December 1st, 2023
by Matt Miofsky
by Matt Miofsky
Though I had grown up in church, when I went to college I fell away from going to worship. Like a lot of people, life got busy. School was rigorous, football required a lot, and any free time I used to hang out with friends. Then two guys from the football team invited me to check out a bible study they attended. The truth is I wouldn’t have gone on my own, but since they invited me, I gave it a try. For the first two years of college, I went on and off again. At the end of my sophomore year, these two guys made another invitation. This time they asked me to consider leading the group. After saying no several times, I finally gave in and when I started my junior year of college, I found myself leading a bible study.
That experience of studying scripture, leading others, and connecting with Jesus every week changed my life. Without those two guys inviting me, I don’t think I would be a pastor today. Their invitations played a key role in me coming to a faith in Christ that propelled me to seminary. They couldn't have known that at the time, but I am so glad they were willing to reach out to me. Such is the power of an invitation.
Christmas is a story full of invitations. The angels invited Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds into the story. The wise men were invited by a star! Later on, the disciples started following Jesus because friends invited them to do so. Jesus would end up changing the lives of all those who encountered him. But all those people first had to be invited. Can you remember who invited you to check out Jesus or who first told you about our church?
As a season of invitation, Christmas is not just about what we get, but what we give. One of the most powerful things that we can give this season is an invitation. There are more people than you realize that right now are looking for more. Some are struggling with grief, some feel overwhelmed by life. Some are dissatisfied with work or struggling with their close relationships. Others are bored, looking for something more purposeful or meaningful in life. Some people are just lonely.
The good news of Christmas is incredible. We have a God who welcomes us when others might reject us, forgives us when we screw up, prepares a place for us, offers us new direction and perspective, breaks chains, guides us when we are lost, and promises to give us a life that is far greater than we can imagine. But none of this happens for people if there aren’t some who are willing to invite.
This weekend, I will be talking about the power of an invitation. But today I challenge you. Pay attention to the people that God has placed around you. Then, invite those people to check out what God is up to at The Gathering, especially this Christmas. You can share our Christmas Eve worship on social media, send a text, or even better just offer someone a Christmas invitation card (we will have them for you Sunday). All the while remember that the most meaningful part of Christmas this year may not be a gift you get, but an invitation you give.
Peace,
Matt
That experience of studying scripture, leading others, and connecting with Jesus every week changed my life. Without those two guys inviting me, I don’t think I would be a pastor today. Their invitations played a key role in me coming to a faith in Christ that propelled me to seminary. They couldn't have known that at the time, but I am so glad they were willing to reach out to me. Such is the power of an invitation.
Christmas is a story full of invitations. The angels invited Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds into the story. The wise men were invited by a star! Later on, the disciples started following Jesus because friends invited them to do so. Jesus would end up changing the lives of all those who encountered him. But all those people first had to be invited. Can you remember who invited you to check out Jesus or who first told you about our church?
As a season of invitation, Christmas is not just about what we get, but what we give. One of the most powerful things that we can give this season is an invitation. There are more people than you realize that right now are looking for more. Some are struggling with grief, some feel overwhelmed by life. Some are dissatisfied with work or struggling with their close relationships. Others are bored, looking for something more purposeful or meaningful in life. Some people are just lonely.
The good news of Christmas is incredible. We have a God who welcomes us when others might reject us, forgives us when we screw up, prepares a place for us, offers us new direction and perspective, breaks chains, guides us when we are lost, and promises to give us a life that is far greater than we can imagine. But none of this happens for people if there aren’t some who are willing to invite.
This weekend, I will be talking about the power of an invitation. But today I challenge you. Pay attention to the people that God has placed around you. Then, invite those people to check out what God is up to at The Gathering, especially this Christmas. You can share our Christmas Eve worship on social media, send a text, or even better just offer someone a Christmas invitation card (we will have them for you Sunday). All the while remember that the most meaningful part of Christmas this year may not be a gift you get, but an invitation you give.
Peace,
Matt
Posted in M-Note
Recent
Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1
May 5th, 2024
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24
May 4th, 2024
Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
April 28th, 2024
General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24
April 27th, 2024
Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3
April 21st, 2024
Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 3Explore - Week 4God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23SENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
March
Lent Devotional Day 8Lent Devotional Day 9Celebrating BEYOND // M-Note 3.3.2023Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 10Lent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 13Lent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17The Evening Service is BACK!!! // M-Note 3.10.23Lent Devotional Day 18Lent Devotional Day 19Who Is Jesus: Week 2 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 20Lent Devotional Day 21Lent Devotional Day 22Lent Devotional Day 23The Most Important Sunday of the Year // M-Note 3.17.23Who Is Jesus: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 24Lent Devotional Day 25Lent Devotional Day 26Lent Devotional Day 27Lent Devotional Day 28Lent Devotional Day 29Lent Devotional Day 30The Power of Easter and Invitation // M-Note 3.24.23Lent Devotional Day 31Who Is Jesus: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 32Lent Devotional Day 33Lent Devotional Day 34Lent Devotional Day 35Lent Devotional Day 36Lent Devotional Day 37
Categories
Tags
1 Kings 3
1 Kings
1 Timothy
2 Corinthians 9:5-7
2 Timothy
Belden Lane
Beyond Simple
Celebrate
Change
Christ
Commit
Confidence
Denee Bowers
Devotional
Discussion Guides
Distractions
Divine Love
Doubt
Easter
Ephesians
Equity
Evangelism
Explore
Five Shared Practices
Focus
Frederick Buechner
Fresh Take
Friends
Generosity
God
Gratitude
Hebrews
Holy Ambiguity
Holy Spirit
Hope
Humanity
Identity
Inside Voice
Isaiah
Jesus
John 21
John
Joy
Kids
King Solomon
Lectio Divina
Lent
Life
Limitations
Longing
M-Note
Matt Miofsky
Matthew
Nadia Bolz-Weber
No Filter
Open
Parables
Parenting
Patience
Paula D'Arcy
Paula D\'Arcy
Paula D\\\'Arcy
Paula D\\\\\\\'Arcy
Paul
Privilege
Proverbs 1
Proverbs
Psalms
Purpose
Questions
Redeem
Rejoice
Righteousness
Sabra Engelbrecht
Second Chance
Self-Love
Struggle
Success
The Bible
The Church
The Gathering
Timothy
Uncertainty
Untethered
Vision
Weird
acts
adulting
advice
challenge
commitment
creation
deconstruction
deconstruct
faith
finances
fitness
forgiveness
forgiving
foundation
freedom
give
growth
kelley weber
love
meister eckhart
money
mystery
new life
opportunity
reconstruction
reconstruct
redemption
relationships
responsibility
simplify
sin
social
thomas merton
transition
truth
willingness
willpower
will
young adult
No Comments