Intentional Inviters

John 1:46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

In the book of John, Philip was inviting Nathanael to come meet Jesus. Nathanael was skeptical. Rather than give him the Bible college answers of who Jesus is and what evidence we have for His existence, Philip just invited Nathanael to “Come and see for yourself.”

I’ve been to many church growth seminars and read many books on how to grow a church. Yet for decades overall church attendance has steadily declined. We are told to have more exciting programs, get the best worship team in town, have vibrant home groups, get a cool youth pastor, etc. But most small to medium-sized churches are doing the best they can with what they have. More programs require more people from which to pull volunteers. More staff require more givers and volunteers to support those staff. What’s the answer?

Intentional Inviters. Surveys show us that well over 50% of unchurched people say they would visit a church if someone they know personally invited them. If we do the math, in a medium-sized church of 100, if 25% of the congregation invites 1 person a week, that will result in 650 visitors to the church in a year. If 25% of those visitors became regular attenders, that congregation would have grown by 163.5 people!

In a parable about growing the Kingdom of God, Jesus told them in Matthew 22:9-10 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

Do you want your church to be full? The answer might not be a new pastor or program. The answer might be you! A simple practice of regularly inviting your contacts will dramatically change your church. Then you would be actively practicing part of Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”