How Should I Invite My Friend to Church?
Inviting your friends to church can be scary because there's often a tension that has to be balanced. You want to remain being friends, you don't want to make them uncomfortable, but you also want them to experience the love and joy you've experienced from knowing Christ. So, what's the best way to invite someone to church? How do you know when the time is right? Below are some helpful tools for learning how to invite.
Tool #1: Be a friend
People need to know you care about them about them before they will listen to you. What are you doing to intentionally build a relationship with someone? Are you interested in what they are interested in? Do you participate in similar activities? Have you shared a meal together? Is your friendship good enough that even if they never come through the doors of church, you will still be their friend? If the answer to that question is no, then you have a project - not a relationship. Focus on the relationship first.
Tool #2: Ask Questions
It's easy to place all the responsibility of Helping People Find and Follow Jesus on the church staff... But that's not ideal. Church staff is here to help you, but you will have the most impact on your friend. Before you invite someone to church, engage in some spiritual conversations with them. Ask them if they've ever attended church, what they think about God, or about religion in general. This will generate some great conversation and allow you to see how receptive they are to an invitation.
Tool #3: Utilize CrossPointe Online
For some, coming to church can be scary. Everybody has an opinion about what church is and church isn't. And when someone has a negative view of church, the last thing he or she wants to do is attend church. So invite them to watch and participate in the service online. Our online service premieres every Sunday at 9:30a. It's designed for you to be able to view and have discussion immediately following. Use this tool as a way to introduce someone to what church is like all from the safety of your couch. And make it fun. Have a bar-b-que after the service or make breakfast to eat while you watch. CrossPointe online is flexible to your schedule, your preferences, and your desires.
Tool#4: Invite them to the Building
While CrossPointe online is a great tool... There is nothing like being in the building to hear singing, live teaching, and encounter so many people with smiles on their face and joy in their hearts. We work hard to make sure that our building is warm and inviting and its a place of joy and bustling with activity. Let your friends know that On-Site is different than Online. And then, when they are ready to attend, make sure to attend with them. Arrive early so that they aren't alone. Stick close to them the whole time. Introduce them to your friends. Give them a tour... Essentially, host them as if they were a guest in your house. And then, plan to take them to lunch afterwards and debrief the experience! Ask them what they thought of the music, the teaching, and the people... And finally, invite them to attend with you again!
There's no one size fits all strategy for inviting someone to church. A lot of times the Holy Spirit will prompt you and you'll know it's the right time. But in general, the tools above are a good path to follow. The path may be longer for some people, but it always starts with personal relationship. So be a friend, ask good questions, utilize CrossPointe online, and then invite them to experience God with a group of people excited to Help People Find and Follow Jesus.
Tool #1: Be a friend
People need to know you care about them about them before they will listen to you. What are you doing to intentionally build a relationship with someone? Are you interested in what they are interested in? Do you participate in similar activities? Have you shared a meal together? Is your friendship good enough that even if they never come through the doors of church, you will still be their friend? If the answer to that question is no, then you have a project - not a relationship. Focus on the relationship first.
Tool #2: Ask Questions
It's easy to place all the responsibility of Helping People Find and Follow Jesus on the church staff... But that's not ideal. Church staff is here to help you, but you will have the most impact on your friend. Before you invite someone to church, engage in some spiritual conversations with them. Ask them if they've ever attended church, what they think about God, or about religion in general. This will generate some great conversation and allow you to see how receptive they are to an invitation.
Tool #3: Utilize CrossPointe Online
For some, coming to church can be scary. Everybody has an opinion about what church is and church isn't. And when someone has a negative view of church, the last thing he or she wants to do is attend church. So invite them to watch and participate in the service online. Our online service premieres every Sunday at 9:30a. It's designed for you to be able to view and have discussion immediately following. Use this tool as a way to introduce someone to what church is like all from the safety of your couch. And make it fun. Have a bar-b-que after the service or make breakfast to eat while you watch. CrossPointe online is flexible to your schedule, your preferences, and your desires.
Tool#4: Invite them to the Building
While CrossPointe online is a great tool... There is nothing like being in the building to hear singing, live teaching, and encounter so many people with smiles on their face and joy in their hearts. We work hard to make sure that our building is warm and inviting and its a place of joy and bustling with activity. Let your friends know that On-Site is different than Online. And then, when they are ready to attend, make sure to attend with them. Arrive early so that they aren't alone. Stick close to them the whole time. Introduce them to your friends. Give them a tour... Essentially, host them as if they were a guest in your house. And then, plan to take them to lunch afterwards and debrief the experience! Ask them what they thought of the music, the teaching, and the people... And finally, invite them to attend with you again!
There's no one size fits all strategy for inviting someone to church. A lot of times the Holy Spirit will prompt you and you'll know it's the right time. But in general, the tools above are a good path to follow. The path may be longer for some people, but it always starts with personal relationship. So be a friend, ask good questions, utilize CrossPointe online, and then invite them to experience God with a group of people excited to Help People Find and Follow Jesus.