February 2026

Why Christians Should Invite People to Church

“Want a happier life, more friends and better sex? Go to church.”

So, why invite people to church?

Well, a Lifeway Research study of U.S. churchgoers found that 3 in 5 (60%) respondents offered at least one invitation for someone to attend their church over the past six months. That’s encouraging news. It goes on to show that Protestant churches are more likely to invite people to services than non-Protestant, with 24% of Protestant offering three or more invitations in the past six months versus 15% from others. African-American churchgoers are the most likely to invite others, and younger churchgoers are likelier than older believers to offer invites.

Inviting others to church displays a simple act of hospitality and a deeper expression of our faith. Many churches realize the power of inviting, so they join in things like the annual Back to Church Sunday (BTCS) emphasis.

The BTCS website explains: “Back To Church Sunday is a national church event that happens on the 3rd Sunday of September each year where the churches of America come together to invite their communities to church!”

Even outside of organized efforts, most who read this will recall someone inviting them to church at some point and even inviting someone to church themselves. I believe the practice of inviting others to church is vital today, and here are five reasons why.

1. Fulfilling the Great Commission

Inviting people to our church flows naturally from the Great Commission. As I’ve said before, Christians inviting others to church shouldn’t surprise us because “Christianity is a missionary faith because of the life and teachings of Jesus.” Jesus commands his followers to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). While this call includes more than a simple invitation to a church service, it doesn’t include less. Pastors who encourage churchgoers to invite others will often see those churchgoers growing to speak up about the good news of Jesus with others.

The Great Commission is neither the Great Suggestion nor limited to pastors or missionaries going to foreign nations. Christ has called every believer to the honor of introducing others to Himself. The mission is both “come and see” (John 1:39, 46) and “go and tell” (John 20:21). Every personal invitation represents a step towards fulfilling our role in God’s redemptive plan for the world.

2. Creating a Healing Community

Someone has said the church is not so much a hotel for saints as it is a hospital for sinners. We invite others to join us to find what we already know: that Jesus Christ and his work on our behalf can bring hope and healing into our lives and our world. A church community grows as a family as it reaches out to those who are broken, lost and in need. The church offers community and a place to form meaningful relationships.

Unfortunately, the Lifeway study shows a shift in the reason churchgoers fail to invite others. In 2017, a similar study found that 17% failed to invite others because they didn’t know anyone to invite. This new 2024 study found that number grew to over one-fourth of those surveyed (27%). It’s harder to invite someone we don’t know to church. Believers should get to know those outside our church fellowship. Such intentionality is a vital need today, and believers must push toward growth as we look outside our circles to a world in need.

3. Context for Spiritual Change

Through preaching, teaching, service and community, churches help Christians grow in their faith, deepening their relationship with God. Inviting others to church opens the door to encounter the transformative power of the gospel. Lives are changed, hearts are healed and faith is strengthened through the ministry of the local church. One invitation can be the catalyst for someone’s salvation and spiritual growth. Inviting someone to church also changes the active churchgoers who do the inviting.

Most of our neighbors seek answers, comfort and peace, even if we think some seem to have it all together. When we invite people to church, we offer them a chance to meet Jesus, the One who changed our lives. When we invite others to church, we help create an environment where everyone can find healing and hope in Christ.

4. Building Up the Church

The church is the body of Christ. Every member plays a vital role (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Not everyone is a pastor, teacher or gifted to lead in worship. But everyone can offer an invitation to those in their world. In this way, the church widens its impact as members across a given region reach out to others at work, school and in the neighborhood. Every member can contribute to the growth and strengthening of the body of Christ. New believers bring fresh joy and passion, and new members bring fresh perspectives, gifts and talents to enrich the church and its mission. Personal invitations help create a vibrant fellowship that brings glory to God.

While inviting others to church is not the same thing as personally sharing the gospel, it is often the first step believers take in their journey to grow in their witness for Jesus. Shifting from an inward focus to an inviting focus creates momentum toward verbally sharing Christ.  Sharing the gospel  can feel daunting, but inviting someone to church gives a simple way to start the conversation. It allows those we invite to hear the gospel in the context of public worship.

5. Following the Example of Jesus

Jesus called us to be disciples and to make disciples. A disciple is a learner, and a disciple of Jesus constantly seeks to follow his teaching and example. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He invited people from all walks of life and levels of brokenness to follow him and become part of his kingdom ( Matthew 4:19 , 8:22, 9:9; Mark 10:21). As his disciples, we follow his example.

Inviting others to church provides opportunities for discipleship to happen as new believers are nurtured in the faith through mentoring, studying the Bible and joining small groups. An invitation can lead to lasting relationships that help people grow into mature followers of Christ, who, in turn, follow his example.

Conclusion

Inviting others to church demonstrates our love for God and others. It helps us fulfill the Great Commission, create a healing community, provide spiritual change and build up the church as we follow the example of Jesus. As we invite others to our church, we participate in God’s redemptive work in the world. This week, you can invite someone to your church and watch what God can do through that simple invitation.

Making Christ Known,

Pastor Doug

January 2026

New Beginnings

So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Do you ever think about why we celebrate New Year’s Day? It’s just another day, so why is it so important for people to mark a date change on a calendar?

I suspect it’s because a new year offers a new beginning, the chance to start fresh. There’s a reason January is the most important month of the year for gyms and diet programs, because it seems like a fresh chance to start again, to improve yourself. It seems like a natural time for beginning something, which is why lots of people make New Year’s resolutions (whether they stick to them or not is another story!). The Christian life offers lots of opportunities for fresh starts, for changing what we’ve been doing or beginning to live differently. Each week in worship, we begin with a time of confession where we admit what we’ve done wrong. We admit to God and to each other that our lives are not perfect, that we’re not living the way we ought to live, that we’re doing things we ought not do and failing to do things we ought to do.

Then, immediately after confession, we hear God’s response. We hear the good news that because of God’s forgiveness, because God loves us, we all get a fresh start.  Psalm 103:12 says God has taken our sins away from us “as far as the east is from the west.”  The slate is wiped clean. We don’t need to carry the weight of our sins or guilt with us anymore. We are forgiven! And then we run into the next week (or maybe just the next day…or the next couple of minutes!) and it doesn’t take long before we sin again. It doesn’t take long for us to forget about what God has done for us. We take the burden Jesus has taken from us and we pick it back up and start trying to carry the weight of our own sins again. But we always have another opportunity to remember God’s love. God never gets tired of forgiving us!

In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther said we ought to begin each day in this way: “In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the sign of the holy cross and say: ‘God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.’ Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer…After singing a hymn, or whatever else may serve your devotion, you are to go to your work joyfully.”

You don’t have to wait for a new year to have a fresh start. Each day offers the opportunity to wake up and remember that you are a baptized child of God. You have been claimed, redeemed, and set free by Jesus Christ. After hearing the promise of forgiveness and absolution in worship, we continue the only way we can, by together giving joyful thanks to God in song and by learning more about God’s grace and love for us by hearing God’s word. See you in worship!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Doug