A Case for the Invitation
The preacher has been talking for 25 or 30 minutes and now he walks down from the pulpit area. It’s obvious that he’s about “done,” so what do people do? Of course, they put their Bibles away and grab the song books. The teaching part of the sermon is over, after all.
Or, is it?
I want to make two challenges in today’s post. This is something I have really been hitting hard at Lebanon Road lately, and I think is being received by the members as a way we can be more open to the lost.
Challenge #1 is for the members who are listening to the sermon. Don’t stop listening at the invitation! The preacher still has teaching to do. Some have never heard the plan of salvation, and some who have heard it hundreds of times may need to hear it that one extra time in order to confirm a need to come to Christ. You are distracting to that person who is trying to hear this message (not to mention to the preacher who is doing his best to convey the message of the cross).
Is it that big of a deal? Yes! I was told a story several years ago, and was told it was true. Even if it is not true, it makes the point well.
A man had been trying to convince a friend to come to worship with him for some time. Finally, the man agreed and attended. He saw all that happened and listened to the sermon with an open Bible. The preacher then got to the end of the sermon and extended the invitation. The song was sung and finished, with the man not responding publically.
On the drive home, the one who had invited asked his friend, “What did you think?” The response was shocking: “I loved it! I liked the singing and the prayers. I didn’t understand everything, but the sermon was moving. In fact, I was going to respond and be baptized.”
The friend asked, “Why didn’t you?”
The response? “When the preacher got to that part of the sermon, everyone seemed ready to leave, and I didn’t want to slow them up.”
Still ready to get that song book out and stop listening?
Challenge #2 is to the preachers. Don’t treat the invitation as just a tradition! When you preach often, you deliver hundreds and hundreds of invitations. You have gone over the plan of salvation scores of times and have told people about the cross, heaven, hell, and sin more times than you can count.
But someone in that auditorium may have never heard it before, and others need to hear it again. Please, preachers, review the plan of salvation at least every few weeks. Don’t just get to the end of your sermon and say, “So if anyone needs to respond, please do so while we stand and sing.”
- Respond to what?
- What response are they to give?
- To whom are they responding?
- Where do they go to respond?
I’m not saying you have to go through the entire plan of salvation after every sermon, but, if it’s been a month, it’s been too long! Most likely, someone who has heard you in that time has never heard that baptism is essential, or that repentance means a change of mind.
Work on your ability to shape the invitation to fit the sermon and continue to teach right through the invitation. Some have never heard!
Let’s all make the invitation more than just an ending to the sermon. Let’s strive to encourage someone to make it a beginning of a life lived for Christ!
8 Comments
Mom
Great article. The original went in our bulletin for this Sunday. Keep up the good work.
cordobatim
I’d also suggest varying the invitation. I’ve invited people to meet me at the back rather than the front. Or I’ve had the elders stand at the back while I was at the front. I’ve also identified certain men that people can talk to afterwards if they want more information.
In business, it’s termed a “call to action.” I agree with you that we shouldn’t overlook this final step in our teaching.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
andrewdphillips
One thing I have appreciated about Crittenden Drive (which began during their time with an interim minister) is that an Elder comes forward to greet anyone that needs to respond. That way, it is a shepherd to sheep interaction where someone is responding to one of the church’s leaders. Often, I will talk with them or even sit next to them, but if a prayer needs to be led, the Elder often takes the lead.
I’m with you – we need to make sure people have the opportunity and encouragement to come to Christ every time we worship.
Kelli
Great post! Over the last few years I’ve been noticing how empty and ritualistic the invitation usually becomes. Public encouragement and support are very valuable to those looking to strengthen their relationship with God, but most people are turned off when the invitation is to come to the front pew rather than hear Jesus say “Follow Me.”
Bryant Evans
Great thoughts! I would add that the hearers should not use the invitation song as a time to shuffle out of the building so they can get to lunch three minutes faster. People are thinking, meditating and seriously considering their salvation. That moment is so fragile. Please, wait until the end!
Wayne Gordon
Amen-preach on brother! I do think that we get caught up in rituals and routines which creates a mundane atmosphere. But, don’t go and try to change anything because Sister Better-Than-You will certainly have an opinion about that. Or, Brother That’s-The-Way-We-Always-Done-It will get ticked because you changed the way his daddy did it for years. Change simply for the sake of change isn’t necessarily a good thing. Neither is doing it the same old way. I like variety in the way things are done. Nothing in scripture states, “2 songs, a prayer, the Lord’s Supper… Changing things up a bit keeps it refreshing and also helps keep “us” on our toes because we don’t know what is coming next! Changing up the invitation also prevents a ‘routine’ situation from becoming mundane.
Wayne Gordon
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faughnfamilyof4
I recieved the following comment to this post via email from Philip Autry.
“The invitation song gives the congregation a chance to join in the invitation, singing words like “come” or “calling” or even the plan of salvation (as in Wheeler’s “Tomorrow May Be Too Late.”) Music is very, very powerful. It is a shame when we miss that opportunity because we are not ready–or mentally ready for something else.”