It is important you don’t just begin blasting all your friends, which would turn them off. Always mingle what you share with grace. Paul said, “That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” Colossians 4:4-6 NKJV).

What insightful teaching. Wonderful!

I would just prayerfully add this:

Effective Preachers must effectively draw in the net. As I travel and hear preachers I’m so amazed to hear an outstanding biblical sermon that clearly presents the Gospel, yet when the end comes, the invitation totally falls flat and the reaping opportunities are squandered away. It’ s as if the brother has no clue what to do between the end of the sermon and the last Amen. At those times my heart sinks and I realize he just missed a great opportunity. He let the fish go away.

The wise preacher must realize there are two parts to his time behind the pulpit; the sermon, and then the invitation. Both are equally important. The first one teaches, then preaches, and whets the spiritual appetite of the lost. And then, if he his spiritually skillful, he segues into the invitation, making it a personal, direct, and clear call to respond to the focus of his preaching, i.e, to the lost or to believers who need to do spiritual business with God. This is called drawing in the net.

The lost and the carnal Christian must feel that God is speaking directly to him or her and that He, God, is gently, but somewhat forcefully, demanding a positive answer. Brevity is not the key here, the invitation should be prolonged enough to get the job done. The Church should be taught that “we’re not done with the service until we’re done.” And not a minute less.

Giving a power, personal invitation is a lost art today. Would to God that preachers would realize the problem and rush to make the changes in how they direct and lead their people at the end of their sermons. It’s like fishing, you throw out the net, you drag it along, and wait, and then,when time is right, you effectively and efficiently draw the net in. If you do it right, the net will almost always have fish, and at times, be full.

Let us pray about the invitation and let us make it the most important part of our ministry week. Why? That’s the time we see the fruits of our preaching labors! God wins and Satan loses!!!

Blessings to all,

R. Ray