19“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”
(Matthew 28:19-20 New International Version).
Spring has finally sprung (I think). We have celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we will soon be celebrating the church’s birth with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28: 19-20, we read about Jesus’ command to his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples to continue the work he started here on Earth. The Great Commission was not only for the disciples then but for us today. Jesus gave the command with a promise, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” As Christians, we are called to share our faith with those around us (neighbors, friends, coworkers, classmates, family, etc.), and that can seem intimidating, but Jesus promises us that we are not alone. Friends, I want to encourage you and challenge you today to share your story of faith. Everyone has a story of their life before and after they met Jesus. Your story is powerful. Your story might just be what someone needs to hear. Your story could change someone’s life. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you seek to share your story of faith with someone. And don’t be discouraged if you do not receive the desired outcome from the conversation. Remember, you have planted a seed when you share your faith with someone. I also encourage and challenge you to invite someone to church with you. In his article, The Power of Invitation Kent E. Fillinger says,
Research study from 2014 found that 67 percent of Americans said a personal invitation from a “family member” would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church. And 63 percent of Americans said a personal invitation from a “friend or neighbor” would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church. (See “Strategic Evangelism: The Power of an Invitation,” by Ed Stetzer, July 21, 2014, www.christianitytoday.com.)
In The Unchurched Next Door, Thom Rainer said that nearly 8 in 10 unchurched persons would come to church if we invited them and accompanied them to the worship service.
If someone responds to an invitation to attend church, they are highly likely to tell others about their experience. Auxano.com reports that “guests will talk about their initial experiences 8-15 times with other people.”
In “5 Questions about Invitability,” Rich Birch suggested these questions for personal reflection:
- When was the last time you invited someone to your church?
- If it was recently, what happened when you asked? What happened when your friend came to church?
- What part of that experience went well?
- What part of that experience was negative?
- If you haven’t recently invited someone, why not? What is holding you back?
If your church is planning a special event in the near future, that would be a good, easy, natural opportunity for inviting someone.
Kent E. Fillinger serves as president of 3:STRANDS Consulting, Indianapolis, Indiana, and regional vice president (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan) with Christian Financial Resources.
Pastor Dave