The making of disciples is our Lord’s means for answering the prayer, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). In His infinite wisdom, Jesus chose to use dedicated followers, His disciples, to carry the message of salvation to all peoples of the world. He included this as a command in His last words before His ascension to heaven: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Making disciples is important because it is the Lord’s chosen method of spreading the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. During His public ministry, Jesus spent more than three years making disciples—teaching and training His chosen twelve. He gave them many convincing proofs that He was the Son of God, the promised Messiah; they believed on Him, though imperfectly. He spoke to the crowds, but often He drew the disciples aside privately to teach them the meaning of His parables and miracles. He sent them out on ministry assignments. He also taught them that soon He would be returning to His Father following His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21; John 12:23-36, 14:2-4). Though they could not comprehend it, He made the disciples this astonishing promise: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). Jesus also promised to send His Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:16-17).
As promised, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with power on the believers, who then were emboldened to speak the Good News to everyone. The remainder of the Book of Acts gives the exciting account of all that was accomplished through them.
FICM believes that the command of our Lord Jesus which is to “Go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”, remains, so we prayerfully consider obeying the command making sure that each individual who comes to the church is being led and pointed to Christ. through a discipleship program designed for spiritual growth.
For us, discipleship is relationship. By building relationship with each other, each person who comes to us has the assurance that they will feel the love and acceptance. If they feel otherwise, it is no longer the fault of the church because at FICM, each person is "accepted in the beloved". We make sure that each person at FICM will grow in the knowledge of God and with their relationship with Him.
Making disciples is important because it is the Lord’s chosen method of spreading the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. During His public ministry, Jesus spent more than three years making disciples—teaching and training His chosen twelve. He gave them many convincing proofs that He was the Son of God, the promised Messiah; they believed on Him, though imperfectly. He spoke to the crowds, but often He drew the disciples aside privately to teach them the meaning of His parables and miracles. He sent them out on ministry assignments. He also taught them that soon He would be returning to His Father following His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21; John 12:23-36, 14:2-4). Though they could not comprehend it, He made the disciples this astonishing promise: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). Jesus also promised to send His Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:16-17).
As promised, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with power on the believers, who then were emboldened to speak the Good News to everyone. The remainder of the Book of Acts gives the exciting account of all that was accomplished through them.
FICM believes that the command of our Lord Jesus which is to “Go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”, remains, so we prayerfully consider obeying the command making sure that each individual who comes to the church is being led and pointed to Christ. through a discipleship program designed for spiritual growth.
For us, discipleship is relationship. By building relationship with each other, each person who comes to us has the assurance that they will feel the love and acceptance. If they feel otherwise, it is no longer the fault of the church because at FICM, each person is "accepted in the beloved". We make sure that each person at FICM will grow in the knowledge of God and with their relationship with Him.
