The Art of the Invite | The Great Commission | Summer at DC
Summer at DC: “The Great Commission”
The Art of the Invite… God’s Passion for Bringing People Home
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15 (ESV) 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Luke 24:45-49 (ESV) 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
John 20:21 (ESV) 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
Acts 1:8 (ESV) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Each author contributes a unique lens, yet they all affirm Jesus’ call to Go. Proclaim. Empower. Build disciples. Send.
Luke 19:10 (ESV) 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Romans 3:23 (KJV) 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
John 3:16-17 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Luke 15:1–2 (NIV) “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”
Soul Tattoo: Invitation is heaven’s strategy to rescue, restore, and rejoice.
3 R’s of The Invite:
- Rescue: to bring (someone or something) out of danger, attack, harm; to deliver or save.
- Restore: repair or renovate (a building, work of art, vehicle, etc.) so as to return it to its original condition.
- Rejoice: feel or show great joy or delight.
3 Stories of The Invite:
1. The Lost Sheep: The invite to pursue.
Luke 15:1-10 (ESV) 1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
- Pursuing the lost is not optional; it’s essential.
John 10:10-11 (ESV) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Soul Tattoo: Invitation is heaven’s strategy to rescue, restore, and rejoice.
2. The Lost Coin: The invite to value.
Luke 15:8-10 (ESV) 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
- People don’t lose their value when they are lost.
Psalm 139:14 (ESV) 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
God is willing to turn the whole house upside down to bring them back.
Soul Tattoo: Invitation is heaven’s strategy to rescue, restore, and rejoice.
3. The Lost Son: The invite to return.
Luke 15:32 (ESV) 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.
- God’s arms are open wider than our sins are deep.
Romans 2:4b (NIV) 4 …not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
3 Types of Invites:
- Pursue the lost.
- Value the lost.
- Welcome the lost.
We are invited to become inviters, extending God’s relentless, priceless, and welcoming love.
Revelation 3:20 (NIV) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…