He Didn't Invite People to His Bible Studies

No one outside the discipleship was invited. 
Outsiders had to make effort to pursue him.

His Sermon on the Mount was well attended by "multitudes," says the KJV, numbering some 5,000 men, probably 20K if we include the women and children. Yet none of them were invited to this famous "bible study." These multitudes went after Jesus on their own. The Beatitudes and his other "bible studies" were intended only for his disciples.

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash.

That element of pursuit is vital in a real Jesus ministry. People should pursue Jesus and His Word, not be invited to bible studies, especially if they're obviously reluctant. You never see Jesus doing that--asking or inviting people to attend his "church" or come back next Sunday. Why? It will break a Kingdom principle:

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them. [John 6.44]

Drawn Not Invited

Here's the principle: people should be drawn to you by the Father. The words "no one can come to me," means it will not work any other way. The Father should draw people to you. It's useless to think of clever things to lure or encourage people to attend your church or bible study because in the passage, Jesus said the LIFE will be given only to those the Father Himself draws. 

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up (give them life) at the last day. "

Yes, you can do gimmicks and nice programs to fill up your church and up your membership, but they will all be carnal church attenders if they're not the people the Father is drawing to you. They'll never really grow and mature spiritually because only those with life can grow. They may become so active in ministry, "faithful" tithers and supporters, doing grand works for the Lord, saying nice testimonies and all, but still immature in the spiritual realms. 

They remain carnal, not understanding the things of the Holy Spirit.

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Zacchaeus was Invited to Dinner

When Jesus fed the 5,000 and the 4,000, Jesus did not invite anybody to them. The disciples didn't need invitation because they were personally chosen by Jesus to follow him and they desperately pursued him everyday. The rest were just curious audience. Everybody was welcome but they were mere attenders. There were no "members" in Jesus' ministry. To be inside the Jesus discipleship circle, they had to radically give up all and follow him. 

Many are called but few are chosen.

When Jesus healed the paralytic lowered from the roof, there were no ads or promotions or door-to-door invitations for people to come. A big crowd gathered the moment they heard that Jesus was around. No gimmicks, lures, giveaways, dole outs, or free this and that just to make people come. People were excited to go and see. Here's what happened.

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. [Mark 2]

One day, while passing by Jericho, Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus' house, not for bible study, but for a place to stay. That is clear in Scriptures. And I can imagine how Jesus and Zacchaeus and company were in the house talking lightly and informally (not really a bible study) with Jesus inserting the Gospel casually now and then. That's when the topic on giving up possessions to follow Jesus came up, and Zacchaeus did not just say Amen. He was radically transformed. Why? Because he was drawn to Jesus by the Father. Here's the hint:

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him.

Can you imagine a rich guy climbing up a tree just to see Jesus? And then giving up half of his possessions and paying back 4 times what he owed anyone? That cannot happen unless the guy was touched by the Father and drawn to Jesus. What we see in church today are active members, most of whom want to be seen performing on stage and being applauded.

But no radical transformation and giving up possessions. If ever they give money, they expect something in return--like influence over the pastor or expecting the pastor to fulfill their expectations. Why? Because they were lured to the church as members. The Father never drew them there. This is why a lot of churches are carnal.

Rat Race

Nobody will follow Jesus' example today because of the rat race the church is in. The mad scramble to get as many people in. They invite, visit and follow up--things Jesus never did. Neither did the apostles. Because truth is, even ministry should be done by faith, not by works. We should believe what Jesus taught about doing ministry. Otherwise, we will be growing plants the Father has not planted.

“Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots." [Matthew 15.13]

Surrendering to Jesus 

Ask forgiveness and repent of your sins. Believe God's forgiveness. It is promised in the bible. Receive Jesus Christ into your heart as your sole Savior and Lord. Then be assured of heaven, not because of anything you have or do (not your good deeds or religion or church), but because of God's grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. In Jesus alone is salvation. 

Jesus is: 

“‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” [Acts 4]

Surrender to Him by intently studying the bible daily (ask guidance from the Holy Spirit) and applying in life everything you learn. And then pray that God lead you to the right person who'd disciple you, one who is totally surrendered to Jesus and living His words in the bible.