This Sunday – Oct 25

This Sunday – Oct 25

What’s the best thing that you have ever done, or ever experienced as a result of someone else’s invitation or influence?  Anything come to mind right away? 

Libby and I had a date the other night to the UNC/Florida State football game. It was great fun to be there together. Until she made the remark in the first quarter, when UNC was up 17-3, “Florida Sate won’t score again.” Among Acuff men, a statement like that is nothing short of a curse on the game. So, when Florida State scored an incredible 98-yard touchdown on its way to beating UNC 30-27, it was hard not to hold Libby personally responsible for letting up in the first quarter.

And, suddenly our great date ended like the game, thanks to my foolish disappointment and frustration over a dumb sports event. (Okay, so I’ve revealed once again why I still need therapy, cleansing, healing, deliverance, or whatever will make me more Christ-like.)

What does this have to do with my original question?

Well, one of the best things I have ever experienced and keep on experiencing as a result of someone else’s influence is my marriage. For you see, it was Libby’s roommate who thirty-seven years ago suggested that I ask Libby to go to the first football game of the season. And the rest is history.

This Sunday we will look at a great passage that illustrates the power of invitation and influence: John 1:35-42.

Andrew invites Peter to meet Jesus, having no idea the incredible impact that that one invitation would have on the world. The passage shows that when good spiritual things are happening in our lives, we become more God-centered and people-centered at the same time.

When God becomes more important to us, people become more important to us. We are seeing this dynamic of God/People-focus happen in the Gathering Church, in our services, but also in our lunches together.

So, again we will have lunch together after the service. We meet at Creekside Elementary, 5321 Ephesus Church Road, Durham at 10:30 am.

This will be our second Sunday at our new time and location. On November 8 we will have a special Sunday of celebration and invitation to the community.

So, what’s been the best invitation or influence you have received?