Inviting someone to share a moment: church, a meal, a group
Many people will never come to a church on their own, but will gladly accept an invitation from someone they know. An invitation is a small gesture: "Would you like to...?" This quest invites you to make one this week, to someone who doesn't believe or who has drifted away.
What it looks like in your day
You can invite to three kinds of moments, from the lightest to the most involved:
- A meal. It is the most natural. A lunch, a coffee, a barbecue, a dinner at your place. A meal creates an atmosphere of trust and commits nobody.
- A group. An evening of your home group, a workshop, a game night, a youth group, a neighborhood event organized by your church.
- A service or a celebration. A normal Sunday, a Christmas or Easter service, a baptism, a concert, a special event.
To invite without pressure:
- Choose the person who might enjoy the event. Not at random.
- Offer it lightly. "I'm going to a meal at my church on Saturday, there will be lots of nice people. Would you like to come with me?"
- Say what to expect. Where, what time, how long, what happens. The unknown is frightening.
- Offer to go together, or to meet them there.
- Leave room to say no. "No problem if it's not for you, we can do something else."
If you are in a hurry, invite by message: "Saturday at 7 p.m., meal at my church, want to come?" If you are shy, start with a meal at your place, it is easier. If you are a beginner, choose an event that isn't a service: less intimidating.
What the Bible says
Jesus himself invites two men who are following him at a distance, in one sentence:
“He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”
"Come and see": an invitation without pressure, which lets the person form their own idea. It was enough to launch the group of disciples. In the Gospel of Luke, Levi, the tax collector who has just followed Jesus, throws a feast:
“And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?”
He invites his colleagues and friends so they can meet Jesus. The criticism flies, but Jesus is at the table with them. The meal is a place of gospel. He also asks his disciples to widen their invitations (Luke 14:12-14): to invite those who cannot repay.
Pitfalls to avoid
Pressing. An invitation is not repeated three times. If the person declines, say "No problem," and leave the door open. You can suggest something else later.
Turning the invitation into a trap. Don't say "We're just going to eat" if in reality there will be a forty-minute testimony. Be transparent about what will happen.
Neglecting the welcome. If you invite someone, stay with them: introduce them, sit beside them. A guest left alone won't come back.
Getting discouraged. Many say no. It is not a rejection of you: it is often a "not yet." Try again in a few months, with another proposal.
Reserving the invitation for one format. The service is not the only door. For some, a meal or a hike is far more accessible.
This week, think of one person. Invite them to a meal, a group or a moment at your church, lightly.