Yesterday was our first I-squared Sunday. For those who don’t know "I-squared" stands for INVEST and INVITE. As followers of Christ, we are commanded to reach out to our world with God’s love and help people get to God through faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). At Living Hope we do this by INVESTING time, prayer, and truth in the people around us and then INVITING those friends and family members to attend worship or become followers Christ.
I had the opportunity to talk with several members about how their I-squared adventures went. I found out that in the process of INVESTING and INVITING several important lessons were learned.
One, we learned that by being intentional about INVESTING and INVITING we had conversations with people we would have never had before. To a person, the people I talked to said that they got to know people better in the process of INVESTING in them. Some found out that the people they work with, buy stuff from, or see at the gym were already Christians and active in another local church. This gave them the opportunity to fellowship and give honor to Christ. They also found out that many people who were not Christians were interested and open to attending worship and talking about Spiritual matters.
Two, we learned that I-squared is a way of life not a program. Many of us had people who could not attend this past Sunday because they were out of town or had other responsibilities to take care of. They were, however, available on another Sunday. This means that every Sunday can and should be an I-squared Sunday.
Third, we learned that people are hungry for God and the Gospel and tired of cold religion and self-righteous hypocrites who care more about being right than being loving. Our world is filled with opinionated people who are defined by their social group. Our world is in need of a savior who will give them hope so they can love and be loved by the God who made them. The world needs the body of Christ to be there for them and guide them to a personal relationship with God through faith in Christ. They don't need to be alienated and ostracized.
I hope that as we continue to INVEST and INVITE people that God will continue to do a work in us and through us.
What about you? Have you been INVESTING and INVITING? How did it go?
I had the opportunity to talk with several members about how their I-squared adventures went. I found out that in the process of INVESTING and INVITING several important lessons were learned.
One, we learned that by being intentional about INVESTING and INVITING we had conversations with people we would have never had before. To a person, the people I talked to said that they got to know people better in the process of INVESTING in them. Some found out that the people they work with, buy stuff from, or see at the gym were already Christians and active in another local church. This gave them the opportunity to fellowship and give honor to Christ. They also found out that many people who were not Christians were interested and open to attending worship and talking about Spiritual matters.
Two, we learned that I-squared is a way of life not a program. Many of us had people who could not attend this past Sunday because they were out of town or had other responsibilities to take care of. They were, however, available on another Sunday. This means that every Sunday can and should be an I-squared Sunday.
Third, we learned that people are hungry for God and the Gospel and tired of cold religion and self-righteous hypocrites who care more about being right than being loving. Our world is filled with opinionated people who are defined by their social group. Our world is in need of a savior who will give them hope so they can love and be loved by the God who made them. The world needs the body of Christ to be there for them and guide them to a personal relationship with God through faith in Christ. They don't need to be alienated and ostracized.
I hope that as we continue to INVEST and INVITE people that God will continue to do a work in us and through us.
What about you? Have you been INVESTING and INVITING? How did it go?
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