Invite Others
Introduction
The DNA of First Baptist Church Woodstock is comprised by the “Fourfold Purpose of our Church.”
1. Worship God
2. Love Others
3. Serve God
4. Invite Others
This session is to further develop and enhance our understanding of and obedience to Inviting Others! The Goal: That I will commit myself to consistently inviting the lost and unchurched to weekly worship services and to Christ.
I. The Heart of God
Jesus said: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Paul said: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
Peter said: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
II. The Purpose of Jesus
Jesus said: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Paul said: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
III. Our Commission
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:23)
You cannot spell Gospel without “Go.” It is the church’s duty to go to the lost, not the unbeliever’s duty to come to church.
Ain’t Hardly Nobody Been Saved What Ain’t Been Went After!
The Lost Art - Inviting people to church worship services is the lost art of modern day Christianity.
“One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messiah (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:40-42, emphasis mine)
After meeting Jesus, Andrew purposefully went and found his brother, Simon, so he too, could get to know Christ. Like Andrew, we ought to have a heart to reach our own relatives, and our own friends and neighbors. We must point people in the right direction.
“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God! The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.” (John 1:35-37)
Jesus gave a simple invitation “Come and see.”
“They said to Him, Rabbi (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), where are You staying? He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).” (John 1:38-39)
We, too, must invite people to “come and see” and allow them the opportunity to experience our church and hear the gospel. Let’s not make it complicated. It’s as easy as just inviting people to come and check it out.
Philip gave a simple invitation to Nathanael to “come and see.”
“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, Follow Me. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see.” (John 1:43-46)
We have lost the art of inviting lost and unchurched people. Why? Could it be the lost art stems from a lost heart?
IV. What’s the Problem
Excuse #1: I give to the church and to missions.
We should give, but that does not excuse of from going. It is not either/or, but both/and.
We have taken an “institutional approach” to evangelism instead of an “individual approach.”
We have relegated the job of evangelism to the church (Institution) rather than seeing it as each of our responsibility.
The Great Commission does not say, “Go ya’ll;” it says, “Go ye!”
In the church, we have “events” that are designed to be evangelistic. These are good and we need to do this. But these events should never be seen as a substitute for our personal obedience to the Great Commission!
Excuse #2: I serve the church body by singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, working in Awana, being an usher, etc.
Service within the Body of Christ does not exclude you from witnessing to the lost!
“So He (Jesus) spoke this parable to them, saying: What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:3-4)
Application: We need to leave the 99 in the church so that we may reach the one who is lost. We don’t need to get so busy inside the church that we forget those outside the church!
Excuse #3: I let my life be my witness.
Jesus lived a perfect life, yet He still felt the need to witness with his words.
Yes, our deeds should be a witness to a lost world, but so should our words. If deeds alone were sufficient then why the command to “Go?”
My Personal Testimony (Share it)
Your personal testimony is a powerful witnessing tool. People may debate theological and biblical principles, but they cannot refute your own personal experience. A changed life is great proof that the Gospel works! Using the example of the Apostle Paul, write your testimony. Use only 2-4 sentences for each of the four sections. You will want to memorize this and be able to share it in about 2-3 minutes.
What my life was like before I received Christ. (Acts 26:4-5, 9-11)
How I knew I needed Christ. (Acts 26:12-15)
What took place when I received Christ. (Acts 26:16-18)
How my life has been different since Jesus saved me. (Acts 26:19-20)
The FBCW Acts 1:8 Strategy
We organize our evangelistic strategy through our Sunday School because…
Sunday School is the church organized to carry out the Great Commission.
Sunday School is how we practically and tangibly flesh out the Great Commission.
Sunday School IS our strategy in accomplishing the Great Commission.
No other ministry is mandated with the task to reach people.
Example: Choir is mandated to help those who are already saved to worship God.
Discipleship Ministry is mandated to help those who are already saved to grow in maturity.
If you stop and think about it, most every ministry within the church is for the church – not the lost community around us!
Pass out “Just for You” Gospel Tracts to everyone and go over them page by page.