4XFour Challenge - Invite - John 1:45-49 (ESV)
There is something special about getting an invitation in the mail. Whether it is to a birthday party, a graduation or a wedding, you feel wanted. Out of all of the people that could have been invited you actually were invited. As disciples of Jesus, our goal is to invite people to come into a life changing relationship with Jesus. As a part of this faith family, we are to invite our Four to four events that are tailor made for them. One of those is coming up in just a few weeks with our First Fest: Tailgate Edition. This is a chance to invite your Four to a fun, family event and give them a chance to meet our faith family. When it gets right down to it, we are to be inviters. If we really love our church, we will invite our Four to come with us. If we really love Jesus, we will invite our Four to come. From the first disciples until now, a personal invitation is how many have come to church and to faith in Christ.
Invite your Four to discover what you've found (v. 45).
45Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."I think the key word in this verse is the word found. We find it two times here. First, Phillip went and found (or identified) Nathanael. Phillip went to Nathanael on purpose. Specifically, Phillip went to share what he had discovered. Steve Jobs - shared what he discovered with the world. What if Phillip never went to find Nathanael? That would have had a dramatic impact on Nathanael's life. This is why 4XFour is so important to our church. We are not just identifying people who need Jesus, we are inviting them to enter into a relationship with Him. The second time we find the word found, it is when Phillip is describing to Nathanael his discovery. Basically, Phillip says that he has found the Messiah. He has found the one the Hebrews had been looking for and longing for. I am convinced that since we have been created in the image of God, that people are looking for the same thing Phillip and Nathanael were looking for. They are looking for an answer. They are looking for the Answer, Jesus Christ. Paul asks a great series of questions that we must consider (Romans 10:13-15). The answer is to invite people to discover the life that you have found in Christ.
Romans 10:13-15 (ESV)
13For"everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in himof whom they have never heard?And how are they to hearwithout someone preaching?15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written,"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
Your invitation may invite objection (v. 46).
46Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."Nathanael raises an objection to Phillip's invitation. Nathanael's objection has more to do with the place than the person. Why would the Messiah come from a backwater place like Nazareth. Not exactly what he or any of the Hebrews were expecting. Of course, when has God ever done what is expected? Phillip was undeterred though. He still invites Nathanael to come. What we must take away from verse 46 is that anobjection is not a rejection. Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome -- Samuel Johnson. When someone raises and objection, they are merely opening the door of opportunity to build trust. If you are not trusted, you will not be heard. In addition, you have the chance to reveal more of Christ to them through your life and His word. Often times, when we face an objection, we get defensive. Notice Phillip does not. We must see that an objection is a question that is raised that is in need of being answered. When an objection is raised, invite them to observe. Come to them with Scripture and let them observe it with you. Come to them with your experience and let them observe your life. Come to them with Jesus and let them observe the life that only He can bring. Understand, that in this invitation time you are still investing. You are showing and teaching them from your life what it is to be a disciple of Jesus.
Invite for the purpose of introduction (v. 47-49).
47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Phillip invited Nathanael for this purpose. As you are indentifying, interceding, and investing in your Four, you are doing so for this purpose, that you might introduce them to Jesus. As we clearly see, we are introducing our Four to someone they may not know but who absolutely knows them. Like a mother knows her baby (70% by touch alone). John 1 tells us that there is nothing in creation that was not created by God's son. Because Jesus knows us in and out, He has initiated the relationship with man. He has extended to us an invitation to be His follower. As a disciple of Jesus, you are to extend that same invitation to your Four. That can happen in several different ways. The best way is for you to invite them to Christ personally. Remember, there is no fear in love (I John 4:18). Another way is to invite them to church. Allow them to be your guest and introduce them to your faith family. This would include inviting them to your Sunday School class or class fellowship. Finally, invite them to one our family events. In each case, you are exposing them to Christ's love and opening a door to introduce them to Jesus.
1 John 4:18 (ESV)
18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.