Immerse

Learning Method #3: Immerse

This is the last of three learning methods we have been looking at this week. We have been looking at these learning methods specifically within the context of discipleship, but they apply to so much more than that. If you missed the first two posts you can read number one, Inform, here and number two, Intertwine, here.

When was the last time you were a stranger some place? Or perhaps you were a date at a wedding and you knew no one else beside the person you came with. When was the last time you were in a culture you had never experienced before? 

I remember when I was in college I went to a local college group at a church and I remember feeling like such an outsider and it seemed like I was such an inconvenience to everybody else there because they had to include me in their conversation. I will never forget that feeling. I have tried my best from that point on to make sure that anybody who comes into a new environment or community that I'm a part of, I will make sure they know they are welcomed and wanted. 

That's the core of this learning method. You encounter new things, go into new places or cultures and you learn from those experiences. It's ideal when someone else can walk you through what you learned and help your process the feelings, thoughts, information that went through your mind. Basically a debriefing time.  

Here are some creative ways you can immerse yourself for the sake of learning. 

Community:

• Serve a meal at the local mission
• Kalamazoo Gospel Mission - www.kzoogospel.org
• Volunteer at a community organization
• Kalamazoo Deacons Conference - www.kzoodc.org
• Kalamazoo Youth for Christ - www.kalamazooyfc.org
• Kalamazoo Juvenile Detention Center
• Merge Mentoring
• Big Brothers Big Sisters - www.bbbs.org
• Alternatives of Kalamazoo - www.alternativesofkzoo.org
• gracespring Volunteer Central Page - gracespringchurch.org/serve
• Incredible new resource put together by Pastor Jeremy and his team at gracespring

Global:

• Go on a short term missions trip
• Be proactive about a global cause
• Active Water - www.activewater.org
• Passion Conference's fight to end global slavery - www.ijm.org
• Support a child
• Compassion International - www.compassion.com
• Vision Trust - www.visiontrust.org

Family:

• Volunteer at a nursing home (some great places listed at gracespringchurch.org/serve)
• Make crafts
• Sing worship songs or Christmas Carols
• Play Bingo!
• Rake some leaves\shovel snow for shut-ins\elderly
• Bake cookies for public safety officers

Jesus sent the disciples out on their own in Luke 9, they came back and reported what happened. They debriefed. Jesus immersed the disciples in something they had never experienced before. 

How are you immersing yourself as a disciple of Christ? 

How are you and your wife immersing as a couple seeking to honor Christ? 

How are you leading your family into situations where they are getting immersed? 

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Luke 9:1-2

I have many more thoughts about immersion, and if you would like to know more, shoot me an email at petebehindthetweet@gmail.com. Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!