Offering an invitation for response to your sermon falls into the realm of expediency and judgment rather than that which is mandated by command, example, or inference.  Yet for several generations now, it has proven itself an effective way to help people make things right in their lives. A powerful case can be made for offering the invitation.  Consider some practical, valuable tips for offering the invitation. Many of these are derived from class material delivered by Wendell Winkler from his class, “The Preacher and His Work.”

  • Portray a genuine yearning. Act as though you want people to respond and let your body language show that, being open and even beckoning.
  • Be pleasant, smiling and showing genuine affection.  However, don’t overdo it, looking fake or forced. Remind yourself of how much you care about your listeners and desire any who need to respond to respond.
  • Establish and maintain eye contact, but not mercilessly.
  • Watch for potential signs of genuine “I am about to respond” behavior such as the following:
    • Stops singing
    • Puts book up
    • Biting lip
    • Shuffling feet
    • Dropping head
    • Grasping the pew
    • Someone nearby is encouraging them
  • Make it easy for them. Greet them warmly and welcome them.  Be empathetic and gentle as you go to meet them and walk with them to the front seat.

I have also found it very effective to occasionally offer the invitation at the beginning of the sermon.  It’s unexpected.  People are listening intently.  It allows you to conclude the sermon with a more dramatic, brief ending. We can project an empathy and care through the attention we give, not just to the words we say in the invitation and conclusion, but to the way we present ourselves during the invitation song.