Why Give the Invitation (Part 1)
Many preachers today no longer give the invitation. In fact, one congregation of which I know personally, recently had a preacher who refused to give the invitation. The eldership asked him to give the invitation. They then ordered him to give the invitation. But he would not. He refused in a written letter to the eldership to give the invitation.
The invitation is that final five or ten minutes of a sermon in which the preacher invites anyone who needs to come forward to confess fault, or to become a Christian to do just that. But it is not upon the authority of the preacher—it is upon the authority of the word of God that the invitation is offered.
Jesus gave an invitation in Matthew 11:28-30. He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” We come to Christ by obedience to His word (Hebrews 5:9).
Peter gave an invitation in Acts 2:40, “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” And there was a response! In verse 41 it says that they that gladly received his word were baptized!
Paul gave the invitation in Acts 17:30,31. He said, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” There was a response here as well. In verse 34 we read that certain men clave unto him.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley