Date: Jun 30, 2003 [ 8: 24: 4]
Subject: Summary - The Invitation
© 2003 BCP Harry Shelton Cole
Subject: Summary - The Invitation
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SUMMARY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH PLANTING LIST
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Moderated and edited by Pastor Harry Shelton Cole
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>What have you learned about how best to conduct an Invitation?
Introduction:
Conducting the invitation can be one of the hardest things for a
preacher and church planter to do. Many times there are only a few
people who are there and sometimes the whole face of the congregation
changes in a week. When I asked Dr. Tom Ward one time how he conducts
an invitation he said that he begins the invitation at the beginning of
there sermon. He tells his people exactly where he is heading and what
they should expect to be confronted with, from the Word of God, at the
end. Though this is certainly desirable, I have found it somewhat
difficult to put into practice. Decisions. When the Word of God is
preached, decisions are made whether they are at the altar or not. How
best do we effect the decisions of our people. Though the Invitation
and altar call are relatively new to the church, public confession and
public repentance isn't. Here are some answers to the Question of
>How have you learned best to conduct an invitation?
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Dr. Jerry Burton of Calvary Baptist Church in Rittman, OH, a member of
the P-list, gives the following answer to the question of the week. He
points out that maybe the preacher should put himself in the shoes of
the lost person or church attender that has never experienced the
invitation. Communicate honestly what you are about to do.
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I believe in conducting an invitation, the pastor should be totally
honest with his congregation about what he is doing. There should be no
attempt at manipulating those in the congregation. If there are those
present who have never witnessed an invitation, he should explain what
to do during the singing or whatever is done at that time. He should
explain "why" an invitation is being given. I use the analogy of
cooking meal and then never inviting anyone to come eat of that which
has been prepared.
Clearly explain the various aspects of the invitation -- come for
salvation, baptism, membership as this church receives members, etc.
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Bob Hines in Boise, ID offers some definitive ideas concerning the
invitation without saying a there is a right or a wrong way. His
insight is worth reading.
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>What have you learned about how best to conduct an Invitation?
The public invitation in church is an effective way of fulfilling this
priority for the new believer while making a firm commitment for
personal accountability before and to the church.
The question then becomes what is the best way to do this?
It seems there are two schools of thought.
1. Make the invitation confrontative and powerful to make sure the
converts decision is heartfelt and not just emotional. This is an
invitation where the ones wanting to make decisions are asked to stand
when no one else is standing, come forward, and pray. We have used this
type of invitation effectively on hard hitting sermons when preaching
to men, on taking a stand, etc. This type of invitation seems to be the
most effective when you are asking for a definite type of commitment.
2. The non-confrontative invitation. This takes the pressure off the
public part of the invitation and places it on the individuals
commitment before God. This is still a public invitation...but the
emphasis is put on the individual surrendering to God within his heart.
The response can be asked to be made while the convert is in the pew,
then ask them to come forward in response to (Mat 10:32 KJV) Whosoever
therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my
Father which is in heaven. The respondent comes forward in response to
a decision made, not to make a decision. We have used this type of
invitation effectively when there are large numbers of lost people
there, or when we have brought messages of a very personal measure.
This type of invitation is usually done with responses being asked for
in a non-confrontative manner (having the people look up, raise their
hands, have people in the aisles that they can come to then bring them
forward, etc.).
We have begun to turn the lights down during our invitation on most
occasions to make the opportunity to respond more personal...although
there are times to leave the lights up and focus on the importance of
public commitment.
Many men feel uncomfortable about giving an invitation because they
don't like the personal confrontation it creates. It is, however, that
very confrontation that causes the final decision that changes peoples
lives. We don't do anything we don't feel the need to do and the
invitation points directly to the individuals heart with the finger of
conviction that says "You have a need".
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Pastor Jeryl L. Bennett, Bethel Baptist Church,Battle Creek, Michigan
offers the following answer to how best to conduct an invitation.
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It certainly is subject to the leading of the Holy Spirit and each
service will be different from the one before it or after it. There are
a multitude of ways to conduct an invitation, and no man can state that
his is the correct way.
My ideal invitation is to have the people stand while I go to prayer.
That gives the instruments and song leader (I have no choir) opportunity
to move into place. My real preference is for the first verse of the
song to be instrumental. That gives people mobility to respond to the
invitation without the encumbrance of a song book. If the HS has
convicted, they may move quickly to respond.
I use the second, third, etc., etc., verses of the hymn to encourage the
people to respond and to give time to the altar workers (many times
myself) to deal with those who have responded. I personally do not care
to make the invitation as long as the preaching was, unless there is
obvious continuous response from the people. The conviction should come
during the preaching; the response is at the invitation.
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Brother Terrell Sears is the pastor of First Bible Baptist Church in
Bakersfield, CA, and he is a member of the P-list. Brother Sears is a
Baptist with a capital "B" and I am more impressed with the "left" coast
more and more. He responds honestly to the question of the week below
and includes some international applications:
WHAT SAY YE?
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In the past few years I have learned that there seems to be no
particularly correct way to conduct an invitation. The methods range
widely, but the Holy Spirit must be the guide.
While in England a few years ago I observed that you do not give a
public invitation and ask people to come forward in the service.
Instead the English custom is that the pastor invites those who would
like to respond to come to his office after dismissal. I thought that
would be a "cop-out" but after spending 45 minutes waiting for the
pastor after church I found that the English do respond.
I visited Romania and found that in the churches there the invitation is
different from others as well. It would take too long to explain, but I
was really moved and impressed when I saw how their invitations were
conducted.
I guess my . 02 worth is that I do not know if there is a correct way
that is singularly blessed of the Lord. It is just necessary that it be
given . . . unless you are a hyper-Calvinist, and having read some of
their work, they believe an invitation is unscriptural.
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Brother Michael O'Neal (BBFI-P List) of Gospel Light Baptist Church in
Albany, GA, answers the Question about the Invitation for our list. He
gives a detailed pattern for his invitation. It works for him and his
focus seems pretty solid.
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>What have you learned about how best to conduct an Invitation?
I don't know the "right" way or the "best" way to conduct an invitation,
but I will tell you what I prefer. I do not like to have the
congregation singing during the invitation, especially holding song
books. I do not have a choir at invitation time, so they can't sing.
Therefore, during the invitation, I ask people to remain standing with
heads bowed reverently, and for the accompanists to be ready to play
right after I have prayer. After I pray, I say something like, "And now
I'm moving in front of the communion table. As the music begins to
play, I invite you to come." As the music starts, I will move down in
front of the communion table, at which time people begin making their
way to me or to the front to pray. I have found people to be very
responsive this way. I do not have to coax, but in the 10 years I have
pastored this church I have conducted the invitation in this manner, and
I have always, Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, had
people respond.
be carefully that if you change that it is a change that God has laid on
your heart.>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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