The Season of Open Hearts

The Season of Open Hearts
James Moscardini

I. Introduction

II. The Heart of God

A. The great storyline of in Scripture

1. Isaiah 55:1 (NLT) “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free!”

2. Luke 14:21b-23 (NLT) ^21b“‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ ²²After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ ²³So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.’”

3. John 1:40-42a (NLT) ⁴⁰Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. ⁴¹Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). ⁴²Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus.

B. Jesus was the inviter.

1. Matthew 9:9b (NLT) “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed Him.

2. Matthew 11:28 (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

C. God partners with people.

1. Romans 10:13-15 (NLT) ¹³For ”Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” ¹⁴But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

D. Christmas Eve services are an of the Great Banquet.

III. Overcoming the Fears that Hold Us Back

A. I do not want to be .

1. “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at its testing point.” (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters)

2. Acts 4:29-31 (NLT) ²⁹“And now, O LORD, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. ³⁰Stretch out your hand with healing power, may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

B. I do not want to be .

1. You are responsible for . You are not responsible for the .

2. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NLT) ⁶“I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. ⁷It is not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”

C. I do not feel spiritually .

D. I do not know what to .

IV. Practical Ways to Invite People

A. before you invite.

1. Matthew 9:37a-38 (NLT) ³⁷He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. ³⁸So pray to the LORD who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

B. Use relational already in your life.

C. Use invitation tools.

D. Tell people Christmas Eve matters.

E. The of presence

F. The of follow-up

V. Conclusion