11.30.2025 // The Power of Invitation // Pastor Dewayne Coleman

Luke 19:1-10 NIVJesus’ actions reveal his authority- He does what He wants to, where He wants to, how He wants to, for whomever He wants to do it.Jesus’ actions reveal his kindness- why he does it, when he does it, even though he doesn’t have to do it. Jesus personally invites the most unlikely and undeserving people into His presence and He uses the church to extend that same life-changing invitation today. Invitations tell us we are specialNotice that Jesus adds Zacchaeus to his agenda by naturally seeing him along his way. Yes he supernaturally may have known his name but it was a natural sight of a man in an odd position-that grabbed our Lord's attention. Who might possibly be in the odd positions in our spaces?  Zacchaeus did not deserve Jesus but Jesus responded not to what Zacchaeus deserved but what he desired. What are some signs people display that show curiosity or openness? Jesus’ ability to make this man feel special is the power of an invitation and invitations have weight depending on who is giving it and to where they are inviting you. (If Shawn invites me a charger game—hard pass)Your invitation matters because you have the impact power to make people feel special, you are the salt and light of the earth. You have the flavor, you got that juice, you carry the Spirit of God!This is why we do invites to an event, to a bible study, to a growth group or to a Sunday Service. We know in these spaces God moves and on Sundays we know the powerful life changing message of Jesus Christ will be preached!Remember your transformation, how did God transform your life and how does he continue to transform your life, is it not through invitations where divine opportunity awaits. Let’s Go!Invitations lead to knowing God’s truthWe invite others to hear and know the truth of God and the truth about themselves. Colossians 4:2-6 NIVWe pray for others, we are watchful for an open door, and we say the truth with grace and flavor. 1.  God’s Design
: “God created us to know Him, to love Him, and to rule over creation under His authority. We were supposed to be under God but over everything else. We were supposed to rule over creation under the guidance and authority of God’s Word. And God gave Adam a command and promised him life if he kept it and death if he didn’t.2.  Our Rebellion
: But Adam rebelled, and every one of us has followed for everyone born from that man inherited that man's sin nature. This is why our world is broken for we all have sin in our genes, we all fall short of God’s holy standard. We’re guilty, spiritually dead, separated from God, and under His just judgment. No amount of good works can fix it—the penalty is death, and we owe it.3.  God’s Rescue: 
Here’s the good news: God loved us so much that He sent His perfect Son, Jesus—fully God, fully man, born of a virgin, so he’s sinless not connected to sin like the rest of us. He lived the life we should have lived-righteously fulfilling God’s commands and died the death we deserved. On the cross, He took God’s wrath and paid for our sins with His blood. Then He rose from the dead, proving everything He said is true and that the debt is fully paid.4.  The Only Way
: Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ There is no other Savior, no other path. It’s Jesus or nothing. More than a belief that he existed it is a firm conviction to trust and follow him. 5.  Your Response: So what must you do? Repent and believe. Repent means to turn away from ruling your own life.  Believe meaning put your full trust in Jesus alone as your Savior (who died for you) and your King (who deserves to lead you).
When you do that, God forgives every sin, makes you His child, and gives you eternal life—starting right now.”As John 1:12 states to all who received him and believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.