08/09/2023
When I was a pastor I gave the Gospel at the end of every sermon as well as an opportunity for people to respond. I did this every week for the 10 years I was a pastor of a local church.
Why? Honestly I shuttered at the thought of an unbeliever coming into our church and leaving with no opportunity to hear and believe the Gospel. In the words of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:18) and the Apostle Paul (Acts 20:26) I wanted to be “innocent of the blood of all men”, having done my part in saving the lost souls in front of me.
By the way there were only 2 weeks in the time I was pastor where nobody responded to the Gospel. Why? Because once everyone realized that I was going to give the Gospel every week they brought out their unreached friends to hear. Every week was “Friendship Sunday.”
Although I preached expository sermons through books of the Bible, every week was like an evangelistic festival at the end of the sermon.
Our people not only invited their friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members to our church, many would take their unreached or just reached friends out to lunch afterward and ask “What did you think of the sermon and especially what the pastor said at the end?”
This led to strong evangelistic participation by the church and solved much of our follow up problem. I called it “The Reverse Altar Call.”
When I left Grace Church, 10 years after planting it with my buddy Rick Long, we had over 60% new conversion growth.
Rick has carried that tradition on and now the church numbers in the thousands, packed with new disciples.
Pastors, I challenge you to give the Gospel in every sermon you preach. Give people an opportunity to respond. Don’t allow one unbeliever to leave your church without knowing the clear way of salvation through Jesus Christ and his death in their behalf.
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2
P.S. Down the road I may do a podcast or two on how to give an effective invitation.
