Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

  • Home
  • Tennessee
  • SBC
  • Columnists
  • Culture
  • SS Lessons
  • Tennescene
  • Radio B&R

IT’S TIME TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME TO JESUS

August 3, 2016

By Ernest L. Easley
Professor of Evangelism, Union University

Ernest Easley

Ernest Easley

There was a lot of talk on the topic of evangelism during the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in St. Louis.

The sermons that were preached, the panel discussions that were presented, and our mission boards’ reports all made reference to the 15-year decrease in baptisms in our Southern Baptist churches.

Plenty of people are attempting to explain the decline. Some say it’s because so many of our churches are not filing their annual report, thus skewing the numbers. Others say the decline is theologically based while still others say it’s methodological.

One thing is for sure: It’s time we get back to inviting people to come to Jesus.

When God said to Noah in Genesis 7:1, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation,” God extended a public invitation to Him.

When Jesus encountered the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:21, He said, “… and come, follow Me.” Jesus extended a public invitation to follow Him.

cross-on-stairsC.E. Autrey in his book, The Theology of Evangelism, wrote, “The primary purpose of the message of evangelism is to call men to a personal relationship with God.” Autrey, a former SBC leader in evangelism, went on to say, “If the church quits calling on people to decide, then death is certain. The church must never turn from inviting men to an encounter with Christ. The people of God have no choice but to keep a strong emphasis on confronting the lost, privately and publically, with the gospel and calling on them to decide.”

Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:32: “Therefore, whoever confesses (acknowledges) Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” That certainly describes what takes place during a public invitation.

Objective_1_ICON_baptismAs the apostle Peter wrapped up his sermon in Acts 2, we read in verse 37, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ ” Peter then told them to repent and be baptized, and we read in verse 41, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about 3,000 souls were added to them.”

How did that happen without a public invitation? How are we to move forward in fulfilling the Great Commission without inviting the lost to Jesus? The God who initiates a relationship with us and then invites us into that relationship has commissioned us to become the inviters, as we invite the lost to Christ.

The invited are now the inviters!

Regarding the public invitation:

First, give it consistently. When your members bring a friend to worship, they should know that a public invitation will be given. Be consistent!

Second, give it creatively. There are various ways to give a public invitation. Be creative!

Third, give it clearly. Explain in simple terms what you’re asking people to do. Be clear!

Southern Baptists: Let’s get back to inviting people to come to Jesus!

 

Facebooktwittermail

Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: evangelism

Subscribe Classifieds Advertise About

Recent Posts

  • MAY 29: WAITING
  • MAY 29: STAY PREPARED AND READY
  • HUNT DENIES ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE
  • NAMED IN GUIDEPOST REPORT, KEY LEADERS RESPOND
  • SBC TASK FORCE RELEASES REPORT

Tags

2022 Beach Reach Bible: II Thessalonians Bible: I Thessalonians Bible: John Bible: Matthew Carson-Newman University Chris Turner Cooperative Program coronavirus COVID-19 David Dawson Disaster Relief evangelism IMB Kevin Ezell Lonnie Wilkey missions motives NAMB pastors Randy C. Davis Summit TenneScene Uganda Union University

Recent Posts

  • MAY 29: WAITING
  • MAY 29: STAY PREPARED AND READY
  • HUNT DENIES ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE
  • NAMED IN GUIDEPOST REPORT, KEY LEADERS RESPOND
  • SBC TASK FORCE RELEASES REPORT
  • IMB TRUSTEES APPOINT 56 MISSIONARIES, CELEBRATE WITH MISSIONARY EMERITI

Tags

2022 Beach Reach Bible: II Thessalonians Bible: I Thessalonians Bible: John Bible: Matthew Carson-Newman University Chris Turner Cooperative Program coronavirus COVID-19 David Dawson Disaster Relief evangelism IMB Kevin Ezell Lonnie Wilkey missions motives NAMB pastors Randy C. Davis Summit TenneScene Uganda Union University

Categories

Bible Studies for Life Culture Explore the Bible Featured News Opinion Column Radio B&R SBC Sunday School Lessons Tennessee Uncategorized

Copyright © 2022 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in