Presented, Sunday, October 22, 2007
THE POWER OF AN INVITATION
We are hearing much today about some churches (or preachers) having quit offering invitations at the end of some or all of their worship services. While I am not sure of the motives behind these decisions, (which might vary from situation to situation - and thus I am hesitant to pass judgment), it concerns me because I personally believe we ought to always give opportunity to one who needs to make correction in their lives. While there may be no examples of invitations as we offer it at the end of a service, it is an expedient to help those seeking salvation (either obeying the gospel or repenting) with an opportunity to do so.
Furthermore, in scripture there are many examples of invitations being offered. So in my lesson this evening, I would like to examine some of these examples and make some applications. Not just an invitation at the end of a worship service, but invitations in general.
I. I. The Divine Invitation
a. Isaiah 1:18-19 – Isaiah is sent to a rebellious Israel by God with an invitation for them to repent. Isaiah says, “Come now, and let us reason together’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Note how the Lord is willing to forgive if Israel would only repent.
b. Isaiah 55:1-3 – everyone who thirst, “come to the water” and those who have no money, “come, buy and eat”. Vs. 3 – “Incline your ear and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live.”
c. Matthew 11:28-30 – Jesus offered the invitation to those present and to all who would hear through the gospel. Jesus offered rest to those who are weary and heavy laden.
d.
John 7:37 – “If anyone thirsts, let Him
come to Me and drink.”
Jesus made reference to living waters in John 4:10-14.
e. Luke 14:16-24 – In the parable of the wedding feast, you find an invitation that at first was rejected by those initially invited. Then the servants were instructed to invite anyone they could find (21-23). The instructions to the servants included “bring in…” and “compel them to come in.”
f. Revelation 22:17 – As revelation is brought to its conclusion, an invitation is again offered – this time to all who desire to drink of the water of life.
g. What is this invitation? It is an invitation to eternal life and reconciliation with God.
h. WHEN we offer the invitation at the end of services – this is the hope we have in mind.
II. II. Should We Offer an Invitation?
a. I recently requested information from brethren about this topic and received a handful of responses.
b. The primary reasons given for NOT offering an invitation (whether every time or not all the time) were:
i. It is not one of the 5 commanded acts of worship - OR IS IT? Could not the invitation fit under the heading of teaching and preaching?
ii. It is a tradition that started more than 100 years ago – SO! Setting aside the discussion of whether or not it can be bound, is it good or bad, scriptural or unscriptural?
iii. There is no example of a service where the invitation was offered at the end. Can we say that invitations were not offered with certainty? More to come!
iv. Some felt it is not needed at every service when, for example, every person in attendance at a small congregation was a regular and knew what they needed to do. While I will concede, there may be occasions where this is true, but even if everyone there is present and Christians, there may still the need at times to repent and confess sins. I would say in this situation, it would be appropriate to modify the invitation to the audience (which I ALWAYS recommend).
v. The point was also made that, whenever one has a need it should be addressed RIGHT THEN – without waiting for a formal invitation at the conclusion of a Bible study or sermon. I agree! But what if that sermon was the catalyst that pricked the heart? Why NOT give the invitation before Satan comes and snatches away that burning ember?
vi. LET IT BE UNDERSTOOD, I did NOT receive a single response that said giving the invitation was wrong and most, if not all, were quick to defend the right to extend an invitation as an expedient. The only issue was whether it could be bound as an absolute necessity and whether congregations (or preachers) who choose not to offer an invitation should be marked as unsound! Brethren, they may have a point!
c. One the other hand, and this is my conviction, I believe we OUGHT to offer the invitation. And here are some of the reasons why:
i. Because it IS an expedient following a lesson from the word of God. Preaching is to reprove, rebuke and exhort (2Tim. 4:2). If a preacher has done his job, the lesson is relevant to someone (if not all) in the audience. Thus while their minds are fresh on the topic and perhaps they have been “pricked in the heart”, (cf. Acts 2:37) – they need to be given opportunity then to respond. Remember the power of the gospel – Romans 1:16, Hebrews 4:12
ii.
Because we DO have examples of invitations.
While it not made with the same wording we use, there were still exhortations
to respond.
Acts 2:40, “And with many other words he testified and exhorted
them saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation!’”
NOTE that the word, exhort means, “to call to one’s side, call for
summon….to admonish…to beg, entreat, beseech…” (Thayer)
Vine’s says, “(a) to call on, entreat, (b) to admonish, exhort, urge one to
pursue some course of conduct.” See 1 Timothy 4:13 where Paul gives Timothy
instructions. Again, 2 Timothy 4:2 – Reprove, rebuke and exhort…
Acts 8:12, Philip went to Samaria, “but when they believed Philip
preaching the things of the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they
were baptized, both men and women.” Did Philip in some way, either during or at
the conclusion of his preaching tell them what they needed to do?
Throughout the book of Acts we see responses after preaching and teaching –
while some were private studies, others were VERY public.
iii.
Because of the urgency of the message.
2 Cor. 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of
salvation.”
2 Cor. 5:11, “knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”
Incidentally, this is WHY we would open the baptistery at midnight on a
Tuesday if one wanted to obey the gospel.
Why NOT give the opportunity at the conclusion of a sermon or Bible
class?
iv. Because, we don’t know if one will have another opportunity. In Acts 24:25 we read of Paul having preached to Felix and he was afraid (trembled – KJV), but he put off obedience. It is possible that if an invitation is not offered that one will put off obedience and then go away and never get another chance.
v.
Because of the value of repetition. When one
hears the invitation repeated EVERY TIME they assemble, they know it is
important and it becomes impressed in their minds. Ask a child who has
assembled with the saints all his life what the steps of salvation are. At some
point, when he/she is ready to obey – that is what he will want to do.
One brother responded, noting that his son obeyed the gospel one Sunday
afternoon between services. He saw the urgency and acted immediately.
Both Paul and Peter wrote letters reminding brethren of things they had taught
before. We NEED repetition.
Another brother made mention of a man who had faithfully attended services for
30 years and then one Wednesday night he decided to obey the gospel. Later he
told the preacher that he had not planned on obeying, but something was said in
the Bible study that prompted him. He responded during the invitation.
vi.
Why NOT offer an invitation?
While it might not be a specific command - in our culture, I CANNOT think of a
valid reason to NOT offer an invitation as a general rule, except on specific
occasions (e.g. 1. Public teaching to an audience of agnostics addressing
whether or not God exists. In such a case, much more ground work needs to be
laid before one is ready to obey the gospel. BUT, even then, perhaps an
invitation to study further is appropriate.
2. In a foreign country where you just starting to preach, people may not
understand what is being done – so it takes time to teach them all the
truth.)
vii. Sometimes our invitations are not thorough enough! There may be some who want to obey the gospel, but they really don’t know what is expected or what to do. Do we EVER take the time to explain what will happen and how it will be done? We CANNOT assume that one will figure out what they need to do without hearing it. They may have heard a great lesson that convicted them, but what now?! An invitation can answer that question – just like Peter on the day of Pentecost, cf. Acts 2:37-38.
viii.
Honestly, I WONDER why it is not seen as important
or necessary. I can think of scenarios where I would be very concerned if
one chose NOT to offer the invitation. Such as:
1) Because the true plan of salvation opposes the denominational concept of
salvation and there is a fear of upsetting (i.e. offending) someone too quickly.
Such an attitude could leave a wrong impression of security with the lost!
2) Because one is attempting to “get along” with others who teach a different
plan of salvation (i.e. not sure if one has to be baptized to be saved, etc.).
3) Simply because the “traditional way of doing it” needs to be challenged. If
something is a good thing, (i.e. an expedient) it should not be rejected just
because you can! Cf. 1 Cor. 11:2, 2 Thess. 2:15, “Therefore brethren, stand
fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our
epistle.”
Rejecting something that is an expedient just because you can is no better
than binding an expedient.
NOTE: I am NOT saying, nor accusing anyone of teaching these as
the reasons some fail to offer invitations, but they are thoughts that enter my
mind and cause me to be concerned. Especially with the debates now taking place
among brethren concerning the subjects of fellowship and false teachers, as well
as the elimination of “negative preaching” in many places.
ix.
These are some reasons WHY I believe we OUGHT to
offer an invitation. And until proven different, I will continue to
offer one and teach that it should be done.
But, at this time I cannot with complete conviction say that it is wrong for one
to not do it, though I think it unwise.
III. III. Personal Invitations
a. Invitations ought to place. The best way to reach one who is lost is with a personal invitation. It is also a scriptural means of reaching the lost. Consider:
i. It was prophesied - Isaiah 2:1-3
ii. It was practiced
1. John 1:40-42 – Andrew invited Peter to meet Jesus
2. John 1:43-46 – Philip invited Nathaniel to meet Jesus
3. John 4:28-30 – the Samaritan woman invited her neighbors and village to meet Jesus
4. Luke 5:27-29 – Matthew (Levi) gave a feast to his tax collector friends to introduce Jesus to them
5. Acts 10:33 – Cornelius invited his household
b. Consider the power of an invitation – it works, as the examples above show.
c. Where do we need to extend invitations?
i. To attend the services of the church – Isaiah 2:3, John 1:46
ii. To study the Bible – Acts 8:30, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
iii. To obey the gospel – Acts 22:16 – after teaching, there comes a point when we need to encourage one to become a Christian.
Everyone will agree that the invitation is important and at some point it must be extended. So at this time I extend an invitation to you.