Each week, churches gather for worship, and it is a time for believers to gather in giving adoration and praise to God. There is also, however, an evangelistic opportunity for those in attendance as well and worship can serve as an act of witness (2 Sam 22:50; Psalm 9:11, 34:1-3; Isaiah 42:12; 2 Corinthians 9:13). Spurgeon preached a sermon entitled, “The Blessing of Public Worship” where he stated, “public worship is part of the great system by which God blesses the world.” Similarly, D.A. Carson noted, worship aimed primarily at praising God will also instruct the saved, challenge the lost, and will naturally be evangelistic. It is a powerful thing for people to be in the presence of genuine worship

According to NAMB research, people respond positively to invitations to attend worship services, particularly when they are invited by someone they know. Thom and Sam Rainer noted 41% of people who formerly attended church said they would return to the local church if a friend or acquaintance invited them. Put simply, people are open to an invitation, and your personal invite is powerful! We should be ready to give an account of our hope in Christ for salvation (1 Peter 3:15) and be willing to share the Gospel personally with lost people. But let’s not forget there is power in a heartfelt invitation to join you in a time of worship where Christ is exalted, the Holy Spirit is moving and there is an opportunity for the lost to receive the free gift of Salvation.

Here are 5 suggestions for using an invitation as an evangelistic tool:

1. Pray.

Ask God to give you boldness to ask, the ability to recognize opportune times to invite someone to church. Pray also for a soft heart for the one receiving the invitation.

2. Keep the invitation simple.

Let an unchurched friend know you would like them to join you in worship, and let them know what time your church’s worship time is.

3. Be persistent but considerate. 

It can be difficult sometimes to know how often to ask a person to come to worship. Kindly asking will usually be received well, but it is good to read body language and rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance on how often. After the first invitation, look for opportunities the person gives you to ask again in the future. If you detect resistance after one or two invitations, you may need to patiently and prayerfully look for an opportunity to witness another way.

4. Be confident.

For those who know Jesus as their personal savior, we have the most blessed opportunity each week to worship God! Going to church and freely worshiping is one of the greatest privileges we have. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to join you in such a marvelous event.

5. Be intentional and direct. 

A great starting point would be to ask, “When you attend church, where do you normally go?” After you listen to their answer, respond by telling them where you attend and how much you enjoy your church. If you detect they are not actively attending anywhere or haven’t gone in quite a while, let them know where and when they would be able to attend your church and offer to meet them and sit with them.

In a culture where many people are searching for hope, purpose, and truth, a simple invitation can become a powerful tool in God’s hands. While we cannot save anyone, we can faithfully invite others to place themselves in an environment where they will hear the Word of God, experience the love of God’s people, and encounter the message of Christ.

Every invitation is an act of obedience, faith, and love. Some invitations may be declined, but others may open the door to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. Never underestimate what God can do through a sincere invitation. The next person you invite may be one whom God is already drawing to Himself.

This article was written by state missionary Jay Stewart.