Gr. 6-12 - Gracepoint Community Church

LET’S GET
by Bill Hogg
INVITATIONAL!
One simple invitation
can make a world of difference.
Andy, who had joined up with a wild,
wandering prophet, met Jesus. On
the heels of his Jesus encounter, he
immediately invited his brother,
Simon, to meet Jesus. That simple
invitation is still causing after shocks
today!
“The first thing Andrew did was to
find his brother Simon and tell
him, "We have found the
Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And
he brought him to Jesus. Jesus
looked at him and said, "You are
Simon son of John.
You will be called Cephas"
(which, when translated, is Peter).
(John 1:41-42)
Andrew, a brand new Jesus follower,
invited his brother to meet Jesus.
Simon experienced new life and
direction and got a new name to
boot! That simple invitation
sparked a spiritual chain reaction.
We are still experiencing the chain
reaction today! Peter became a
Jesus follower whose impact and
influence is felt generations and
generations later.
Peter preached on the Day of
Pentecost – he was the human agent
of a spiritual combustion. Three
thousand people were catapulted
into the kingdom of God because of
Peter’s anointed preaching. The
primitive Jesus movement was
Jewish. Philip, the evangelist, took
the good news of Jesus to the
despised Samaritans, who were
deemed half-castes and syncretists.
Peter did something even more
radical; Peter was the breakthrough
guy who took the gospel to the
Gentiles in Acts 10. Peter left an
enduring contribution in the New
Testament with 1 and 2 Peter. Some
scholars reckon Mark’s Gospel is a
collection of reminiscences and
eyewitness recollections from Peter.
Every time you leaf through the
pages of Peter’s letters or read
Mark’s Gospel, you are experiencing
Peter’s legacy, a spiritual legacy
made possible because his brother,
Andrew, brought him to Jesus.
One simple invitation
had a huge impact!
One simple invitation can cause a
spiritual chain reaction!
My wife, Morag, was brought up and
baptized Mormon. Her parents were
dedicated and committed to
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints.” They also dabbled in
Eastern mysticism and became what
you might call “pick ‘n’ mix” in their
beliefs and spiritual practices.
Due to intense family pressure,
they left Mormonism and settled
into a mainline congregation
where the gospel was not preached.
So, how in the world could a little
girl hear the gospel and discover the
love of Jesus? Baptists to the recue!
A bunch of Baptists set up shop in the
local park with a Holiday Bible Club
(a.k.a. Vacation Bible School). Morag
not only had a blast and heard the
gospel- she met a leader called Mary
Pollard. Fast forward 10 or 12 years;
Morag and Mary ended up working for
the same company, in the same office,
and a friendship developed.
As the relationship grew, Mary
extended an invitation to Morag to
join her at a concert in the town hall.
The two friends enjoyed a gospel rock
gig together. The lead vocalist
of the band preached the gospel
and invited those in attendance to put
their trust in Jesus and become lifelong
Jesus followers. That night Morag
was radically saved.
One simple invitation from Mary
proved to be life changing. Andrew
and Mary were invitational Jesus
followers. Will you commit to being
intentionally invitational?
WHO WILL YOU INVITE TO
DISCOVER JESUS?
Who will you invite to explore
the claims of Jesus and follow
Jesus on a journey of discovery
and transformation?
Who are you praying for
that they might experience the grace
and power of Jesus?
Who are you walking with?
Who are the pre-Christians
in your life that you are
investing in and interceding for?
(Continued on page 4)
LET’S GET INVITAIONAL!
Page 3