Invite Them In: Seats Reserved for the Lost

If you look at the world standard, if you look at what the world would say, you can be disqualified based on your family name, based on your family history, based on your actions, based on the fact that you haven't done everything perfect or right and that will disqualify you but god never disqualifies anybody. Shame says, you've gone too far but persuasion says, come anyhow. Shame says, you made too many mistakes but persuasion says, grace is still available. [00:58:24] (40 seconds)  #GraceNotShame

Shame says, people would judge you but persuasion says, come sit by me anyhow because if you are shamed into doing stuff, you won't do em but when you are persuaded, you can say to them, there's a seat next to me that is right beside you that is for an appointed time. In essence, god is saying in this text, don't let shame keep you from coming because you didn't get the first invitation. Come because I sent for you. Yes. [00:59:04] (34 seconds)  #ComeSitWithMe

That teenager that may have questions about what's going on. That that that single mother or father that maybe overwhelmed. That that brother or sister that has been away from the church for years and thought it was not possible. Bring that sister, that brother, anybody, folks that don't know church language, bring those folks. Because we already got enough folks that know god and know what he can do. We want folks that don't know god and want to learn about him because if you don't know god and you come to church, someone can teach you about god because god says he has room for all of us. Amen. [01:04:04] (40 seconds)  #RoomForEveryone

He says, go out to the roads and the country lanes and compel them to come in. This word compel does not mean to force them. It means to invite them with a spirit of excellence. To invite them with a strong urging. To invite them to with a holy calling. To invite them to step in because whatever's going on in their life, it is urgent that they get it fixed. You see, when you compel somebody, that means you give them a lot of information. [00:56:45] (36 seconds)  #InviteWithUrgency

Sometimes, you have to carry folks to church. Sometimes, you have to place em in your car, drive em down here, walk them up the steps, and sit beside them. But you also want them to know that they're not there alone, that you're in this together. I needed that when I was growing up. I needed somebody to compel me to come to church and they're compelling me change my life because after a while, I begin to appreciate and understand the things that god was trying to do for me. [00:57:29] (38 seconds)  #BringThemIn

There's something that is sacred about a seat in the lord's house. A seat says that you belong somewhere. A seat said somebody is expected there. A seat says that that that when you show up, we want you to understand that we not complete until you arrive. If you look around the sanctuary, you'll notice that there are some reserved signs throughout the congregation. These reserved signs serve as a reminder that a seat has been set aside for somebody. We don't know when they're going to come. We don't know where they're going to come from, but but but it has been reserved for them because we know they're coming. [00:41:29] (50 seconds)  #ReservedForYou

The kingdom of god is about pursuing the lost, Finding those who have fell down, finding those who are struggling, finding those who have lost their way, finding those who feel left out, finding those who are questioning themselves, finding those who who just feel like they can't make it. Do you have anybody in your life that you have labeled? They ain't going to make it. That you have labeled. They ain't no good. That you have labeled. If they wanted to, they would do better. Oftentimes, we label people before we pursue them. [00:54:59] (37 seconds)  #PursueDontLabel

You have a relationship with them. You feel comfortable being by them. Just imagine if you really invite somebody to come to church and say, sit here with me. I've reserved a spot for you. Not being concerned about what's going on in their life but just knowing there's something better for them and when you do those things, they begin to realize that whatever they've been going through does not matter at that moment because god has something for them. [00:56:05] (29 seconds)  #SeatOfHope