Thursday, October 26, 2023

Is there someone God has put on your heart to invite to church? 

Let’s be honest—inviting people to church can be scary. Some of us have had negative experiences in the past sharing our faith that left us afraid of ridicule and judgment. However, extending an invitation to just one person may forever change the course of their lives. 

Some who we encounter may have stopped attending church because of previous church hurt or bad experiences with “religion.” Others may never have been introduced to Jesus. Nevertheless, our duty as Christians is to boldly proclaim the gospel, bringing as many people to Christ as possible. God encourages us to seek out the lost and give them the chance to experience eternal life with him. Consider an account from the gospel of John, where one believer encouraged his skeptical friend to meet Christ himself.

John 1:46:
“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

The truth is, we all have a metaphoric Nathanael in our lives—whether that be a family member, friend, or coworker. As you try to share your faith with them, they may brush it off and mock you for being so “religious.” However, they may eventually become curious as to why you trust in God so deeply and experience peace in the most difficult of circumstances. 

This type of joy and peace that comes from God may baffle nonbelievers and start life-giving conversations with them. Each of us has the opportunity to plant the seed of faith in someone’s life. After that, the Holy Spirit can work in the nonbeliever’s heart and open them up to a relationship with Christ. 

It is interesting to learn about Nathanael’s response to Philip. Philip did not falter due to Nathanael’s skepticism. He persisted because he knew that bringing Nathanael to the Lord would forever change him. Philip was confident in the Lord but did not condemn Nathanael for his skepticism. He cared about his dear friend so much that he invited him to see the Messiah for himself. And Philip went with him, because it can be overwhelming for a nonbeliever to meet Jesus alone. 

Let’s overcome our fear and hesitation and be like Philip, boldly inviting people into a life-giving relationship with Jesus. (And don’t make them go to church alone!)

Questions: 
Who in your life do you want to invite to church?

How can inviting one person to church begin to change their lives?

Next Steps:
Invite one person to church this weekend, knowing the Lord is by your side. 

Pray that God shows you who to invite to church throughout the next few weeks. 

Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, thanks for letting me experience a life-giving relationship with you. Help me to boldly proclaim my faith and invite others into a relationship with you. Show me those in my life who are lost or discouraged, and give me the confidence to invite them to church. Bring them closer to you and allow them to experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus’ name, amen.                                                                                                                                  

Series Theme Verse:

Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

This post was written by Isabelle Billnitzer, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.