Comments on: 10 Reasons to Invite People to Follow Christ Every Week At Church

By: gimmicks « observations of a servant, husband and father

gimmicks « observations of a servant, husband and father — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:16:44 +0000

[...] 10 Reasons to Invite People to Follow Christ Every Week At Church [...]

By: Kellyo

Kellyo — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:00:49 +0000

I am not from a tradition where we do alter calls. How do you invite people to come to Christ? What kind of approachable words do people use?

By: gary grogan alias Papa G.

gary grogan alias Papa G. — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:40:16 +0000

Thank you! Simple, to the point, refreshing to find someone of your postion so passionate about inviting people to become followers of Christ! I am a lead pastor and am grateful for your helps. Thank you again!

By: Offer Them Christ « Offer Them Christ

Offer Them Christ « Offer Them Christ — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:09:55 +0000

[...] 10 Reasons to Invite People to Follow Christ Every Week At Church [...]

By: Links of the Week « Chaotic Ministry

Links of the Week « Chaotic Ministry — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:11:08 +0000

[...] great posts (1,2) about presenting the invitation everytime you have the [...]

By: Links of the Week « My World

Links of the Week « My World — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:21:47 +0000

[...] Craig on 10 reasons to invite people to Jesus every week [...]

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:46:54 +0000

I’m not a Pastor of a church, but I do teach a Women’s Bible Study at my mega church. We have about 20-30 women per week. I am going to print this off to remind me to invite people to Christ every week, especially as we embark on a 10 week study of “Acts.”

I know this sounds stupid, but how would you work an invitational into a weekly Bible study? We’re essentially a small church, and I plan on following the structure of Acts to teach the Gospel and encourage evangelism. But how do I bring this back to the Gospel every week and not to assume everyone there is saved.

By: Concerned Christian

Concerned Christian — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:50:07 +0000

I would question whether #8 of the “Reasons To” list belongs there. I would hate to be the one who led someone away from Christ rather than toward him.

Beliefs have consequences. Fear provides the wrong motivation for accepting Christ. Love is the key. I don’t believe it is in my god’s (Yahweh) character to torture people forever. I don’t believe he asks us to forgive and then rejects his own advice.

Hell was a pagan concept that predated Christianity and the gospel may have been corrupted by it. Can we please just set that disturbing little doctrine aside and show his love to the world?

By: Travis Hurst

Travis Hurst — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:36:52 +0000

One great post Craig!
Always invite….Always leave the results to God.
I’ve preached messages when no one was saved, and I’ve preached messages I thought were sub par where many were saved.

By: 10 reasons to invite people to follow Christ every week at church « Rich Johnson

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:26:18 +0000

[...] 10 reasons to invite people to follow Christ every week at church Craig Groeschel offers 10 Reasons to Invite People to Follow Christ Every Week At Church: [...]

By: Keep Providing an Opportunity « the leadership tests

Keep Providing an Opportunity « the leadership tests — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:30:26 +0000

[...] to everyone in our worlds that don’t know Jesus as their Saviour, so keep asking. Read this great post from Craig [...]

By: del.icio.us 2 « This is That

del.icio.us 2 « This is That — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:00:45 +0000

[...] Posted in de.licio.us Just in case you forgot what Church is about. [...]

By: Brandon Duff

Brandon Duff — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:16:27 +0000

Much to ponder here - thanks

By: Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:44:32 +0000

Jenn asked, “Craig why do you think this is the case and why are churches so afraid to have a weekly invitation? Is it reputation, fear, laziness or something else? To me it is confusing…”

I wrote a post for tomorrow with reasons “not to invite people to follow Christ.” It may come off a bit sarcastic… I hope not.

At the first church I served at, we simply didn’t think about calling people to Christ. We (wrongly) believed that almost all people who came to church were Christians. Over time, our church became much more evangelistic.

More tomorrow.

By: jason

jason — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:19:48 +0000

Time is short, urgency is needed!

Eternal Perspective is a must….DAILY

John 9:4

By: jim

jim — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:11:57 +0000

Just yesterday I challenged our people with this in the Morning Service. I challenged them to invite people every week and I promised that every week the gospel would be presented by whomever was in the pulpit on Sunday morning. No matter who it is that stands in our pulpit on a sunday morning we make it a requirment here is that the gospel is presented. We do not ask people to come forward but to fill out a form in the bulletin that eveyone fills out and they mark it that they made a decision for Christ. I then follow up with them.

By: Jenn Cady

Jenn Cady — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:55:55 +0000

I agree with Scott W. and Unfortunately weekly “invitations to know Christ” are EXTREMELY rare for churches and I have NEVER understood this. I have been to many differnt faith denomination services and 99% of the time they never talk about making a decision to have LIFE.

Most churches have quaterly or bi-yearly “revivals” or “alter calls” and to me it is like the “national sales meeting” syndrome…it becomes more of a production.

Craig why do you think this is the case and why are churches so afraid to have a weekly invitation? Is it reputation, fear, laziness or something else? To me it is confusing….

By: Mark Broadbent

Mark Broadbent — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:44:20 +0000

Hi Craig.

When Bobby came to Brisbane Australia he talked about how you guys go about doing this, and I really thought it was great.

I would be willing to do it, but have one question…

IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE GOSPEL PRESENTATION YOU PRESENT IS CLEAR WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES?

When we call for a response, it is usually after an entire sermon on the gospel. or at the end of a 4 week series on the gospel. But my fear is that in presenting the gospel in 3 minutes at the end of the service, and then calling for response, that people may somehow believe that they are making a commitment to be a better person, or make Jesus a priority etc. Rather than trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross to save them.

This is a hard question to ask in such a short space, but my fear is that people could falsly think that they are saved, when all they did was promise to obey, make a commitment etc. Yet they still haven’t got their sin paid for.

Mark

Ps. Just written about how we have worked hard to make the gospel clear in our church: http://www.neoleader.org/node/745

By: Sean Lewis

Sean Lewis — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:44:04 +0000

Great Insight. Why would we ever want to take the freedom of accepting God in to ones heart away. So many times the name of Jesus is preached and there is not a chance for people to even understand how to receive it.

One thing that frustrates me is when people say “if it feels right we will have an altar call or invite people today to raise their hands today.” It just doesn’t seem like God ever shuts down for something like that.

Thanks Craig for your leadership and insight at leading people closer to God.

By: Kendra Golden

Kendra Golden — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:41:14 +0000

#11– By reciting different versions of these prayers (we say it all together) and hearing the explanation and lead-up to the call, I feel much more confident and equipped to lead others to Christ when I’m by myself. It’s like witnessing practice. I’ve heard others at LC.tv say this too.