start new ministries within the congregation.  Still others may engage in ministry outside the congregation.  Some may even go on to receive professional training as missionaries, pastors, teachers, or other church professions.  Some may serve in outreach teams into the community doing new and different things to influence others for Christ.  They target un-reached groups of people, develop a plan, recruit personnel, and go for it!  Others serve in other ways meeting needs in the community with a witness to Christ.  Their service will enable us to multiply disciples.