Invite A Friend. Do it. (November 21, 2004)

Have you invited anyone to church lately?

If you haven't, I encourage you to feel guilty about that, and let godly guilt spur you to ask someone to attend with you.

Please don't wait for a special event, or a religious holiday, or "Invite-a-Friend" Sunday. I think those are the worst times to invite a newcomer. It sends the message that a worship service is something you go to just when there is special music, or it's Christmas, or we've set aside a particular day for first- (and usually only-) time visitors. No, invite your friend for a Sunday when everything is ordinary - weekly prayer, Scripture, congregational singing, preaching of the Word. That way they'll know what to expect if they come back next week. Also, on a regular Sunday, they will be less likely to be lost in a crowd of other first-time visitors.

But do invite them. What have you lost if they say no? What might you gain if they say yes? Some people, whom you invite as a mere courtesy, or because you feel guilty, or just because your pastor asked you to, might shock you by actually showing up this Sunday. I read once that a high percentage (can't remember what) of unchurched people responded "Yes" to the poll question, "Would you visit a church if a friend invited you?" Of course, saying "Yes" to that question does not mean that they would follow through. But at least the majority did not say, "Are you kidding me?" And you never know what person has been so thoroughly prepped by the Holy Spirit that he responds with, "Funny you should ask! Just this week I was just thinking about going to church for the first time in years."