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Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations…”
Luke 5:15-16
What do you do when you’ve invited someone to an event or a small group to explore faith, and they keep saying no?
Kari knows what it feels like to endlessly invite the same person to an event. She just never seems to want to come, have time, or care. This can be discouraging to anyone.
Yet, Kari knows the power of an invitation.
“A well-known woman in our community passed away. In the midst of grieving, I had to wonder if she knew Jesus,” Kari said. She remembered that the woman had accepted an invitation to a luncheon within a few years of passing. Kari found the event she went to and looked through the comment cards participants filled out after hearing the speaker share the Gospel.
“There it was. She had marked that she wanted a relationship with Jesus Christ. This gave me such joy,” Kari said.
It would be easy to think that someone well-known, very wealthy, or even flat-out famous might never accept an invitation to a local luncheon. Yet, this woman, whose influence in her community was vast, accepted and found her Lord and Savior that day.
Kari understands the power of invitation, even if someone always says no.
“Move on. There is another person out there who God wants you to invite, and you just need to be open for it,” Kari advises. “Also, don’t assume someone will say no before you even ask. Invite and do not be discouraged.”
After all, you’re not inviting someone to lunch. You’re inviting them into the hope of Jesus Christ.
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Ask
What things stop you from inviting certain people?
Pray
Lord, I want to know who you want me to invite to an event, church or a small group. Show me and give me faith that my responsibility is to invite and leave the rest up to you.
Sow
Listen for God’s promptings. Ask him who, what, when and where. Then watch him work!
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