ISAIAH 49:1-7

PSALM 40:1-10

1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9

JOHN 1:29-41

Sermon – January 16, 2005

Invitational Evangelism

How did the Christian faith get started?

Christianity, of course, is built upon its origins in Judaism: belief in one God who is loving, all-powerful and revealed himself to his chosen followers, to whom he gave a high ethical code of conduct, inspired written scriptures and a succession of leaders within a community of faith.

What happened next? Well, people came and met Jesus.

According to John’s Gospel, from which we read this morning, the first encounters with Jesus were not as a result of Jesus knocking on doors. They were the result of people recommending to their friends and relatives that they come and meet Jesus.

The first of these invitors was John the Baptist. John “testified” of Jesus that “This is the Son of God”, and the next day directed two of his own disciples to Jesus, saying, “’Look, here is the Lamb of God.’” One of those two was Andrew, who in turn found his brother and brought him to meet Jesus, who he described as the “Messiah”, the long expected Savior of the world. Andrew’s brother was Simon Peter, and the rest is history.

How does anybody today meet Jesus, since he no longer is walking down the street as he was then. Actually, most people who meet Jesus today meet him in the same way: somebody introduces them. It may be someone who teaches them to pray,(at whatever age), or reads them the Bible as a child, or someone who treats them better than they’ve ever been treated before and explains that that’s the way Jesus wants them to be treated. It may be someone who really shows up for them and with them at an hour of need. It may be someone who shares a little of her or his spiritual journey and asks the other person if he or she would like to have Jesus in their life, and then prays for them.

Or it may be someone who says, “Why don’t you come to church with me?” and let Jesus do the rest.

It’s all called invitational evangelism, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others because – well, because we’re supposed to do that and besides, how else will anybody hear the Good News unless someone says it out loud?

At the baptismal service, the entire congregation, as part of the Baptismal Covenant, is asked, “Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?” That doesn’t necessarily mean standing on street corners and handing out flyers – but it doesn’t mean that one’s faith should be one’s deepest and most carefully kept secret, either.

So first of all, what is “The Good News of God in Christ?” To start with, all people are made in the image of God, are priceless, and have unlimited spiritual potential. Plenty of people don’t get treated as if they are priceless at work, or at school, or sometimes even at home. Someone needs to tell them. They are priceless to God.

And people often get told, sometimes repeatedly, what they aren’t good at; everyone could handle being told that whatever their SAT or GPA or 1040 totals, they have unlimited spiritual potential, and developing it is free and priceless.

Second, everybody gets a second chance from God. More than one, in fact. Ever want a second chance to get your life right? We all have that – because Jesus Christ has taken the punishment which we and all people had coming to us for the sins we’ve committed (or the good things we could have done but “blew off”). Otherwise, we (and everyone else) would be stuck with the consequences forever. Which is a long time. A second chance is Good News.

Third, everyone gets a life coach. We hear that phrase a lot nowadays, and usually people who call themselves “life coaches” have fancy price tags. The Holy Spirit is free, and is the best coach anywhere.

Fourth, everyone gets to play on God’s team. Ever get cut from a team you really wanted to be on? Didn’t feel good, did it? Well, I think everyone who is baptized could get a “team jersey” because they are added to Jesus’ team, which has so many positions that everyone gets to start! (Because you can be on Jesus’ team wherever you are, doing any good thing that you do.) However, your baptismal “team uniform” is something you can never outgrow – it keeps growing with you.

Creation, forgiveness, coaching, community: that’s a bunch of Good News. And some people are hungrier for Good News than they are for food. You now have the recipe; find the hungry and serve the food.

How do you find out who’s hungry for Good News and who does not currently have a local church home in which they are a happy participant? (Those are important qualifiers because St. Barnabas is not trying to pull people away from other churches but is trying to invite people in who either have no faith at all, or no church home, or no church within 50 miles, or no church that they actually participate in, or no church where they are satisfied in their spiritual growth.)

Think of your friends, co-workers, neighbors and relatives and eliminate those you know are contented and committed members of a faith community. Then ask God to guide you as you ponder the rest. Names and faces may at some point come to you, or conversation openers appear out of nowhere: this could be the Holy Spirit’s “coaching” of both of you.

Or, this month you could inquire, “How was your Christmas?” and inquire, as a follow-up, whether or not the person went to church as part of their Christmas celebration. If they didn’t, or they say wistfully, “Oh we used to, but” or ”I haven’t really connected any place since I moved here” or “I don’t feel comfortable at my old church anymore because _____” or “I need a place that welcomes children” or “Has a variety of services” or “Is wheelchair accessible” or “I wish I could hear the service” or “Where can you go to church with a baby” – well, there’s your opening.

Again, if someone is committed to another faith community, applaud them and encourage them. If they are at loose ends, by all means invite them here.

That is, after all, how a lot of us got here ourselves. The best way to thank the person who invited you – or who welcomed you when you made your own way here – is to invite and/or welcome someone else. We all can be like St. Andrew. And look what a difference his invitation made: St. Peter himself was invited to meet Jesus by someone else! We may never know how much impact our invitations may have!

If someone’s shy about coming to a service as their first encounter with this church, invite them to something else: Women’s Link Book Study, Men’s Spiritual Growth Group, Adult Bible Study, Men’s Club Games Night, the Spaghetti Dinner, the Pancake Supper, Youth Group – you name it. There are lots of “thresholds” to this community. Whatever door works, open.

At every door opening into Christian community stands the invisible but very real figure of a loving Savior who says “Come and see.”

Come and see how people just like you have found deeper meaning and purpose in their lives and the ability to make a difference in the world as part of a Christian community. Come and see how people from five continents, all generations and many walks of life find friendship and joy together. Come and see how people with different opinions about many issues learn from each other and experience unity while respecting diversity – unity which makes it possible for us to focus on life-saving and life-transforming ministries.

Come and see. All the doors are open. Invite the spiritually hungry. The banquet is limitless, and so are the opportunities for service.

(The Rev.) Francis A. Hubbard

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church