The Power of an Invitation
OPENING PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, remind me that I carry something precious—not just connection to you, but the ability to bring others into that connection. Make me bold in extending invitations that could change someone's life.
"Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 'Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?' They came out of the town and made their way toward him." John 4:28-30 (NIV)
This woman had an encounter with Jesus at a well that transformed her. She didn't wait to get her theology perfect or clean up her life first. She immediately went back to her community and simply said, "Come and see." Her invitation brought an entire town to Jesus.
REFLECT:
Pastor Todd Carter told a story from his own life that reveals something powerful about how God works through invitation. He said, "When I look back at my own life, all the places that God used me to be able to serve, almost all of them were places where someone asked me personally to serve. I can tell you I'm in ministry today because someone asked me when I was in high school to help teach a middle school group of boys. And in the end that was a life changing experience." Think about that. Todd's entire calling, his life's work, the thousands of people he's influenced all traces back to one person who took the time to ask him to serve alongside them.
This is the exponential power of invitation. You might think you're just asking someone to help in the nursery or join you in greeting people or serve on a mission trip. But you have no idea what God might do through that invitation. The person you invite might discover their calling. They might meet their future spouse. They might find healing they didn't know they needed. Or they might simply discover the joy that comes from being used by God—and that joy might anchor them in their faith for decades to come. Todd's challenge was specific: "If you've never served in some kind of ministry here before, this is your on ramp to start. And if you used to serve or volunteer in some way, and you've kind of drifted away, this is your invitation back. Or if you're already serving or volunteering faithfully this week, invite somebody to join you." People are waiting to be asked. They're waiting for someone to believe in them enough to invite them into something meaningful.
APPLY:
This weekend, we talked about taking the next step—and sometimes that step is simply getting started. If you've never served at Pathway, or if it's been a while, we'd love to help you find your place. Just open the Pathway App, tap Get Involved, or visit the website at pathwaychurch.com/volunteer to explore where you could jump in. And if you're already serving, here's your challenge this week: invite someone to serve alongside you. Some of the greatest growth happens when we serve together, so don't keep that opportunity to yourself!
I WILL STATEMENT:
I will take one concrete step towards serving or I will invite someone to serve with me.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Jesus, you invited fishermen to become fishers of men, tax collectors to become disciples, doubters to become believers. You saw potential in people that they didn't see in themselves. Give me that same vision for the people around me. Make me bold in extending invitations that could change the trajectory of someone's life.
PRAYER REQUEST:
Share your prayer request and pray for others.