“IT’S TIME TO INVITE PEOPLE TO MORE THAN A CHURCH SERVICE”

“It’s Time to Invite People to More Than a Church Service”

“It’s Time to Invite People to More Than a Church Service”

Blog Article

I know, I know… the title might sound like clickbait.


 


 

But stay with me.


 

There’s a truth here that I believe is worth exploring—even though I’m not making a sweeping statement telling you to stop inviting people to church.


 

So, take a deep breath.


 

For as long as I can remember, church leaders encouraged me to invite people to church—and by that, they meant the church service. The motives for this may be noble—wanting people to come to Christ—or less noble—wanting to fill the seats. Either way, there’s nothing wrong with extending that invitation.


 

But.


 

What if God is calling us to invite people to something more than a service, concert, or event?


 

Something deeper?


 

The Day of Invitation


 

“For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. In that day,” declares the Lord of hosts, “every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”
—Zechariah 3:9-10



 

This passage comes from a time when Zechariah and Haggai urged the Israelites to rebuild the temple after their 70-year exile in Babylon. God was promising to remove Israel’s sin and shame as they rebuilt His temple—symbolized by Joshua the High Priest’s filthy garments being replaced with clean ones.


 

But ultimately, this promise was fulfilled at Calvary. In Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, God removed all the iniquity of the land in one day (Zechariah 3:9). That was the day Zechariah foresaw.


 

The New Covenant began on that day—and we’re still living in it. And according to Zechariah, this is meant to be a day of invitation. But here’s the key question:


 

What exactly are we inviting our neighbors—both saved and unsaved—into?


 

The Vine and Fig Tree


 

Throughout Scripture, the imagery of the vine and fig tree points to peace and prosperity—the blessings God promised Israel when they lived in covenant faithfulness with Him and with one another.


 

This is important.


 

The invitation here isn’t necessarily to a physical space—but to a spiritual reality. It’s an invitation to experience the peace and blessing of God’s presence—something tangible and real in everyday life.


 

For us, under the New Covenant, we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)—not because of our performance, but because of Jesus’ perfect obedience.


 

In Him, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1) and peace with one another (Ephesians 2:14). We have access to unimaginable spiritual wealth. Paul calls these the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).


 

We are called to invite people into this living reality—the peace and prosperity we already possess in Jesus.


 

Inviting someone to a church service should simply amplify this reality—not replace it.


 

Jesus and the apostles didn’t merely invite people to gatherings; they invited them to encounter the spiritual riches they themselves enjoyed—wisdom, healing, prayer—and through those gifts, many came to know God.


 

Our Fig and Vine


 

Zechariah uses personal language here—his vine, his fig tree. That tells us something.


 

We must have our own spiritual resources to offer others.


 

We can’t outsource this.


 

Think of the Good Samaritan. He had his own donkey, his own wine, and his oil to care for the wounded man. Likewise, we need to carry our own spiritual peace and provision in order to invite others into it.


 

Not just to events or services—but to the very life of Christ within us.


 

The beauty is, we already have all of Christ. Yet we often live unaware of all that’s available to us in Him. The Spirit’s role is to reveal these riches to us (1 Corinthians 2:10), so we can confidently say, like Peter, “What I have, I give to you.”


 

That’s the invitation I want to extend to you today: to intentionally grow in Christ’s riches by faith—so you have even more to offer those around you.


 

This can be as simple as showing peace during tense moments at work, when others are anxious and fearful. You can draw from your confidence in the Father’s love and Christ’s sovereignty—your spiritual “vine and fig tree”—and offer prayer or a listening ear, even while facing the same pressures.


 

It can look like offering wisdom to someone in a difficult family situation.


 

What Riches Can You Offer?


 

Take a moment and ask yourself: Which riches of Christ am I currently enjoying—and offering to others?


 

 


    • Love



 


    • Peace



 


    • Wisdom



 


    • Forgiveness



 


    • Humility



 


    • Meekness



 


    • Gentleness



 


    • Mercy



 


    • Power



 


    • Miracles



 

 

This is the day of invitation.


 

They Will Come


 

Though the text doesn’t say this explicitly, I believe it’s implied: when you invite others under your vine and fig tree, they will come. Your life will offer them shelter, nourishment, and rest—ultimately drawing them to Jesus.


 

The same grace that stirs you to invite will work in them to respond.


 

So here’s my encouragement:


 

Don’t stop inviting people to church—but go deeper. Invite them into the living, vibrant reality of Jesus Christ. Pursue more of Him, so you have even more to offer.


 

The world doesn’t just need an invitation to church—they need an invitation to life.

Report this page