Push Push Push

I like the sign on the maternity room door:  Push, Push, Push.  Let me do the same about inviting, a subject of last week's blog.  

One of the reasons I arrange my preaching not around the lectionary but around series is so that people can invite.  "New" is one of the most powerful words in our society that there is.  We like new.  I like new.  You like new.  New clothes, new book, new movie.  We even have new car smell.  A message series when it approaches and begins is new.  

One of the concerns about Sunday School classes is that a set group of people bond and keep on meeting and meeting and meeting.  If you don't have history with the group, you might feel like you're breaking in.  Many refer to these classes as chiques.  So if you are new in town, or just want to turn over a new leaf about Sunday School, you might always feel like you are boarding a moving train.  When will you find one that is fresh taking on passengers and leaving the station?  That's why there should be new classes in the fall, after New Years, after Easter, and so on -- so new people can start at the ground level.  

Same with messages ... people can get a fresh start.  Maybe they don't know if they want to hang in there with church.  But they could persuade themselves to come for this 4-message series.  

But I started this blog suggesting it would be about inviting.  Here it is.  Each new message series gives members a new chance to invite friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, vendors, ... to something new starting at their church.  

Problem is too many people say that it isn't necessary.  Then the church dwindles.  Or they say it is someone else's responsibility.  Then the church dwindles.  Or they say, "If God wanted to grow the church, he would do it himself or it would just happen."  Then the church dwindles.  Or they say, "That's so gauche!"  Then the church dwindles.  Or they say, "The newspaper ad will do it."  Then the church dwindles.  Or they say, "We did that once and it didn't work out."  Then the church dwindles.  Or they say, "My church isn't worth inviting people to."  Then the church really dwindles!  There's no way around it -- An Inviting Church is Made by Inviting People.  

Think that line through in several ways -- An Inviting Church is Made by Inviting People.