Why Not Try This? …Invite a Friend to Take their Next Step with Jesus

 

Making Appeals – Three Keys

Do you remember who invited you to accept Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, to embrace all Bible truth, to be baptized and to unite with God’s final movement? You can make those same invitations to those in your circle of influence. And those who accept can do the same until the ripples of invitations go to all the world and Jesus returns!

Here are three keys to making invitations and appeals.

1. Ripe vs. Not ripe. Focus your best soul winning efforts and appeals on those who are ready to make decisions for Jesus, His truth, His movement and His mission. Notice the Bible case studies below and some examples for today. Ripe people might be…
   1. Listening carefully to Biblical prophetic preaching.
      1. Bible example – Acts 2 – Those listening to Peter’s sermon at Pentecost.
      2. Today’s example – Evangelistic meeting guests.
   2. Studying the Bible for God’s truth and/or have left their comfort zone to worship with God’s people.
      1. Bible example – Acts 8 – The Ethiopian official who had traveled to Jerusalem and was reading Isaiah 53.
      2. Today’s example – Visitors to church; People who read their Bible looking for answers.
   3. Going through dramatic pain and/or change.
      1. Bible example – Act 9 – Saul/Paul who had just realized his entire view of God was distorted.
      2. Today’s example – Those going through divorce, job transition, trouble with relatives, etc. Those recently married, new parents, relocating to a new area, etc.
   4. From another culture and/or show unusual hospitality to God’s people.
      1. Bible example – Acts 10 – Roman Centurion Cornelius and his household.
      2. Today’s example – Immigrants, Refugees, Minority groups.
   5. Gathering for prayer and Bible study with others and are open to learning more from God’s Word.
      1. Bible example – Acts 16 – Lydia and her household.
      2. Today’s example – Bible study groups not connected with a church.
   6. Already baptized but are willing to embrace new Bible truth and be rebaptized.
      1. Bible example – Acts 19 – The Ephesians believers.
      2. Today’s example – Those willing to receive Bible studies; Those who purchase Adventist literature; Those who attend Bible meetings.
2. Ask vs. Hope. When you find ripe people don’t just hope they will make good decisions. Invite them to take specific simple steps that will help them move forward spiritually. Notice below some appeals made in the Bible and some potential clarifying questions you might ask ripe people. Adapt these to your situation and practice saying them aloud.
   1. Bible appeals.
      1. “Come to Me [Jesus], all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
      2. “Follow Me [Jesus], and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17.
      3. “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38.
      4. “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Acts 2:40
      5. “If you believe with all your heart, you may [be baptized].” Acts 8:37.
      6. ““Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.” Acts 9:17-18.
      7. “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Revelation 14:7.
      8. ““Come out of her [Babylon = religious confusion], my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4.
      9. “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.
   2. Clarifying questions.
      1. How has God brought you to this place in your life?
      2. What have been some of the turning points in your life where you have seen Jesus change you?
      3. Have you come to the place in your life where you can say “I have accepted Jesus as my Creator, Savior and Lord”?
      4. Do you want Jesus to be in charge of every part of your life?
      5. Have you come to the place in your life where you can say “I realize the Bible is different from every book ever written. It is God’s voice speaking to me and I want the Holy Spirit to help me follow God’s truth. And I want to learn something from God’s Word every day”?
      6. Is the Sabbath truth clear to you? Is there anything that would make it difficult for you follow Jesus and keep it holy?
      7. Have you come to the place in your life where you can say “I realize in these last days that God is raising up His final movement. Just like the early church it keeps all the commandments of God, arose as a result of prophecy, teaches and preaches prophecy and has a prophet in it. And I want to be a part of God’s final movement”?
      8. Is there anything that would make it difficult for you to be baptized and unite with God’s final movement?

3. Next steps vs. Too much info. When a person has said “yes” to an appeal he or she needs to act on that decision. Congratulate them on their great decision and set a date for their baptism, re-baptism or Profession of Faith, or for Bible studies if they need a clear picture of the basic Bible truths as taught by the Adventist church. This isn’t the time to overload the person with too much information but it is the time to put on the calendar what comes next. Now the mentoring begins.

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