Feb
13
2017
The Invitation
Posted in Evangelism 2 Comments
You see them on the school bus.
Two children who sit together all that time.
It was fortuitous that they sat together that first day.
After a while, a friendship began.
They giggle at the same things.
They finish each others sentences.
They look out the window and wave to make sure their friend sees where they are sitting.
They whisper in tones that only a friend can understand.
It took a while before the invitation came.
Do you want to come to my house and play?
My mom will call your mom.
There is a final wave before the bus stop approaches and a mental note to ask their mom.
Their play time is scheduled.
The friends run off as soon as the coat is removed.
Do you want to see my room?
And they are off to play for hours until their rumbling stomach tells them they are hungry.
The moms linger just inside the door so they can get to know each other.
They find that they have other things in common.
They find that their other children are in school together.
A pick-up time is discussed and agreed upon.
The giggles and laughter permeate the house.
As predicted, the rumbling stomachs bring the two friends downstairs.
After a snack, they are fortified to return to their play.
Their play is heard but it is not to be intruded upon.
It takes a while to be asked to come over to play.
It takes a bit of time before deep, dark, elementary school secrets are shared.
It takes a while before your house and your room are seen.
It takes a level of trust before more and more of yourself can be safely revealed.
Children grow up and begin to date.
The relationship has reached a new level when something has finally been decided.
Do you want to come home and meet my family?
Nerve racking but necessary, the day finally comes.
The car pulls up and all the younger siblings are peering out the window.
They try to be inconspicuous but they are seen.
Before the person even reaches the door, they are assessed.
Sometimes that assessment is true but often it is false and unfair to contemplate.
The person walks into the house and all eyes turn their attention to this new one in their midst.
This is my family, is said as names are being placed with faces.
Everyone is on their best behavior until a younger one burps and everyone laughs.
The ice is broken; the pressure is off.
There are stages in relationships; it is important to go through all of them.
Runners do not begin at the starting block and immediately arrive at the finish line.
The race must be run.
The runners must pace themselves.
A friend of mine, who comes to Bible study in my home, came to church with me.
What a blessing it was to have her next to me as we worshiped.
How special to sing with her as her voice harmonized with mine.
Our voices blended as we each sang our parts.
I have known this woman for quite a few years now.
I was thrilled when she wanted to visit my church.
I sat there with my husband on one side and my friend on the other.
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. (John 1:35-46)
It is not just children to which this kind of friendship applies.
Relational evangelism is so important and applies to all of us.
Do you want to come over to my church this Sunday?
And to the people in your congregation, Let me introduce you to my friend.
It’s really that simple.
Do you want to come to church with me this Sunday?
Let me introduce you to some of my other friends.
I hope you come back again next week; I would love to sit with you.
My friend who came to church with me already knows the Lord Jesus.
It was the church body she was visiting.
She wanted to see if she could imagine herself there each week.
She wanted to worship with other people in another part of God’s kingdom.
Sometimes, a friend will come to church who does not know the Lord Jesus.
Do you want to come to church with me this Sunday?
I would love to sit with you.
Let me introduce you to my friend, Jesus.
It’s really that simple.
Our love for the Lord Jesus should overflow to others.
Our relationship with Him should be so important that we want to introduce Him to others.
Invite your friends; it is time to bring them to Jesus.
Thank you for including me to be introduced.
Barb
Barb,
You are welcome. I wanted her to meet my friends, which of course includes you!
Gina