Not just what, but HOW!

        ONE of the mistakes I think we Pastors make as much as any other is telling people WHAT to do on the weekends without showing them HOW to do it. For instance, so many pastors every weekend tell the members of their congregations to "go share Jesus with the lost".  However, I am convinced that  most of the time, people don't know HOW to share Jesus with the lost! That's so broad! As Pastors, we've got to do a better job, not just telling people WHAT to do, but showing them HOW to do it. IN honor of this truth, and in light of my message this past weekend,  I wanted to share THE TOP 10 WAYS TO INVITE SOMEONE TO CHURCH WITHOUT GETTING PUMMELED:

1. Send a co-worker an e-invite from our church website, with a note that says: "Just thought you might connect with what our church is going to be talking about this weekend."

2. Send a link to one of our church's online sermons with a note that says: "When I heard this message, I thought about what you've been going through..."

3. Take w worship guide in to work with the message series title on it and say: "When I heard this message title, I thought of you."

4. Have a BBQ and invite some co-workers or friends over to eat. Here's the only criteria for the INVITATION list: 
They can't go to church anywhere.

5. Invite someone to lunch on Sunday (or dinner on Saturday) and then say: "Hey, would you guys be interested at all in meeting  us at our church beforehand, and THEN going to eat?

6. Think of someone who;s had a tough year this past year, drop them an enail or a phone call and simply say: "when I was listening to my pastor;s message this past week, I thought about you and prayed for you(IF you actually prayed for them)."

7. Invite a family friend's child over to spend  the night with our children on Saturday Night and then ask the family's permission to take their child on to church with you and drop them off afterward. If our Children's Ministry rocks, this child will be one of Jesus' biggest advertisers afterward!

8. Just say: "Hey, man, what would I have to do to talk you into giving God and the church one more shot this week?"

9. Just say: "Hey, are you going to church anywhere right now? Why don't you come hang out with me this weekend at our church? It's SO AWESOME!"

10. Say: "You would not believe what my church is going to be doing this next weekend..."

Not just WHAT, but HOW...DOES THIS HELP AT ALL???

Comments

[Eric Taylor]

Shawn,

you can bet I'm going to rip this off from you... I'll give you credit of course.

Eric

[Rindy]

Great ideas! #10 is my favorite--starting the conversation with "at church this weekend..." or "we did this thing at church..." or "I have these friends from church..."---just talking about all the great things and showing excitement makes them want to hear and know more...then invite!!

[Jeff Green]

Number 4 rocks! I really feel that we need to become post-relational in our outreach approach. By that I mean being merely "relational" is not enough we must allow it to become a way of being and living rather than a MODE Of being. This sort of idea embodies that lifestyle.

thanks!

[Lorna (see-through faith)]

Have a BBQ and invite some co-workers or friends over to eat.

If we invite co-workers over we get to know them better - ask questions, listen to answers and tell them more about our lives too.

We hear that they are struggling to make ends me -we can offer to help them with their garage sale,we find out that their MIL has cancer we can offer to pray, we hear that they don't know how to use exel we can arrange to show how ... this is mission in practice.

Our job is to reveal Jesus at work in their midst - not just drag them to church. I think that comes anyway as they find that they want more of God.

I love it that you are trying to equip your people -rather than just telling them to go out there and drag people in here.

We are church. It's time we acted like it. or something.