Let's Talk About It: Sermon Follow Up
The Power Of An Invitation: How A Simple “Ask’ Can Change A Life
Billy Graham’s life and ministry, which reached over 215 million people with the Gospel, began with one invitation. As a teenager, he was invited by a friend to attend a revival meeting led by evangelist Mordecai Ham. That one invitation changed history.
This past Sunday, as we began to work through the second chapter of Acts, I pray that you left the service with this thought: The church is not a place or an event…but a movement built around conviction and mission that we, as God’s people have the privilege to participate in.
What our individual participation in the mission of God looks like certainly varies as the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, has given each believer specific gifts and a particular calling. But make no mistake, we’ve all got a great commission task, and the Spirit has empowered us to fulfill it.
As mentioned on Sunday, one thing that all of us can and should be doing is regularly inviting our friends, families, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers to attend worship with us.
Inviting someone to church might seem like a simple act, but it holds much more significance than we often realize.
It’s not just about filling seats, either.
When we extend an invitation to someone, we're offering them a chance to experience something life-changing: a community of faith, the love of God, and the opportunity for spiritual growth.
Keep in mind that the Gospel travels best through relationships.
It does so by leveraging existing networks of trust, love, and daily connection rather than relying solely on large-scale events. Relational evangelism involves an authentic interaction that has the greatest potential of bearing fruit.
Simply put: Though Facebook ads, invitations extended during random encounters and knocking on a stranger's door in order to invite them to worship do occasionally work out well, when it comes to the likelihood of a person acting on an invitation by showing up on Sunday, there’s nothing that increases the odds like personal relationships.
In other words, the greatest factor in whether or not your friends, family, and neighbors come to church is…well…you.
By inviting someone to worship, you're actively participating in the mission of God by being a witness to the hope and joy that the Jesus offers, and you’re helping to spread the message that everyone is welcome, loved, and valued by God.
It’s one of the easiest ways to put faith in action.
It's natural to feel nervous about inviting someone to worship.
But know this: It’s not about having all the right words. It’s about offering an authentic invitation and being open to the possibility that this could be a life-changing moment for them.
Scared of rejection?
There’s no need because even if someone doesn’t immediately say yes, you’ve planted a seed.
Through that invitation, you’ve shown that you care and that you believe in the value of the church community. You’ve revealed to that individual that you really do care about their soul and that you believe in the life-saving power of Jesus.
That small act of can have lasting effects, even if they don’t immediately take you up on the offer.
Ultimately, the power of inviting someone to church is that it has the potential to change lives. Whether through the messages, the fellowship, or the worship, a healthy church offers an environment where transformation can take place.
For someone who has never experienced the grace and hope found in a faith community, your invitation could be the beginning of a journey that completely transforms their life. It’s a chance to begin learning about the story of God, to find healing for past wounds, and to find freedom from sin.
So…who will you invite?
Think about it. Pray about it.
One simple “ask” might just change a life!
By The Way…Let’s Celebrate:
- DK
This past Sunday, as we began to work through the second chapter of Acts, I pray that you left the service with this thought: The church is not a place or an event…but a movement built around conviction and mission that we, as God’s people have the privilege to participate in.
What our individual participation in the mission of God looks like certainly varies as the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, has given each believer specific gifts and a particular calling. But make no mistake, we’ve all got a great commission task, and the Spirit has empowered us to fulfill it.
As mentioned on Sunday, one thing that all of us can and should be doing is regularly inviting our friends, families, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers to attend worship with us.
Inviting someone to church might seem like a simple act, but it holds much more significance than we often realize.
It’s not just about filling seats, either.
When we extend an invitation to someone, we're offering them a chance to experience something life-changing: a community of faith, the love of God, and the opportunity for spiritual growth.
Keep in mind that the Gospel travels best through relationships.
It does so by leveraging existing networks of trust, love, and daily connection rather than relying solely on large-scale events. Relational evangelism involves an authentic interaction that has the greatest potential of bearing fruit.
Simply put: Though Facebook ads, invitations extended during random encounters and knocking on a stranger's door in order to invite them to worship do occasionally work out well, when it comes to the likelihood of a person acting on an invitation by showing up on Sunday, there’s nothing that increases the odds like personal relationships.
In other words, the greatest factor in whether or not your friends, family, and neighbors come to church is…well…you.
By inviting someone to worship, you're actively participating in the mission of God by being a witness to the hope and joy that the Jesus offers, and you’re helping to spread the message that everyone is welcome, loved, and valued by God.
It’s one of the easiest ways to put faith in action.
It's natural to feel nervous about inviting someone to worship.
But know this: It’s not about having all the right words. It’s about offering an authentic invitation and being open to the possibility that this could be a life-changing moment for them.
Scared of rejection?
There’s no need because even if someone doesn’t immediately say yes, you’ve planted a seed.
Through that invitation, you’ve shown that you care and that you believe in the value of the church community. You’ve revealed to that individual that you really do care about their soul and that you believe in the life-saving power of Jesus.
That small act of can have lasting effects, even if they don’t immediately take you up on the offer.
Ultimately, the power of inviting someone to church is that it has the potential to change lives. Whether through the messages, the fellowship, or the worship, a healthy church offers an environment where transformation can take place.
For someone who has never experienced the grace and hope found in a faith community, your invitation could be the beginning of a journey that completely transforms their life. It’s a chance to begin learning about the story of God, to find healing for past wounds, and to find freedom from sin.
So…who will you invite?
Think about it. Pray about it.
One simple “ask” might just change a life!
By The Way…Let’s Celebrate:
- Yesterday, our Bible Fellowship attendance was nearly 130! We praise God for that, for our incredible leaders and teachers, and specifically for the fact that a full 1/3rd of those in attendance were under the age of 18! We have lots of new folks that may not realize how massive of a shift that is from just a few short years ago but those who’ve been here for a while certainly understand why it’s cause for praise!
- Understanding the significant cultural change in how people received information and viewed media that has taken place in recent years, we’ve been intentional in how we utilize digital media. Whether we’re talking about redesigning our website, the launch of the North Anderson App, our podcast, or social media engagement in general, we have sought to leverage digital media for the glory of God and the good of His church. The Lord has blessed that effort. As of today, 548 people have downloaded the North Anderson App, there have been 3,482 media plays on the website/app and though it’s difficult to measure Social Media analytics, conversations like the one Annette and I had with a waitress at a local restaurant, with her informing us that she joins us on Facebook each week and the Lord was blessing her through the online services, are super encouraging. Kudos to our Sound/Tech team in the booth that make this happen!
- DK
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