Today’s Meditation;

Our desire to share Jesus with people is not because we want to convert them, but

because we are converted! ~Alvin Reid

Welcoming Guests and Announcements – Pastor Ross

Hymn Sing – Congregational Hymn Pick

Prayer Concerns – Pastor Ross

Pastoral Prayer – Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer

Scripture Reading – Matthew 21:28-32 – Pastor Ross

Message – What Held You Back?

Communion – Pastors Linda, Ross & Dave

Pastor Confirmation – Jeff Nelson

Benediction – Pastor Dave

Matthew 21:28-32 – New Revised Standard Version

The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸ “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’

²⁹ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went.

³⁰ The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.

³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.

³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.

The parable of the obedient & disobedient sons. What holds us back from inviting, sharing and committing to helping others know our faith? What holds us back from doing what God wanted?  God has shared extravagant hospitality with us. How we introduce newcomers to faith: we connect with those visiting & when they return, we connect with them again so they feel noticed.

You are uniquely qualified to invite others and to share your faith. What is it that only you can offer? You may be the ideal person at the perfect moment in just right pew or the setting in which you find yourself. You have more offer than you think! Every time we welcome someone to faith who is unlike us, we discover something new about the way God works. We discover who God loves. We meet Jesus in a disguise we’re surprised he’d ever use.

We often feel when it comes to inviting or sharing our faith, “Not me. I’m the wrong person.”. We often feel we’re not qualified or articulate. Or we think what we say & do doesn’t matter. This is not true.  God needs us. Others need us.

Move from hesitancy to hospitality. Some us are hesitant & reluctant to invite or share our faith. If we believe something, we’ll tell others about it.  We can move from making excuses to arranging an introduction to God. We’re good at excuses.  We say we’re too shy or too busy. We don’t know this person. Or we’re preoccupied by 0ther priorities. We want to help people find an entry, a home here.