The Marks
of a Good Invitation
The churches of Christ Greet You
(Romans 16:16)
- Simplicity – KISS
(Keep It Simple Son). Simplicity and truth have a great deal in
common. The motive behind our invitation should always
be a simple one
– i.e., to please God, but never to please and receive the praise of
men (John 8:26; 17:4).
The method
use in
giving an
invitation should also be simple. Use language so as to be understood
even by a
mere child. Keep your message simple and to the point. You will not
persuade anyone to obey if they don’t
understand what
you say. Use a good
illustration
to make the truth crystal clear. Use the microphone and speak clearly.
Three to five
minutes is usually more than enough time for an invitation.
- Authority – Jesus
taught as one having authority (Matt. 7:28-29).
His authority came from the Scriptures or from what the Father said
(John 12:48-50). We also
must speak from the authority of God’s Word (2 Tim. 4:2). “The
Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35);
it speaks for itself. The Scripture is like a lion; our job is to turn
it loose.
- Practicality –
Whatever truth or principle you teach, you must also bring it down to
the bottom shelf of personal application. If a person can’t or does not
use what he’s learned he has lost it (cf. Mark 4:24-25). Believing is never separated from doing
(cf. Matt. 7:24-27). So
truth is not really possessed until it is practiced.
If you desire to be
effective in
your communication of the Word of God, you must be conscious of
application. We
are not referring to a “vague resolution” like “I’m going to be a
better
husband
this week.” We are trying to get the lost to obey the Gospel (Rom.
10:16; 2 Thess. 1:8-9) - i.e, believe, repent, confess
Christ,
and be immersed for the forgiveness of their sins. Therefore, somewhere
in our
invitation we must say those things.
God’s Word was not
given merely to
inform, but to transform (Rom. 12:1-2). The principles of God’s Word
will cause men
to want
to please God and stay as far away from sin as possible.
Conclusion
Good
material makes a good invitation. No better material, no greater
message is there in the
world
than that of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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