Inviting the Unchurched

1
Inviting the Unchurched

• By
• Nathan L. Colburn
• Timothy P. George
• Jason D. Lewis
• Jason E. Moorman

2
Inviting the Unchurched
3
Two basic questions
4
Two basic questions

• WHY should we invite the unchurched to church?

5
Two basic questions

• WHY should we invite the unchurched to church?
• HOW can we invite the unchurched to church?

6
WHY do we invite the unchurched?
7
WHY do we invite the unchurched?

• -Because our lives have been changed by
  encounters with God

8
WHY do we invite the unchurched?

• -Because our lives have been changed by
  encounters with God
• -We want others to encounter God

9
John 143-51
10
John 143-51

• Philip found Christ

11
John 143-51

• Philip first

12
John 143-51

• Philip first
• -encountered God

13
John 143-51

• Philip first
• -encountered God
• -found new meaning in his life

14
John 143-51

• Philip then

15
John 143-51

• Philip then
• -shared with Nathanael the exciting news that
  he had met the Christ

16
John 143-51

• Philip then
• -shared with Nathanael the exciting news that
  he had met the Christ
• -invited Nathanael to come with him to meet
  the Christ

17
John 143-51

• Its only natural and appropriate to want to
  invite others to church so they can encounter God
  and find new meaning in life.

18
WHY do we invite the unchurched?
19
WHY do we invite the unchurched?

• Because its only through hearing the Gospel that
  we come to believe in Jesus Christ, and the best
  place to hear the Gospel is in church.

20
Romans 1012-15
21
Romans 1012-15

• ALL people who call on the Lord are saved

22
Romans 1012-15

• But

23
Romans 1012-15

• But
• -they cannot call on someone who they do not
  know

24
Romans 1012-15

• But
• -they cannot call on someone who they do not
  know
• -they cannot know unless they hear about Him

25
Romans 1012-15

• But
• -they cannot call on someone who they do not
  know
• -they cannot know unless they hear about Him
• -they hear through preaching

26
Romans 1012-15

• By inviting people to church, we give them the
  opportunity to come to know Jesus Christ.

27
WHY do we invite the unchurched?
28
WHY do we invite the unchurched?

• Coming to church helps them meet Christians and
  build relationships with Christians.

29
In this generation
30
In this generation

• All people know about Christianity is through
  outside sources.

31
In this generation

• All people know about Christianity is through
  outside sources.
• -television

32
In this generation

• All people know about Christianity is through
  outside sources.
• -television
• -movies

33
In this generation

• All people know about Christianity is through
  outside sources.
• -television
• -movies
• -news media

34
In this generation

• All people know about Christianity is through
  outside sources.
• -television
• -movies
• -news media
• Result an overall negative view of
  Christianity

35
In this generation

• By inviting unchurched people, we give them
  opportunities to meet sincere Christians and
  break down stereotypes.

36
WHY do we invite the unchurched?
37
WHY do we invite the unchurched?

• Many of our unchurched friends would come if we
  simply invited them.

38
All we need to do is ask
39
All we need to do is ask

• Many of our friends are only one invitation away
  from coming to church. All we need to do is
  invite them, and they will give Christianity a
  try.

40

• Now that we know why we need to invite the
  unchurched, we need to ask ourselves

41

• HOW???

42
HOW can we invite the unchurched?
43
HOW can we invite the unchurched?

• Methods of invitation

44
HOW can we invite the unchurched?

• Methods of invitation
• -Event Invitation

45
HOW can we invite the unchurched?

• Methods of invitation
• -Event Invitation
• -Personal/Situational Invitation

46
HOW can we invite the unchurched?

• Methods of invitation
• -Event Invitation
• -Personal/Situational Invitation
• -Confrontational Invitation

47
Event Invitation
48
Event Invitation

• Allows a person to say yes to a special event
  without feeling like they have committed
  themselves to the church.

49
Event Invitation

• Types of events

50
Event Invitation

• Types of events
• -dinners

51
Event Invitation

• Types of events
• -dinners
• -baseball games

52
Event Invitation

• Types of events
• -dinners
• -baseball games
• -Vacation Bible School

53
Event Invitation

• Types of events
• -dinners
• -baseball games
• -Vacation Bible School
• -musicals

54
Event Invitation

• Types of events
• -dinners
• -baseball games
• -Vacation Bible School
• -musicals
• -Christmas/Easter services

55
Personal/Situational Invitation
56
Personal/Situational Invitation

• An opportunity to take a sensitive moment and
  offer them healing by means of the church.

57
Personal/Situational Invitation

• Possible avenues for healing

58
Personal/Situational Invitation

• Possible avenues for healing
• -single parents Bible study group

59
Personal/Situational Invitation

• Possible avenues for healing
• -single parents Bible study group
• -counseling pastor

60
Personal/Situational Invitation

• Possible avenues for healing
• -single parents Bible study group
• -counseling pastor
• -day care

61
Personal/Situational Invitation

• Possible avenues for healing
• -single parents Bible study group
• -counseling pastor
• -day care
• -prayer group

62
Personal/Situational Invitation

• Possible avenues for healing
• -single parents Bible study group
• -counseling pastor
• -day care
• -prayer group
• -food pantry

63
Confrontational Invitation
64
Confrontational Invitation

• A straight-forward and possibly blunt invitation
  to come to church.

65
Confrontational Invitation

• Uses of this style

66
Confrontational Invitation

• Uses of this style
• -straight invitation to come to church

67
Confrontational Invitation

• Uses of this style
• -straight invitation to come to church
• -handing out flyers and programs

68
Confrontational Invitation

• Uses of this style
• -straight invitation to come to church
• -handing out flyers and programs
• -door-to-door invitations

69
Confrontational Invitation

• Uses of this style
• -straight invitation to come to church
• -handing out flyers and programs
• -door-to-door invitations
• -phone calls

70
Confrontational Invitation

• Uses of this style
• -straight invitation to come to church
• -handing out flyers and programs
• -door-to-door invitations
• -phone calls
• -welcoming visitors

71

• One of the biggest barriers to invitation is YOU!

72
Invitational Interaction
73
Invitational Interaction

• How did it feel to ask your partner to come to
  church?

74
Invitational Interaction

• How did it feel to ask your partner to come to
  church?
• If your partner rejected the invitation, how did
  it make you feel?

75
Invitational Interaction

• How did it feel to ask your partner to come to
  church?
• If your partner rejected the invitation, how did
  it make you feel?
• Is that rejection worth the risk of inviting them
  to church?

76
Accountability
77
Accountability

• Will you agree to hold each other accountable for
  inviting the unchurched to church and equipping
  our church to serve them?

78
Matthew 2818-20

• All authority in heaven and on earth has been
  given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of
  all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
  Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
  teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
  you. And surely I am with you always,
• to the very end of the age.