INTRODUCTION: One preachers wrote a personal letter to his brethren encouraging them to invite someone to services. He said, "The more I work with people who visit services, the more I'm impressed with something. Coming to worship is much easier for a newcomer who already knows someone in our church, especially someone who invited them to come.  Consider the person who feels the need for worship, is open to God, but hesitant to enter a strange church. They need someone they know to invite them and perhaps bring them to church. That changes everything. Then they have a host to help them. They feel less like an outsider. They can be comfortable enough to focus on God's presence in worship."

When was the last time you invited someone to worship? Look at the power of an invitation.

BODY

I. "COME SEE A MAN...." (John 4:25-29)

A. The Samaritan woman was excited about meeting Jesus and wanted others to meet him too.

1. He had treated her with respect, like she was a human being.

2. He had also told her things about herself that he could not know, without divine knowledge.

3. He had brought joy into her life, and the inference is that she desired that others have the same joy.

B. Are we excited about people knowing "the man from Galilee."

1. Psalms 51:12-13 "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. {13} Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You."

2. Look at the joy in Andrew at finding the Messiah.

a. John 1:41-42 "He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). {42} And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

3. Psalms 126:6- "He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him."

A. This is the invitation of Jesus to come find out more about him.

1. Two of John the Baptist's disciples heard John's exclamation, "Behold the lamb of God" (verse 36).

2. This was an invitation for two who wanted to learn more about the Jesus. They called him "Rabbi" (translated teacher, verse 38).

B. There are many who want to learn "More about Jesus" but who have never been asked, or invited.

1. Many are like the Ethiopian treasurer, who are searching for the truth about Jesus, and need help from others.

a. Acts 8:29-35

2. There are those who are longing to reason from the Word of God, to learn how to be cleansed from their sins.

a. Isaiah 1:18 - ""Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

3. John 12:20-21- "Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. {21} Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus.""

4. We need to go out to find those who are seeking.

a. Luke 14:21-23 ""So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' {22} "And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' {23} "Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."

A. This is an invitation for all who are weary of the heavy load of sin and the cares of the world.

1. Jesus promises rest in this life and the world to come.

2. We are promised rest for our souls.

a. Psalms 23:2-3 "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. {3} He restores my soul...

3. A heavenly rest where we can lay our burdens down.

a. Revelation 14:13 - "Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.""

B. Think of all those around us who are troubled, weary of life's problems, and hurting.

1. They need the comfort and rest that Jesus provides.

2. 1 Peter 5:6-7 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, {7} casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."