We meet in a rented hall so we don’t have a bell or buzzer to use to alert everyone when services begin. During our business meeting last evening one brother (whose wife teaches the children’s class) made a request. He stated that our normal procedure during our mid-week services has been that we make announcements, have a couple of songs then the lady teaching the children goes to another room for a class.<\/p>\n
Sometimes she does not have time to gather up her class materials and return for the invitation that is extended; therefore, he suggested that we offer it at the beginning of the class. I have never seen this practiced and suggested that one of us go and signal her in order that she will have time to prepare by gathering up her class materials and return to the auditorium.<\/p>\n\t
I know of nothing in the Scriptures indicating that an invitation must be offered each time we gather, let alone when that invitation is given. Generally, congregations wish to take advantage of the time that they have to encourage one another toward faithful service. An invitation naturally follows a lesson (short or long) because the lesson should stimulate the audience’s mind toward things which need correcting or improving. Most people feel that it makes a good ending to a gathering, but I’ve seen it done at other times. Here in La Vista, on Sunday evenings the lesson and invitation are given in the middle of the service instead of at the end. It basically comes down to what is expedient for the local group. I know of one congregation where the preacher rarely offers an invitation at the service. He doesn’t want people to think there is a set time to obey the gospel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: We meet in a rented hall so we don’t have a bell or buzzer to use to alert everyone when services begin. During our business meeting last evening one brother (whose wife teaches the children’s class) made a request. He stated that our normal procedure during our mid-week services has been that we make…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[836,84],"class_list":["post-6918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-invitation","tag-worship"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":34893,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-singing-and-prayers-during-mid-week-bible-study-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":6918,"position":0},"title":"Are singing and prayers during mid-week Bible study worship?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 20, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Brother, I am a member of the Body of Christ. I have a question that I hope you can answer for me. After midweek Bible class everyone gathers and we sing songs, offer up prayers, a short sermon is given, and an invitation is extended. Is this worship?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23116,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-can-be-done-about-women-who-speak-out-of-turn-in-bible-class\/","url_meta":{"origin":6918,"position":1},"title":"What can be done about women who speak out of turn in Bible class?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 28, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My wife and I have been to the congregation there in La Vista.\u00a0 We really enjoyed it and found it to be a true church.\u00a0 We have been having a problem locally with the verse in I Timothy 2 about the women being silent.\u00a0 I read your article on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":50157,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-the-lords-supper-only-be-offered-after-the-invitation\/","url_meta":{"origin":6918,"position":2},"title":"Should the Lord’s Supper only be offered after the invitation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been a member of the Church for many decades and have never felt the Lord's Supper should be served before the invitational hymn. We want to wait for those who care to join our work, so we should serve it after the hymn. Do you agree? Answer:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":27921,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-handle-an-invitation-to-a-party-where-drinks-are-being-served\/","url_meta":{"origin":6918,"position":3},"title":"How do I handle an invitation to a party where drinks are being served?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 4, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, I have received a recent invitation\u00a0to attend a pre-nuptial party.\u00a0I don't have any objections to the occasion, nor any ill-feeling to the hosts or anything like that. What I am against is that some alcoholic\u00a0beverages will be served during the party. I'm not sure what to do -\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":27912,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-young-soul-winner\/","url_meta":{"origin":6918,"position":4},"title":"A Young Soul Winner","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 23, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jefferson David Tant \"Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit\" (Matthew 28:19) Nancy Harber was only 14 (well, almost 15), and at this young age had already experienced one\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68916,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-suggested-a-plan-for-overcoming-sexual-sin-but-my-girlfriend-wants-to-take-a-break\/","url_meta":{"origin":6918,"position":5},"title":"I suggested a plan for overcoming sexual sin, but my girlfriend wants to take a break","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hey, My girlfriend and I have been struggling with sexual sin. We've been praying for God to help us. I suggested a plan for us to get better: We should both ask God and each other for forgiveness individually. 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