04 Mar, 2016 To fuel your fire #4/11: Unlocking the power of an invitation
In NZ the connection between non-Church people and a local church has never been as distant as it is today. A young schoolboy who caught a ride with a friend of mine looked out the window and asked her, “What are all those buildings with the letter ‘t’ on top?” Times have changed! Many now choose to have funerals in funeral parlours rather than churches, and their weddings in hotels, grand houses and gardens. Yet it remains that an invitation to a church service or activity is easy, and many people will willingly accept one!
It is generally suggested that 30% of people would visit a church if a friend invited them. A church in Palmerston North did a survey on the streets, and 70% of those surveyed said they’d visit a church if a friend invited them. While wisdom is needed in deciding what we will invite people to, it remains that this is an open opportunity and too often overlooked.
To invitational opportunities to create:
- If you preach a clear gospel message at Easter, your members could invite friends and family they talk with about Hope Project media to that service.
- If you run a discussion group after Easter (like 10DayChallenge.co.nz, Alpha, Christianity Explored, Long Story Short), they could invite friends to that also.
To resource you:
- You will find a sermon outline on invitation (with matching small group study) here.
- A concise equipping video on invitation here.
- This is the topic of the self-print ‘Church booklet’ #3 found here.
