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Devotions — Week of September 13, 2026

Three days from this week's sermon on evangelism, the invitation to Jesus, the power to invite, and who needs an invitation.

1

The Invitation

Acts 9:20-22 and Luke 24:46-48

The word itself means sharing or declaring good news. But Christian evangelism is more specific: inviting others to Jesus.

Paul gives us a beautiful example. Paul had just been converted by Jesus and baptized. What did he do next? He immediately began proclaiming Jesus. He went to the people he knew and told them that Jesus is the Son of God.

But what exactly are we inviting people to?

In Luke 24, Jesus gives His disciples the message they are to proclaim. The invitation is centered on three things: Who Jesus is, what Jesus has done, and how we should respond.

Jesus is the Christ. He suffered, died, and rose from the dead. And because of what He has done, people everywhere are invited to repent and receive forgiveness of sins.

That means evangelism isn't simply telling someone, "Jesus is a good person," or "You should go to church." The heart of the invitation is Jesus Himself and His saving work.

We are inviting people to the Savior who died for sinners and rose again.

Think about an invitation to a party. An invitation tells you what the event is, who it is for, and how you should respond. The gospel invitation does the same.

Jesus has made a way for sinners to be forgiven. The invitation is to come to Him.

Questions to Consider
  1. How would you explain evangelism in your own words?
  2. Who is Jesus according to Luke 24?
  3. What has Jesus done for sinners?
  4. Why is the death and resurrection of Jesus essential to the gospel message?
  5. What does Jesus ask people to do in response to the gospel?
  6. Is there someone you know who needs to hear this invitation?
  7. If you were going to explain the gospel to that person, what would you want them to know about Jesus?
Prayer Prompt

Ask Jesus to help you clearly understand and communicate the gospel. Bring one person to mind who needs to hear the invitation to Jesus, and ask God for an opportunity to share Christ with them.

2

The Power to Invite

Acts 1:8 and Acts 4:18

Jesus doesn't simply command His followers to evangelize. He gives them power to do it.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised His disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. What was that power for? They would be His witnesses.

The Holy Spirit is God's gift to every Christian, and one of the great purposes of that gift is to make us witnesses for Jesus.

But Christians can respond to this power in different ways.

In Acts 4, Peter and John were commanded not to speak or teach in Jesus' name. They were being told to stop using the power God had given them for evangelism.

We can do the same thing. We may never have a government official tell us to stop talking about Jesus, but we can silence ourselves. Fear, shyness, embarrassment, or concern about what someone will think can cause us to keep quiet.

We can deny the power.

But there is another way we can misuse God's power. Instead of denying it, we can divert it. We can become so focused on asking God for comfort, success, money, health, and easier circumstances that we forget the purpose of the Spirit's power.

There is nothing wrong with bringing our needs to God. But God's power isn't given merely to make our lives more comfortable. He gives us His Spirit so that we can be witnesses for Jesus.

Evangelism is not about having the right personality or being naturally outgoing. It isn't about having a perfect strategy. It is about trusting the Holy Spirit and faithfully pointing people toward Jesus.

Questions to Consider
  1. What does Acts 1:8 say the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to do?
  2. What fears might cause you to remain silent about Jesus?
  3. Are you ever tempted to "deny" God's power by avoiding opportunities to talk about Christ?
  4. Are there ways you might "divert" your prayers toward comfort and personal success instead of asking God to use you for evangelism?
  5. How does the gospel give you confidence when you feel inadequate or afraid to evangelize?
  6. Who could you pray for today as you ask God for an opportunity to invite them to Jesus?
Prayer Prompt

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you courage, wisdom, and opportunities to be a witness for Jesus. Ask God to help you use His power for His purposes rather than merely your own comfort.

3

Who Needs an Invitation?

Acts 7:55-59 and Acts 2:37-40

Stephen is one of the clearest pictures in Acts of what it looks like to deploy the power God gives us.

Stephen wasn't an apostle or a pastor. Yet he was filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaimed Christ, and remained faithful even when it cost him his life. As he was being killed, Stephen looked toward Jesus and entrusted himself to Him.

And something remarkable happened through Stephen's faithfulness. Saul, the man who would later become the apostle Paul, was there when Stephen was killed. God used Stephen's witness as part of the story that would eventually lead to Saul's conversion.

Stephen reminds us that we don't know what God may accomplish through one faithful witness.

So who needs an invitation?

The sermon gives us a simple question: Who do you know who needs an invitation?

Perhaps they don't know Jesus at all. They need an invitation to meet Him for the first time.

Perhaps they once followed Jesus but have wandered far away. They need an invitation to come back.

And perhaps today, the person who needs the invitation is you.

The gospel invitation is not first an invitation to become a better Christian. It isn't an invitation to start evangelizing so that God will be pleased with you.

The first invitation is to repent and believe in Jesus.

Peter told the crowd to turn away from their sins and turn to Christ. The promise of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit was not only for a select few. The promise was for all whom the Lord calls to Himself.

That invitation still stands.

Jesus died for sinners. He rose again. And He calls people to Himself.

Will you respond to Him?

And if you have responded to Christ, then ask yourself: Who do I know that needs an invitation?

Questions to Consider
  1. What do Stephen's actions teach you about faithfulness when evangelism is difficult or costly?
  2. How does Stephen's story remind you that you cannot always see what God is accomplishing through your witness?
  3. Who do you know who does not know Jesus?
  4. Who do you know who may be far from Jesus and needs an invitation to return?
  5. What is the difference between trying to earn God's favor and responding to the gospel?
  6. What does Acts 2:38 say God promises to those who repent and turn to Christ?
  7. Have you personally responded to Jesus' invitation to repent and believe?
  8. What is one specific step you can take this week to invite someone toward Jesus?
Prayer Prompt

Bring the names of the people who need Jesus before God. Ask Him to save them, give you opportunities to speak with them, and give you the courage and power to invite them to Christ.

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