Bulletins - Grace Alive Church

E. Extend the invitation
1- Questions:
· Christian: Does this diagram make any sense to you? As you look at it, where do you see yourself? (3 Circles)

· Christian: Is there anything that would prevent you from repenting and believing the gospel today?

2- The importance of Invitations:
· Scriptural examples:
o * Jesus told this "Parable of the Great Banquet" to illustrate how God is extending His invitation to all. (Luke 14:15-24)
Luke 14:15–24 (NLT)
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”
16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.
17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’
18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’
19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’
23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.
24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’ ”
o Andrew invited Peter to meet Jesus (John 1:40-42)
John 1:40–42 (NLT)
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus.
41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).
42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).
o Philip invited Nathaniel to meet Jesus (John 1:45-49)
John 1:45–49 (NLT)
45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”
48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”
49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
o The Samaritan woman invited her whole town to meet Jesus (John 4:28-30).
John 4:28–30 (NLT)
28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone,
29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”
30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
o Matthew (Levi) gave a feast to introduce Jesus to all his friends (Luke 5:27-29).
Luke 5:27–29 (NLT)
27 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him.
28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.
o Cornelius invited his family and friends to hear the gospel (Acts 10:24-33).
Acts 10:24–33 (NLT)
24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!”
27 So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.
29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”
30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me.
31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God!
32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’
33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”
o God is making His appeal through us. (2 Cor. 5:20).
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
o Peter extended an invitation at Pentecost. (Acts 2:40)
Acts 2:40 (NLT)
40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
· Responses to the Invitation:
o Remember, we are only responsible for the invitation, we aren't responsible for the response. Just as many in Jesus story refused the invitation to the great banquet, many will refuse our invitations. This shouldn't keep us from inviting. We can learn how to turn the rejections into opportunities for future gospel conversations.

Three Responses : (Acts 17:32-34 )
Acts 17:32–34 (NLT)
32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.”
33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them,
34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Red light-some mocked.
Yellow light-some said, "We will hear you again.”
Green light-some joined and believed.

o Green Light: "Yes" Response

o This is the response we're always hoping and praying to get. When someone says he or she is ready to repent and believe, we simply lead that person in a verbal expression of his or her inward heart change. There is no magical prayer that seals the deal on a person's eternal destiny. The Bible says if we believe in our hearts that raised Jesus from the dead and confess with our says all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom. 10:13). We want to help people confess with their mouths and call on the Lord.

o We can model for them a short prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and I'm broken. Please forgive me of my sins and make me whole. I believe Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. I'm asking you to come into my life right now and be by Savior and Lord.”
We always ask them to pray after us or with us.

o Yellow Light: ''I need to think about it" Response

o Many times the people with whom we share are open to what they've heard, but they're not ready to repent and believe. We take this at face value However, we also realize that it may be a long time before want to challenge their thinking by asking them when they last had a conversation about Jesus or eternity. This helps them realize how the opportunities are few and far between. It may serve to draw them ira and motivate them to take action.

o We could also say something like this: "You mentioned you need to think about this some more, and! think that's a great idea. I get together with some friends once a week [every other week or once a month] to talks about life and God. We would love to have you join 1s. This invitation keeps the conversation going.

§ Ed Stetzer has found that 42-61 percent of non Christians would be willing to study the Bible with a friend 2s He also posited that 75-89 percent would listen to someone share his or her faith,2+ People are more open 24 than we might think. God is working on their hearts and drawing them to His Son, Jesus.

o Red Light: "No" Response

o That's right-some people will respond negatively to the message that God loves them and has made a way out of their brokenness. We believe we should respond graciously to a "no." There should be no arguing, debating- involved in cosmic chess match-none of that. We train people to say something like this: "Thank you for listening to me. If you ever find yourself in a place of brokenness, please remember our conversation and that God has made a way out through His Son, Jesus." This is a great red-light response. Often people ask to keep the napkin or piece of paper with the 3 Circles on it, so who knows how God may use it?

· Please don't neglect to issue the invitation or to train others to do the same.
God, through His servant Joshua, urged people to "choose this day whom you will serve (Josh. 24:15).
Jesus repeatedly invited people, saying simply, "Follow Me" (Mark 1:17; 2:14; 8:34; 10:21.)
Paul begged Herod to believe in Jesus (Acts 26:27-29)
Paul urged us to implore others to be reconciled to God through Jesus (2 Cor. 5:20).
D. Follow up on the new disciple.
1. Evangelism and discipleship are two sides of the same coin.
2. How does 1 Peter 2:2 refer to a new believer? (1 Peter 2:2)
1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)
2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
3. Who did Jesus tell Peter to feed in John 21:15?
John 21:15 (NLT)
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
4. Just like taking care of the needs of a newborn, God expects you to attend to the needs of the new believer.
5. What are some of the immediate needs of a new believer?
• Assurance
Baptism,
• discipleship
• friends
• a small group
• a church home
• encouragement
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Forever
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Never Once
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Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

E. Extend the invitation

1- Questions:

2- The importance of Invitations:

· Responses to the Invitation:

D. Follow up on the new disciple.