Join Us – The Power of an Invitation
JOIN US
The Power of An Invitation
Psalms 34:3 TPT
Join me, everyone! Let’s praise the Lord together. Let’s make him famous! Let’s make his name glorious to all.
_____________________________________________
There is something about an invitation…
An invitation makes us feel special
An invitation makes us feel wanted and accepted
________________________________________________
How many big changes can you think of that have started with a simple invitation.
________________________________________________
Personal Story
—> Invited to Fathers group
—> Invited to help at the church
—> Invited to LifeGroup
—> Invited to a Job Interview
—> Invited by my niece to her wedding
________________________________________________
Maybe your life changed when…
—> You were invited to the prom or on a date
—> Your boss invited you out to lunch
—> Your friend invited you for coffee
—> A family invited your family to dinner
One of the biggest most revolutionary movements of all time started with a few invitations…
________________________________________________
The biggest invitations of all:
Isaiah 1:18-19 (Sinners)
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;
Isaiah 55:1-3 (Destitute)
“Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat…”
Matthew 11:28-30 (Weary)
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden…”
Revelation 22:17 (Thirsty)
“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who
hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come…”
________________________________________________
Jesus invites his disciples “Join me”
They responded individually and quickly became a collective —. The church!
________________________________________________
Jesus disciples were not in a good place.
Been passed over by the Rabbi’s.
Dejected, rejected and overlooked.
Invitations uplift the dejected, accept the rejected and
notice the overlooked.
________________________________________________
Matthew 4:18-22 (TPT)
Jesus Calls His Disciples
18 As he was walking by the shore of Lake Galilee, Jesus noticed two fishermen who were brothers. One was nicknamed Keefa (later called Peter), and the other was Andrew, his brother. Watching as they were casting their nets into the water, 19 Jesus called out to them and said, “Come and follow me, and I will transform you into men who catch people for God.”[b] 20 Immediately they dropped their nets and left everything behind to follow Jesus.
________________________________________________
You were invited by Jesus so that you could extend the invitation to others.
________________________________________________
Spiraled into the biggest the world has ever seen.
The biggest agent of positive change.
The only organization that genuinely holds the hope of the world in its grasp!
________________________________________________
John 1:40-42 Andrew inviters Peter (later invites 3000)
John 1:43-46 Phillip invites Nathaniel
John 4:28-30 The samaritan women invites her whole village
Luke 5:27-29 Matthew invites all to feast with Jesus
Acts 10:24,33 Cornelius who invites his friends and family
________________________________________________
And we could keep going until we get to your name.
Someone invited you!
________________________________________________
From Andrew and Peter – to 2.2 billion believers world wide ________________________________________________
Acts 2:36-41 The Passion Translation (TPT)
The Invitation
36 “Now everyone in Israel[a] can know for certain[b] that Jesus, whom you crucified, is the one God has made[c] both Lord[d] and the Messiah.”
The Crowd Responds to Peter’s Words
37 When they heard this they were crushed and realized what they had done to Jesus.[e] Deeply moved, they said to Peter and the other apostles, “What do we need to do, brothers?”[f]
38 Peter replied, “Repent and return to God,[g] and each one of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus, the Anointed One,[h] to have your sins removed. Then you may take hold of the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is for you[i] and your families, for those yet to be born[j] and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
40 Peter preached to them and warned them with these words: “Be rescued from the wayward and perverse culture of this world!”[k]
41 Those who believed the word that day numbered three thousand. They were all baptized and added to the church.[l]
________________________________________________
Someone you know needs to feel a part.
They need to hear the words “Join Us”
They need to hear the promises of God
They need to know they are included – they are on the guest list
________________________________________________
But how will they know?
Romans 10:14 (TPT)
14 But how can people call on him for help if they’ve not yet believed? And how can they believe in one they’ve not yet heard of? And how can they hear the message of life if there is no one there to proclaim it?
________________________________________________
The Holy Spirit will get them to the party, but you have to invite them.
________________________________________________
Step into the relationship
Be Jesus until they get to know him personally
Find a need and fill it. Find a hurt and heal it!
________________________________________________