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Good morning.
Thank you so much for being here this morning.
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If you would, take your Bible, turn to Luke chapter 14.
We're in our series on the parables of Jesus.
We're going to be looking at this parable of the great banquet found in verses 12 through 24.
I want to ask you, though, before we get going, to be praying for our student mission team.
Actually, Pastor Bo and Aaron are actually already up in the Asheville area as they prep
to get ready for the students to come.
They're cooking for the week, so they need extra prayer on that.
Actually, Cal and Karina, our interim youth ministers, are leading the team of students and adults
as they're going to be ministering at the children's orphanage there in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
So they've got a lot of different things planned for them up there, but I know they would love for you to be praying for them this week
as they have opportunities to share the gospel, as they have opportunities to be the hands and feet of God
as they minister in that area.
So please pray for them and join me, if you would, now as we pray for them as well.
Lord, we do thank you for the opportunity that our students and our adults have this coming week to serve you,
to serve you in the Black Mountain area, to serve you at the children's home.
Lord, we just pray that you would open doors of opportunities for them to share your gospel
with everyone they come in contact with.
Lord, be with them as they are your hands and feet, as they do work.
Lord, we are grateful to you that you allow them this opportunity to serve you
and to serve your people that you've created.
Lord, we thank you, and we ask this prayer in your name. Amen.
Well, let me set the scene for you, kind of like what the little cartoon did for us.
The beginning of chapter 14, we see that Jesus has been invited to the lead Pharisees' home on the Sabbath
for a meal, and so in this home are other adults in which this, other men in which this Pharisee has invited to the table.
Jesus knows that entering into such a scene means that they are looking for a way to trap him.
Anytime you had the Pharisees and Jesus in the same context, it was their way of looking for a way to trap Jesus,
find out anything they could on him, and it says in that scripture,
even to observe him, to be able to discount who he is.
Jesus had a large following.
They didn't like that.
Ultimately, that would be, give reasons to crucify Christ.
We know crucify him for the sacrifice of our sins,
but that was the whole slant of the Pharisees that trapped Jesus.
Jesus being who he is,
God in human form, in divine form, had the wisdom to see past what they were trying to do.
And so, he was able to present a question to them which he knew they couldn't answer.
And part of it dealt with the healing of a man who had dropsy.
And so, Jesus actually does heal him, but in the context of that, he avoids the trap in which they're trying to set up.
So, in the context of this, they're still sitting around this table together.
Jesus continues to point out to the leader in this home, the person of this home,
that, hey, your motives are not right.
Your intent is to invite only the rich.
Your intent is to only invite the close friends that you have into your home,
while you miss all the others in your community.
And so, that then leads us to the parable in which we're going to look at now.
Jesus is constantly trying to challenge not only everybody he comes in contact with,
like the Pharisees, but he's also challenging even his disciples
to have a shift in thinking, to have a shift in their attitude,
to have a shift in their character that represents God in their life.
So, if you would, take your Bible.
Let's look and pick up in verse 12.
In chapter 14, he said,
So, once again, he's telling this man of who not to invite.
At least they also invite you in return, and you will be repaid.
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you,
for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.
When one of those who reclined at the table with him heard these things,
he said to him,
Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.
But he said to him,
A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.
And at the time for the banquet,
he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited,
Come, for everything is now ready.
But they all alike began to make excuses.
The first said to him,
I have bought a field.
I must go out and see it.
Please have me excused.
And another said,
I have bought five yoke of oxen,
and I go to examine them.
Please have me excused.
And another said,
I have married a wife,
and therefore I cannot come.
So the servant came and reported these things to his master.
And then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant,
Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city,
and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.
And the servant said,
Sir, what you have commanded has been done,
and still there is room.
And the master said to the servant,
Go out to the highways and hedges,
and compel people to come in,
that my house may be filled.
For I tell you,
none of those men who were invited
shall taste my banquet.
So Jesus here is telling us an earthly story,
a story that has practical application,
but at the same time in this parable,
we also see that it has an eternal application as well.
What kind of throws me off is the fact that the Pharisees,
not once do we see in this passage,
have a clue of who they are really sitting in the presence of.
Yes, they know he's Jesus.
Yes, at this point, they know that he's done miracles.
They know these things,
yet they truly don't understand that they sit in the presence of God.
And that just simply goes way above their head.
But Jesus begins, once again,
the second time around,
to press in on who they are,
to press in on their own belief systems,
to get them to realize
what is asked of them.
So let's break it down together.
Let's kind of pull back some things,
and let's look at some key words and phrases
that we see in this passage.
In verse 12, we see,
once again, he said also to the man who invited him,
Jesus is saying this,
when you give a dinner or a banquet,
do not invite.
He's telling him who he needs to invite.
Now this man's already invited rich folks.
He's already invited his closest friends.
Jesus is saying,
you've given the wrong invitation.
Your friends or your brothers or your relatives
or rich neighbors,
at least they also invite you in return,
and you be repaid.
You see, the whole idea of building their status was,
I invite you to a meal,
I expect you to invite me back to a meal.
That was the whole mindset.
If I take you to lunch,
well, next week I expect you to take me to lunch.
You see, their goal was to keep a certain status
in their culture, in their society.
And they played to that end.
Then in verse 13, it says,
but when you give a feast,
Jesus continues to say,
but when you give a feast,
invite the poor.
Change your invitee list.
Change who you bring around the table with you.
He says, invite the crippled, the lame, the blind,
the same group of people that he mentioned earlier
in the chapter.
Verse 14,
and you will be blessed.
You see, if you just take somebody out for a meal
or you invite them to your house for a meal
and they do that in return,
that's not really a blessing.
You're just putting on an expectation.
But Jesus says,
if you invite someone to your table
who can't invite you back,
then you're inviting out of compassion.
You're inviting out of a need.
And as a result of that,
you're going to receive my blessing.
A blessing is not going to come to you
in a monetary sense,
but the blessing is going to come to you
because you've done something for someone else.
And that's a problem that they had.
They were so caught up on their self,
exalting their self,
that we see earlier in the chapter,
that humility wasn't even in their vocabulary.
But Jesus continues to press in on them
to help them to realize
what he calls people to do.
And you will be blessed
because they cannot repay you,
for you will be repaid
at the resurrection of the just.
In several other translations,
that resurrection of the just
also reads rejection,
not rejection,
resurrection of the righteous.
Resurrection of the righteous
is resurrection for those who follow Christ,
who serve him,
who love him as their Lord and Savior.
That's what that reference is.
You see, you and I know
that Jesus' goal
was to build relationships
with an invitation.
Not to build relationships
in hopes to get something back.
We also see in here
that there is an earthly blessing
by inviting someone
out of compassion
and out of humility,
but there's also
the eternal repayment
for doing what God calls you and I to do.
as his child.
You see, new friendships
are a blessing.
When you and I
get to know somebody
for the first time,
we begin a journey with them
and in turn,
it becomes a blessing to us.
I don't know how many times
in my own life
where I've prejudged someone
to thankfully learn
that they were far away
from what I thought.
God began to open up a door
to open up clearly
what that person means.
God clearly showed me
the investment that I can make
and the investment
that they can make in my life
to help me to be a person
that God desires for me to be.
God uses relationships
to refine us.
God uses relationships
to bring us closer to him
as they speak into our lives.
But when we only invite
a certain circle of friends,
we lose out
on all the other blessings
around us
that come in the form
of relationships.
And they couldn't see that.
But yet,
Jesus was trying
to help them realize that.
When was the last time
that you blessed somebody
simply by saying a kind word?
When was the last time
you blessed somebody
by simply acknowledging
their presence?
Have you ever been surprised
when you're at Walmart
or Target
or wherever you find yourself
and you simply extend
a kind gesture of hello?
How are you doing?
Are you having a good day?
There's been many times
when I've said those phrases
that I get this look
of shock
in the person's face
because nobody
has said that to them.
It's amazing
what you and I
through the power of God
can do
through a simple gesture
of kindness
by greeting someone
and acknowledging
that person
because too many times
they go through their day
where nobody acknowledges
their existence.
And Jesus wanted help
to help these men
in this room
in this home
to realize
that they need
to acknowledge
those
that they normally
don't acknowledge.
And the final point
of that verse
says to you and I
as Christ followers
our repayment
comes at the resurrection.
We're not getting chips
we're not getting coins
we're not getting
anything like that
on earth
because God
doesn't work that way.
But what God does
for you and I
is at the resurrection
when we spend
eternity with him.
In verse 15
as we go on
we see this
when one of those
who reclined
at the table
with him
heard these things
he said to him
this man said
to Jesus
blessed is everyone
who will eat bread
in the kingdom
of God.
Now we kind of
get the idea
that maybe he's
getting ahead
of himself.
Now here's a Pharisee
who doesn't know
who is actually
sitting in his presence
but yet
he is projecting
the fact
that he's going
to be blessed
when he gets
into the kingdom
of God.
And I think
we realize
and we see
in this passage
of scripture
Jesus' approach
to his comment
by how Jesus
responds
to his comment.
Truly
he made
a true statement
but yet
his own life
this Pharisee
his own life
did not represent
the statement
that he made.
Because listen
to what Jesus
says
but he
Jesus
said to him
a man once
gave a great banquet
so he's beginning
to unfold
a story
for this man
to help him
see a truth
that he's not
seeing any other way.
A man once
gave a great banquet
and invited many.
Now you and I
got to realize
as followers
of Christ
in our relationship
with God
and God's
relationship
with the world
it's not about
a few
it's about
the many.
It's about
his message
of the gospel
reaching everybody
in this world
that he has created
and he's created
everyone.
So when we see
there that
this man
when we look
at it from
an eternal
perspective
of this parable
this man
is representing
God.
Not just
an ordinary man
there's two
stories going on
here.
There's the
earthly story
the practical
side of it
but there's
also the
spiritual side
of it
there's the
eternal side
of it
that God
is pointing
out.
A man once
gave a great
banquet
and invited
many
and at the
time for
the banquet
he sent
his servant
to say
to those
who had
been invited
come
for everything
is now
ready.
It was a
custom of
that day
to send
out two
invitations.
It kind
of reminded
me as I
read that
it kind
of reminded
me of
you know
if you get
one of those
cards in
the mail
that says
save the
date
you know
mark this
date on
because here's
our celebration
coming whether
it be marriage
whether it be
some other type
of announcement
but in that
day and time
two invitations
went out.
The first
invitation was
to find out
who is actually
going to come
to the banquet.
They got the
yes or they
got the no
and so they
would come back
based on the
yes and they
would plan and
they would prep
for that
banquet.
Everything
that was
involved, all
the food
that was
involved, all
the extra
special things
that were
involved in
setting up
this banquet
that was
the first
invitation.
But then
when the
person who
put on the
banquet or
put on the
gathering had
everything ready
everything was
prepared and
prepped and
ready to serve
then he would
send that
servant back out
to those who
said yes to
say now is
the time.
So it's not
like you get
an invitation
in the mail
and it says
on July 21st
at 7pm
show up at
my house.
When the
food was
ready that's
when you got
the second
invitation.
When the
banquet was
ready that's
when you got
the second
invitation.
So the
servant goes
out and
invites and
tells everybody
come for
everything is
ready.
Now again
the second
part of this
parable is
talking about
eternity.
And as I
read this
part there's
another thing
in scripture
that talks
about eternity.
Jesus is
talking to
his disciples
in John
chapter 14.
And so
when I read
this my mind
also went to
this passage
because it
helps us see
the mind of
God and
how God
prepares for
his people
who love
him, who
serve him,
who obey
him, who
call him
father.
John 14
2-3 says
in my
father's
house are
many
rooms.
Once again
we get that
word, that
concept of
many, not
a few.
God has
plans for
everyone,
everyone who
will call
on his
name.
He goes
on to
say,
if it
were not
so, would
I have
told you
that I
go to
prepare a
place for
you.
In
Jesus'
story, in
parable, he
talks about
preparing a
meal.
In this
message to the
disciples, he
talks about
preparing a
place.
And if I
go and
prepare a
place for
you, I
will come
again and
will take
you to
myself, that
where I
am, you
may be
also.
God's
desire for
you, God's
desire for
me, God's
desire for
all creation
is that we
live in
eternity in
the presence
of God.
And that
is a part
of what
this parable
is about.
We go on
to see,
but they
all alike
began to
make
excuses.
not just
one of
them that
said yes,
not just
two of
them that
said yes,
but every
one of
the invitees
who said
yes to
coming to
the banquet
came up
with an
excuse for
why they
couldn't.
The first
said to
him, I
have bought
a field
and I
must go
out and
see it.
Please
have me
excused.
And another
said, I
have bought
five yoke of
oxen and I
go to
examine them.
Please
have me
excused.
So in
this case,
these two
have possessions
that are
more important
than coming
to this
banquet.
Now this
is the
banquet.
This is
the most
important
banquet of
their life.
This is
God's
banquet.
And yet
they have
excuses for
why they
can't.
Their
possessions
became more
important to
them than
becoming a
part of the
banquet that
God was
throwing,
that this
man was
throwing.
It goes
on to say
there, it
says, and
another said, I
have married a
wife and
therefore I
cannot come.
Now he's
blaming his
spouse.
He's blaming
his wife for
why he can't
come.
There are
times in a
person's life
that relationships
become more
important than
what God
desires.
In this
scenario, the
relationship with
the spouse was
more important at
that moment.
Can all these
things that
they brought
up happen
at another
time?
Of course
they can.
Can this
person, this
man go and
see his
property?
Yes, he
can.
Can this
man go and
see the
oxen that
he's purchased?
Of course
he can.
Can he
take one
moment and
not be with
his wife?
Of course
he can.
But they
chose the
excuse over
the presence
of the man
throwing the
banquet.
They chose
an excuse
over the
opportunity to be
in the
presence of
God.
Which causes
me to ask
myself a
question.
When do
I allow
possessions and
relationships to
get in the way
of my
relationship with
God?
Not only when
do I, but
when have I
allowed
possessions and
relationships to
get in between
my relationship
with God?
Because it
happens.
God speaks
about possessions.
God speaks
about relationships
all throughout
his word.
And the whole
point is for
you and I to
have relationship
with God.
Everything else
filters itself
out.
Why did God
say in the
Ten Commandments,
do not have
any other God
before me?
Because God
desires our
attention.
God desires our
full focus.
It's not that
he doesn't want
us to have
possessions.
It's not that
he doesn't want
us to have
relationships.
But he does
want to have
our attention.
He does want
to have our
relationship with
him.
And it's
actually a
question that I
got to continue
to ask myself
and to continue
to evaluate
myself to make
sure possessions
don't supersede
my relationship
with God.
To make sure
that my
relationship with
my wife,
my relationship
with my sons,
my relationship
with my friends
and the people
that I minister
with and minister
to do not
become the top
priority and
supersede my
relationship with
the Lord.
Jesus goes on
to continue to
tell the parable.
He says,
so the servant
came and reported
these things to
his master.
And then the
master of the
house became
angry and said
to his servant,
go out quickly
to the streets.
Here's one of
those turning
point moments
for this man
throwing this
banquet.
He could have
easily scattered
everything.
He could have
easily thrown
out all the
preparation,
all the food,
just disregarded
it whatsoever.
But yet he
chose to take a
negative situation
and to make
something good
out of it.
He chose to
bring others
into his home
that normally
he would not
have.
Go out quickly
to the streets
and lanes of
the city and
bring in the
poor and the
crippled and
the blind in
the lame.
Once again,
Jesus is pressing
into these men
around the table.
These are the
people that you
need to look for.
Quit always
looking at the
same ones.
Invite those
that you normally
do not invite.
And the servant
said,
Sir, what you
commanded,
I love this,
Sir, what you
have commanded
has been done.
I followed
through with
what your
request was.
But then he
says, and
still there is
room.
There's still a
place for
somebody else.
There's still a
place for more
people to come
in.
And then listen
to what Jesus
says of the
master's response
was.
And the master
said to the
servant, go out
to the highways
and the hedges.
And listen
to this.
I think this
word is so
important right
here.
And compel.
He didn't say
and go out to
the highways and
the hedges and
get people to
come in.
He said, no,
go out to the
highway and the
hedges and
compel people to
come in.
Aggressively
encourage them to
come into my
home and sit at
my table.
Don't be
passive.
Don't settle
for one
response but
do it until
you convince
them to
come into
my house
because I
know how
important this
meal is for
them.
Compel them
to come in.
When's the
last time I
compelled
somebody to
be a part of
what God is
about?
When is the
last time I
pressed in,
and pressed
in instead
of gave in
to a simple
no?
Compel people
to come in
that my
house, once
again, Jesus'
word, the
reflection of
God the
Father, my
house may be
filled.
I just don't
want a few
people in the
room.
I want them
falling out the
windows.
I want them
falling out the
doors.
I want to see a
line of people
trying to get
through the door
to get to
the feast
because that's
what satisfies
me.
That's what
brings glory
to me.
And then the
last verse of
this parable
is just one of
those things
that you can
call it a gut
punch, you can
call it a slap
upside the head,
however you want
to label it.
And Jesus
says,
for I tell
you.
He's gone
now from
telling a
parable,
telling a
story,
to now
making a
statement.
For I
tell you,
none of
those men
who were
invited,
talking about
the men who
came up with
the excuses,
none of
those men
who were
invited
shall taste,
very important
word,
my.
None of
those men
who were
invited shall
taste my
banquet.
None of
those men
who were
invited shall
see my
eternity.
None of
those men
who were
invited shall
be in my
presence for
eternity.
See,
Jesus knew
the heart of
that Pharisee
who said,
blessed is the
one who eats
in the kingdom
of God.
He already
knew the
man's heart.
He knew the
number of
excuses that
man had
come up
with and
would continue
to come up
with.
And right
then and
there,
he said to
him,
it's not
going to be
you.
And all
you who are
also sitting
at the table,
it's not
going to be
you either.
That's a
strong statement.
Because you
being a
Hebrew,
you've kind
of got this
idea that,
yeah,
it's going
to be me
because I'm
a Hebrew.
You be a
Pharisee,
you've got
this idea,
yeah,
it's going
to be me
because I'm
a Pharisee.
And Jesus
says,
no,
you're not
listening.
You have
ears,
but you're
not hearing
me.
You have
eyes,
but you're
not seeing
what I'm
doing.
And he
calls them
on the
table.
You see,
the kingdom
of God is
not an
entitlement.
just because
I'm a
Baptist,
just because
I have a
Christian
faith,
it's not
about
entitlement,
it's about
saying yes
in my
faith to
God as
my Lord
and as
my Savior.
It's saying
yes to
his provision
of his
son for
the forgiveness
of my
sins.
that's
what allows
me to
sit at
the table.
That's
what allows
me to
come into
the banquet
room that
God has.
All through
this parable
that Pastor
Bo's been
leading us
through this
series,
he's asked
us to
think about
three questions.
What does
this parable
teach me
about God?
Where do
I see
myself in
this parable?
And then
lastly,
how does
this change
the way I
view the
world and
the way I
live?
So here
are the
things that
stood out
for me as
I think
about those
questions.
One,
God's
invitation is
for everyone.
God's
invitation into
a relationship
with him is
not limited
by our
status.
It's not
limited whether
we're rich or
whether we're
poor.
It's not
limited whether
we're on the
invite list or
the uninvited
list.
We are
invited by
God because
we are
created by
God from
the very
beginning.
We all
have the
opportunity to
either accept
or reject
that invitation.
But God's
invitation is
for everyone.
Excuses will
keep you from
the presence of
God.
I've had
excuses in
my life where
God through
his Holy
Spirit has
prompted me
to speak,
to say,
to do.
And I
came up with
an excuse.
And you
know what
happened?
I missed
the blessing
that would
have happened
if I would
have said
yes.
By saying
no to a
simple word
or expression
from God,
I didn't
get to receive
the blessing.
See,
excuses keep
us out of
the presence
of God.
Excuses
keep us
from joining
God in
what God
is doing.
God is
always at
work around
us.
It doesn't
matter what's
going on.
God is
always at
work.
my wife
and I
went out
and got
something to
eat the
other night
and we
sat at
this table
and we
were like,
oh man,
ain't no
practice going
on here.
And man,
I felt like
claustrophobic
even if it
was no
COVID.
And hearing
this conversation
going on at
the table
behind me,
I'm like,
wow.
And then
Trish and I
were having
a conversation
about,
you know,
what does
God call
us to do
in moments
like this?
And then
all of
a sudden
that
conversation
took a
turn.
And it
went from
an earthly
mindset to
all of a
sudden God
entered into
the conversation.
And one
person at the
table was
asking him,
when's the last
time you've
been to
church?
And that
opened the
door to
that person's
thought of
God,
that person's
thought of
Jesus.
And it
was on and
on and
on.
And I
was like,
wow,
that took
a turn.
But in
that moment,
Trish and I
were saying,
what do we
do?
And in
that moment,
God says,
I'm going to
change this
conversation.
And I'm
going to give
you an
opportunity to
do something.
And I'll
be honest
with you.
In all my
life as a
Christian and
a minister,
I have never
done this.
I wrote
my name and
my church and
my phone
number on
my receipt.
And I
went to
their table
when I
left and
I said,
hey,
don't mean
to eavesdrop.
They started
to laugh because
they knew the
conversation was
pretty loud.
And the person
says,
you just
happened to
be sitting
near a
pastor tonight.
And that
guy started
to laugh.
And I
heard him
laugh as I
laid that
paper down
and walked
away.
But God
spoke pretty
clearly.
He spoke
even clearly
through my
wife.
He said,
what are you
going to
do?
But God
was in
that
moment
and I
stepped
forward.
What's
going to
come of
it?
I have
no idea.
But in
that moment
whatever
seed that
God called
me to
do,
I did.
Thankfully
I didn't
come up
with an
excuse that
I needed
to get
out of
the
restaurant.
But I
enjoyed an
opportunity to
be in the
presence of
God,
however God
chooses to
use that
moment.
but most
importantly
constant
excuses
will lead
you to
an eternity
without
God.
Hear me
out now.
Constant
excuses
will leave
you in
an eternity
without
God.
Because there
will come a
day when you
say no,
when you
come up with
another excuse
will be the
last opportunity
you have.
You and I
do not know
the day or
the time in
which we're
called to
our eternal
existence.
That existence
is either in
the presence of
God as we
see scripture
talk about
heaven,
or it is in
an eternal
existence away
from God,
apart from
God,
what we see
in scripture
is called
hell.
We don't
know the
day or the
time,
but our
opportunity for
excuses will
run out by
our opportunity
to be able
to say
yes and
to step
into a
relationship
with the
Lord who
created you
and who
loves you.
We don't
know how
long that
will be.
The other
thing that I
see here is
God doesn't
have limited
seating.
God's invitation
is for everyone,
but also God
doesn't have
limited seating.
There's always
a chair at
the table.
Somebody fills
up that chair,
guess what?
Another one's
going to pop
up.
There's
always a
seat at
the table
with God
in the
presence of
God.
And that
is the
beauty of
having a
relationship
with God.
That is
the beauty
of you
and I
as believers.
We have
the opportunity
not only to
receive the
invitation,
but to also
extend the
invitation to
others.
We have the
opportunity to
allow God
to be spoken
of.
The church I
grew up in,
I was a
student ministry
intern, me and
another guy.
And each
week we had
to sit with
our youth
pastor, our
boss, and
basically it was
a time of
discipleship where
he poured into
us and he
challenged us.
And we
happened to be
talking about
sharing our
faith that day
and he simply
looked at me
and he said,
David, you
know what
your problem
is?
He said,
you think you've
got to begin
the conversation
of salvation and
you've got to
finish it at the
finish line and
see that person
come to know
the Lord.
He said,
that becomes a
stumbling block
for you.
He says,
Dave, you've
got to look for
an opportunity
and a way just
to bring God
up in the
conversation and
let God do
the rest.
And over 30
plus years that
has stuck with
me.
That God just
wants me to
drop a seed.
God just wants
me to bring his
name up in the
conversation,
however that can
happen.
You're having a
conversation with
a friend and
maybe they're
going through
something and you
simply say,
I'm going to
pray for you.
Most people know
that when you're
talking about
prayer, you're
talking about
going to God
regardless of
who they are in
their faith and
their walk or
what they know
of God or
not.
When you say
prayer, they
kind of have an
idea of what
you're talking
about.
You and I
look for ways
and opportunities
to bring God
up in the
conversation.
You know,
one of the
simplest things
for you and I
to do as
believers is to
invite somebody
to worship.
It's really
that simple.
Hey, you
come worship
with me?
Let God do
the rest.
God never
said he
wouldn't.
God just
wants you and
I to be
obedient.
He's going to
do the rest.
What about
inviting somebody
to your small
group?
Hey, we're
getting together.
Please come.
You know, we
do this Bible
study together.
Come check it
out.
There's no
pressure there.
If they
don't come,
they don't
come.
But if they
do, it has a
high probability
of being a
moment in their
life that they
come to know
the Lord or
begin the
process of
becoming to
know the Lord
as their
personal Lord
and Savior
by a simple
invitation.
What are you
going to do
with your
invitation?
What have you
done with your
invitation to
come to know
the Lord as
your Lord and
Savior?
I look around
this room and
I know several
of you have
stepped through
and said yes
to Jesus'
invitation to
coming to
know him as
your Lord and
Savior.
Others, I do
not know that
answer for you.
What are you
going to do
with that
invitation?
You see, the
Pharisees at
lunch believed
because of
their Hebrew
DNA, they
would be in
the kingdom
of God.
There's many
who think today
because of their
religious or
denominational
affiliation that
they're granted
into the
kingdom of
God, but
none of that
is true.
We only get
to experience
eternity with
God when we
say yes to
God's invitation
to come into
relationship with
him through the
forgiveness of
our sins and
saying yes to
him as our
Lord and Savior.
God's invitation
is into a
relationship with
him, nothing
else.
a relationship
with God
the Father.
What will
you do with
your invitation
that God
gives you?
Lord, thank
you so much
for your
word.
It is a
constant of
how you
press into
our life.
It is a
constant in
how you
challenge us.
It is a
constant in
how you
lead us to
shift our
mindset, to
shift our
attitude and
our character.
Lord, any
time we open
up your
word, may
it not go
void in
how it
applies to
us, in
how you
desire for
us to
live it
out.
Lord, whoever
we need to
extend an
invitation into
relationship with
you, Lord,
give us the
strength to do
that.
Lord, remove
any barriers
that may be in
the way from
us doing that,
whatever the
case might be,
Lord.
Lord, help
us to be
obedient to
you in
what we say
and how we
live.
Lord, thank
you for
loving us.
Thank you
that when we
step into
relationship with
you, that
you restore
us and set
our life on
a course where
we get to
know you
more and
where we
become who
you desire
for us to
be.
Lord, we
thank you.
We ask this
prayer in your
name.
Amen.
Thanks again
for listening
to the
Willow Ridge
Church weekly
podcast.
We hope that
you enjoyed
listening to
this week's
message.
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like to learn
more about
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or explore
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Thank you.