Attractional - Invite Series

Bringing people to church is a great first step in evangelism, but do we know the purpose.

Why do you invite to church? To know Jesus? to gain community, To heal? to service to grow others.

We want to be a “meat” Church --- not entertainment

If we truly love Jesus then we should be unable to STOP talking about Him.

Romans 1:16-17 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.””

There are likely people in the church that are ashamed of the Gospel today, and maybe you are here today.

Friends there is a reason for that emotion

- if Satan cannot stop you, he will try to slow you down.

Tell you that you aren’t good enough

That you don’t know enough

That you will lose a friendship or a relationship

If Satan cannot stop you, he will try to slow you down.

are you with me?

That cannot happen.

Bring people to Church

Step One: Invite to church and allow the Spirit to move inside of them

The church is a place where believers can come together to worship the Lord through fellowship, song, and community.

I want this church to be a church, a community and a commitment to Glorify God, by Growing Others

The Army had a statement years ago — BE ALL YOU CAN BE

the church is a place for broken and hurting people to come and learn about Jesus and study the Bible.

Whether they are saved, brand-new to the faith, or questioning the existence of God

, the church is a place for people to come and learn from one another.

Even though Christians can sometimes have the tendency to form “cliques”

and believe the church is strictly for those who love God,

it is good to be reminded that the church exists in order to heal those who need a Savior.

This is why inviting others to church is an important aspect of the Christian walk.

Our lives should reflect consistent evangelistic effort and inviting our teammates, friends at school, and unbelieving family members to church can make a big difference.

Proclaiming

We are often afraid and maybe a little ashamed of the Gospel...

I am here to encourage you --- You are NOT alone - You are part of TEAM CHRIST JESUS

We are often bolder to protect our sports team than our saviour.

We will wave our favorite teams flag and proudly proclaim our Team but suppress our loyal and love of Christ.

Many of us have even thought a bolder proclaimer is "over the top"

We have been around people that TOSS a JESUS bomb and then walk away.

But our Scripture today reminds us to NOT be ashamed.

the dictionary says that ashamed means

embarrassed or guilty because of one’s actions, characteristics, or associations

reluctant to do something through fear of embarrassment or humiliation

Who is your life lived for? What is your fear?

Fear is false evidence that appears real

Friends if you truly love the Lord then..........

Proclaim it.

Twenty plus years with my wife and I love to tell people how amazing she is. The great things that she does, and how amazing it is to spend time with her — traveling, eating out, or just sitting on the sofa together every night.

WHY?

Because i am deeply fully and completely in love with her.

BUT friends here is the truth - and its okay if you tell her (SHE KNOWS)

She is the second most important thing in my life.

YUP — Second.

You see GOD is first.

I love Him, I honor HIM, I obey HIM and my wife is blessed by being and staying second in my life.

Today I want to motivate you to invite others to church.

IN FACT — we are going to pass out cards for you to give out and we will ensure that we always have them available for you.

I want to challenge you to hand them out

KEEP IT SIMPLE

“I would love for you to visit my church.”

THERE IS A COMMAND TO SHARE TO GO AND TO MAKE DISCIPLES

We all know that verse, but we struggle to obey it.

Friends we often miss the point --- there is a heaven and a hell and people are going to one or the other. There is not another option.

we often resist because of the FEAR that Satan ignites in us to be quiet and not offend anyone.

Dear Christians ---- should you worry about offending or not helping them.

For it is the power of God for Salvation --- not your power -- you don't have the power of saving GOD DOES.

BUT we are called to GO

remember one of our lessons from Ephesians to walk worthy of our calling

--- this is our call not some one else, but OUR call to our circle of influence. to boldly proclaim the Gospel in season and out.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Go - in the original translation is AS WE GO

It is not a destination but rather focused on the Journey.

Do all around you know you are a Christian?

Do you state it or have a method for opening that conversation?

Let me give you an example,

I open a construction company and when i gave up my Chaplain job, i went into Sales for my company.

I will always mention that i am foremost a Pastor.

my motivation is to open a conversation.

MAYBE for you… its a statement that you learn to use.

Casual mention of church or the Bible or your study time in the morning.

You should have a conversation starter.

You should pray about your “one liner”

Be intentional with it.

Evangelism arises from a natural response to the grace of God

a concern for those who have yet to hear the good news

and a desire to be faithful to the great commission _ to bring the good news to the ends of the earth.

In the end. Evangelism is guided and directed by the Holy Spirit.

ARE YOU looking around for opportunities or are you engrossed solely on YOUR I phone ---

yeah exactly are you concerned for others?

Motives for Evangelism

Recognizing God’s Call

A Divine Compulsion

A God-Granted Responsibility

A Desire to win for the Lord

Recognition of coming judgment

Bystander Effect

The term bystander effect refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the number of people present, the less likely people are to help a person in distress.

When an emergency situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses.

Being part of a large crowd makes it so no single person has to take responsibility for an action (or inaction).

This is a tool of Satan.

Thinking that the little poke you got or the strong desire to care would be better handled by another.

Here is a good short verse to memorize

Romans 10:1 ESV

1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

FYI… this is the verse just a few before the HOW TO VERSE in the BIBLE.

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Friends I want to make it simple:

We are called to share Jesus with others.

If you love him you will share that fact, in effect you are not able to NOT share him.

You faith is not a Sunday faith, nor is your walk with HIM to be isolated

We spend time like the disciples did with HIM --- but then it is time to GO and proclaim Jesus.

Andrew invited his brother Peter to meet Jesus.

Jesus did miracles and the recipient and the observes went and told others about Jesus.

Jesus did a miracle in my life and I want to tell others about it and about Him

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Here is my challenge for you today.

Invite one person TODAY to church next week.

Then set a reminder to reach out again on Wednesday

and then again on Saturday.

John 21:15-17 “15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Lets invite others because there really is a Heaven

The world today needs more Jesus and we must be difference makers.