Power Of Invitation

Invitations are powerful…They make a person feel...

Special

Wanted

Accepted

Illustration - I was busy and didn’t really have time to make another event or meeting. A pastor friend of mine invited to go and said it would be a blessing to him if I came. I rearranged my schedule to go and brought a friend.

Some information about invitation

67% of Americans say a personal invitation from a family member would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church.

63% of Americans say a personal invitation from a friend or neighbor would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church.

63% of Americans are very or somewhat willing to receive information about a local congregation or faith community from a family member.

56% of Americans are very or somewhat willing to receive information about a local congregation or faith community from a friend or neighbor.

85% of people came to church because of an invite from a friend or family.

Billy Graham Association issued a statistic that says, the average Christian can identify 7 unchurched people that they have a personal relationship with.  They conducted a national survey and 82% of the non-churched say they would come to church with a friend or relative if invited.

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The Ripple Effect -

butterfly effect

Chain reaction

domino effect

vs. 35 John the Baptist invited Andrew and John

vs. 40-41 Andrew invited Peter

vs. 43 Jesus invited Phillip

vs. 45 Phillip invited Nathanael

vs. 46 John invites his brother James

Andrews Ripple Examined Further

Peter becomes one of Jesus closest disciples.

He preaches the sermon on the day of Pentecost and 3000 were converted.

He becomes the first Bishop of Rome.

Peter and Andrew go to what would be Great Britain to preach the Good News

Around 449 A.D. Britian was settled by hundreds of thousands of new people not there in Peter’s day. It was the Anglos and Saxons. They brought the gospel with them to Britain which eventually became 80% Christian.

This is where the Pilgrims trace their roots of Christianity. 

We have Christianity in America today because of the pilgrims.

You and I have the gospel today because Andrew invited Peter to Christ.

Exodus’ Butterfly Effect

Joseph put in pit by brothers

Meets Potiphar

Imprisoned

Favor with Pharaoh

Positioned to save a nation

Puts family in position.

Saves a nation, his family, and his people.

Rahab show hospitality to spies

Saves her family and the spies.

Gains victory for God’s people

Jesus is born into this family line.

According to the Mishna (Rahab married Joshua)