Several times a year we offer a Plugged In class for people who are interested in joining our church. This class is offered during the Sunday morning Bible Study hour, and it meets in the worship center. In this class you’ll learn all about Immanuel, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions of our pastor. Contact Crystal (crystal@immanuelodessa.com) in the church office to sign up for the next Plugged In class.

In order to join our church you must be a baptized follower of Jesus, and you must sign our membership covenant. This covenant describes the obligations of anyone who joins our church.

We will personalize the evangelism of our church:

• By praying for its growth (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
• By inviting the unchurched (Luke 14:23)
• By warmly welcoming guests (Romans 15:7)

We will practice the worship of our church:

• By seeking the Lord in personal worship (Psalm 5:1-3)
• By celebrating the Lord in public worship (Psalm 34:3)
• By sharing the Lord in a small group (2 Timothy 2:22)

We will protect the fellowship of our church:

• By following the leaders (Hebrews 13:7)
• By loving the other members (Romans 15:5)
• By refusing to spread negative talk (Ephesians 4:29)

We will promote the discipleship of our church:

• By living a Christian lifestyle (Philippians 1:27)
• By attending faithfully (Hebrews 10:25)
• By giving regularly (1 Corinthians 16:2)

We will participate in the ministry of our church:

• By discovering my spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10)
• By being equipped for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12)
• By developing a servant's heart (Philippians 2:3-4)

Why should you join Immanuel, or any other church for that matter?

Here are three reasons you should officially commit yourself to a particular local church:

• Acts 2:41 indicates that those who accepted Jesus on the day of Pentecost were "added" to the number of the disciples. Even after Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:47 indicates that new believers were regularly being "added" to the church.
• In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul calls the church the "body" of Christ, and he says each "member" has a role to play (hand, foot, eye, ear). If you’re going to use your God given gifts for God’s glory and the good of our church, you need to be a member of Immanuel.
• There are several passages in the New Testament (Matthew 18, 1 Corinthians 5) that talk about church discipline. This practice has fallen out of favor today. However, it is intended as a means of grace for believers, and it is only possible for "members."