Transformative Invitations: Leading Others to Jesus
Evangelism For Everyone: Invitation
Welcome to the Evangelism For Everyone series!
Over the next six weeks at Henley and Enfield, we'll be unpacking the HABITS of evangelism that every one of us has the opportunity, call and privilege to live out.
GK Chesterton: 'Evangelism has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.'
How can we make this imperative, Great Commandment-driven part of our faith accessible to people who aren’t extreme extroverts and ADHD enthusiasts?
By building simple evangelism HABITS.
Hospitality
Asking Great Questions
Being a Christian
Invitation
Testimony
Spiritual Hunger
THIS WEEK: In
Summary
Invitations shape our lives in ways we often overlook. From weddings to family gatherings, we spend a surprising amount of time thinking about who to include and how to connect - or whether we are included and connected. Yet, the most significant invitation any of us can receive—or extend—is the invitation to follow Jesus. In a world marked by digital disconnection and spiritual curiosity, a genuine invitation can be transformative. Recent research shows that people, especially young adults, are more open than ever to spiritual conversations and even to attending church if simply invited by someone they trust.
Reflecting on our own stories of coming to faith helps us remember the power of invitation. Each of us has a unique journey, often shaped by someone who cared enough to reach out. We are also called to pray for and invite others, always keeping a “plus one” in mind—someone we long to see encounter Jesus for themselves.
John chapter 1 gives us four portraits of how people are invited to Jesus: through trusted relationships (Andrew and John the Baptist), family connections (Peter and Andrew), supernatural encounters (Philip), and honest skepticism (Nathanael). Each type of person needs something different from us: guidance, evidence of a changed life, prayerful intercession, or thoughtful answers. But all share two things in common: they need a personal invitation, and they must choose to follow Jesus themselves.
The call is not just to invite people to church, but to invite them to Jesus—a living relationship that transforms lives. We may only be one step in someone’s journey, but every step matters. Jesus’ invitation is simple: “Follow me.” He doesn’t demand perfection first; He trusts that the journey of following will bring transformation. As we consider who we might invite, let’s remember the cost and the joy of the invitation Jesus extended to us, and let’s be bold in extending that same invitation to others.
Key Takeaways
- Invitation Is Easier Than We Think
All the data coming from Australia, the UK and the US tells us this: inviting someone to encounter Jesus is easier than it has ever been. Especially if people like you, listen to you and serve you - seeing you as a Person of Peace - McCrindle data tells us that 40% of Aussies would go to church if invited.
- Different People Need Different Approaches
John 1 shows us that people come to Jesus in different ways: through trusted friends, family, supernatural encounters, or honest questions. Recognizing where someone is on their journey helps us respond with wisdom—offering guidance, living out a transformed life, praying for supernatural encounters, or providing thoughtful answers. Our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and to the needs of others is crucial in this process. [44:19]
- Our Transformed Lives Are Compelling Evidence
Especially with family and those who know us well, the most persuasive testimony is a life genuinely changed by Jesus. Words alone are not enough; people need to see the fruit of the Spirit in our character, choices, and relationships. Transformation is a process, but as we allow the Holy Spirit to shape us, our lives become living invitations to Christ. [49:03]
- Prayer and Obedience Open Doors for the Supernatural
Some people are reached only through God’s direct intervention—dreams, visions, or a deep inner pull. Our role is to pray fervently for these encounters and to be ready to act when the Holy Spirit prompts us. Even small acts of obedience—an encouraging word, a timely question—can be the catalyst God uses to draw someone to Himself. [52:19]
- We Invite People to Jesus, Not Just to Church
The ultimate goal is not to fill seats but to introduce people to the living God. Our invitations should point beyond programs and events to a relationship with Jesus, the only way to God. As we share our faith, we must remember that following Jesus is a journey, not a one-time event, and our role is to walk alongside others as they move from curiosity to commitment. [59:32]
Study Guide
RDG Bible Study Guide: Being A Christian as Evangelism
TEACHING TEXTS
John 1:35-51 (CSB)
> 35 The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which means “Rock”). 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered. 47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. 49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
1 Peter 3:15 (CSB)
> But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect.
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Observation Questions
1. In John 1, what are the different ways people are invited to meet Jesus? Who does the inviting in each case? ([44:19])
2. What is Nathanael’s initial reaction to Philip’s invitation, and how does Philip respond? ([56:39])
3. According to Ps Mike, what is a “person of peace” and how does this concept show up in the story of Andrew and John the Baptist? ([44:19])
4. What does 1 Peter 3:15 say about how we should respond when someone asks about our faith?
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Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus invited people to “come and see” before asking them to “follow me”? What does this say about the process of coming to faith? ([01:02:20])
2. Ps Mike describes four types of people who come to Jesus: through trusted relationships, family, supernatural encounters, and honest skepticism. Why is it important to recognize these differences when we think about inviting others? ([44:19])
3. Ps Mike said that with family, the most convincing evidence is a changed life, not just words. Why might this be especially true with those closest to us? ([49:03])
4. What does it mean to be “ready to give a defense” for our hope, and what would that look like for you personally? (1 Peter 3:15)
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Application Questions
1. Think back to your own story: How did you come to follow Jesus? Was there someone who invited you or played a key role? How does remembering your story affect your willingness to invite others? ([37:48])
2. Who is your “plus one”—someone you are praying for or hoping will encounter Jesus? If you don’t have someone in mind, what steps could you take this week to identify and pray for that person? ([39:02])
3. NCLS data states that 40% of people would go to church if invited, and that number is even higher among friends. What holds you back from inviting someone? Is it fear, lack of opportunity, or something else? ([41:30])
4. For those in your family or close circle, what evidence of a changed life do they see in you? Is there an area where you sense God wants to transform you further as a witness to them? ([49:03])
5. Have you ever sensed a “nudge” from the Holy Spirit to reach out to someone, even in a small way? What happened? How can you be more attentive to these promptings this week? ([52:19])
6. Ps Mike challenged the church to invite someone to an upcoming service on September 14th. What is one practical step you can take this week to extend a genuine invitation—to church, to a spiritual conversation, or directly to Jesus? More importantly - who's it going to be? ([01:06:59])
7. The sermon ended with a call to repentance for not caring enough to share the gospel with others. Is there anything you need to confess or ask God’s help for, so you can be bolder and more loving in your invitations? How will you stay accountable about this into the future? ([01:10:17])
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Close in prayer, asking God to give you wise insight and ears to hear the Holy Spirit as you invite others to encounter Jesus.
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Personal Invitation
A genuine invitation can change the course of someone’s life, especially in a world marked by loneliness and spiritual curiosity. Jesus’ invitation to “come and see” in John 1 demonstrates that people are often drawn to faith through relationships of trust—whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a respected leader. Each of us has a story of how we were invited to follow Jesus, and we are called to extend that same invitation to others, recognizing that the moment we are in is ripe for people to encounter Christ through our simple, heartfelt invitations. [37:48]
John 1:35-39 (CSB)
The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.
Reflection: Who first invited you to explore faith in Jesus, and how might you extend a similar invitation to someone in your life this week?
Day 2: Evidence of a Transformed Life
Family and close friends often need to see real change in us before they believe our message about Jesus. Our character and daily actions—how we treat others, our integrity, and our compassion—speak louder than words, especially to those who know us best. Transformation is a process, and as we allow the Holy Spirit to shape us, our lives become living evidence of Christ’s power, making our invitation to faith more compelling and authentic. [49:03]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (CSB)
To take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can demonstrate Christlike transformation to your family or close friends this week?
Day 3: Praying for Supernatural Encounters
Some people are drawn to Jesus through a direct, supernatural encounter—an unexplainable pull, a dream, or a moment of divine intervention. While we cannot manufacture these moments, we can pray fervently for God to reach those who seem unreachable and to use us as His hands and feet. By listening to the Holy Spirit and being willing to step out in faith, even in small ways, we become part of God’s miraculous work in drawing people to Himself. [52:19]
Acts 8:29-31 (CSB)
The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.” When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Reflection: Who is someone in your life who seems far from God? Will you commit to praying daily for them to have a supernatural encounter with Jesus, and for God to show you how you might be part of their journey?
Day 4: Sharing the Reason for Your Hope
There are people who genuinely seek evidence and ask honest questions about faith—they are not looking for a fight, but for understanding. We are called to be ready to share the reason for our hope in Jesus, not just with passion but with gentleness and respect. This means doing the hard work of understanding our own faith, so that when the opportunity arises, we can offer thoughtful, heartfelt answers that point others to Christ. [57:48]
1 Peter 3:15 (CSB)
But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect.
Reflection: What is one question about your faith that you find difficult to answer? How can you seek understanding this week so you are better prepared to share your hope with others?
Day 5: Following Jesus—From Invitation to Transformation
Jesus’ invitation is not just to “come and see,” but to “follow me”—a call to a lifelong journey of transformation, not mere spectatorship. As we follow Jesus, we are changed from the inside out, and our lives become an ongoing invitation for others to experience the same. The process of discipleship is ongoing, requiring us to continually consider, pray, and invite others, trusting that God will use our obedience to bring people from curiosity to commitment, from darkness to light. [01:02:20]
John 1:43 (CSB)
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.”
Reflection: In what area of your life is Jesus inviting you to move from simply observing to actively following Him, and what is one step you can take this week to respond to His call?
Quotes
We spend our lives making invitations to people, engaging them in relationship, working out people's invitation to us, working out where we fit in the social order. And this doesn't, you know, if any teenagers are listening to this and you think this ends after high school, it doesn't end after high school.
[00:36:43]
(18 seconds)
#LifelongInvitation
Almost half, 46 % of Australians, are extremely or very open to spiritual conversation involving views different from their own. Now, this percentage is higher among younger generations, particularly Gen Z and below.
[00:41:34]
(15 seconds)
#OpenToSpiritualDialogue
The Nathanaels are the skeptics. They are the people who want a bit of proof. And these are particularly a kind of people I call evidence seekers, as opposed to fight starters. There are people who, when they ask you questions about the Christian faith, do not want to know the answers. They just want to start a fight with you. Particularly in an online world, this happens more and more. But there are lots of people who do want to know the answers.
[00:56:39]
(27 seconds)
#EvidenceSeekers
What begins in your heart needs to move to your head. It can't just be a feeling. It can't just be emotional. It needs to move to your head, into the rational. Like, I understand why I believe what I believe. The reverse is true as well. If you come to faith purely rationally, you need to have a spiritual experience with Jesus as well.
[00:57:51]
(20 seconds)
#HeartToHeadFaith
There are people naturally inclined to trust Jesus because of plausibility structures. There are people who come kind of at a family obligation. There are people who have supernatural encounters and are just drawn to Jesus. And then there are people who demand evidence but do want to know the answers. Now, these people have two really important things in common. The first is that they all needed a personal invitation. And the second is they all followed Jesus.
[00:58:35]
(25 seconds)
#PathsToJesus
But of course, the really important thing underneath all of this is we're not trying to invite people to church, are we? We're trying to invite people to Jesus. That's why character and change lives and prayer and faith sharing are so important because they don't show that we go to church. They show that we have a personal relationship with the living God.
[01:00:22]
(22 seconds)
#InviteToJesusNotChurch
Jesus didn't say to the disciples, change your behaviors and then you can join me. No, he just said, follow, follow. And he trusted that the process of following would begin to transform them. And that's what happened.
[01:03:52]
(15 seconds)
#FollowTransforms
There is an invitation to you Christians from Jesus today to give yourself to him again as a follower, not as a churchgoer, a disciple and not as a spectator.
[01:09:46]
(15 seconds)
#RenewYourCommitment
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