This message centers on the invitation of Christ, not as a vague religious idea, but as a direct call that demands a response. To be a Christian is to follow Jesus, to place your hope for salvation fully in Him, and to submit every part of life to Him as Lord and King. That invitation is simple to accept in words, but costly to live out in practice.

We begin the year by revisiting a question we have asked before, but with sharper focus. Who are your three, the people you are intentionally inviting to encounter Christ, salvation, and eternal life. This is not a new challenge, it is a continued one, reframed as an invitation rather than a task.

Jesus’ own teaching shows us that not everyone responds the same way. In the Gospels, two men receive the same invitation from the same Christ. One appears morally upright, respectful, and sincere, yet walks away sorrowful because he is unwilling to release what he trusts most. The other has little security, little status, and no backup plan, yet immediately leaves everything to follow.

The contrast is uncomfortable by design. The invitation of Christ exposes where our true trust lies. It is not an add-on to an already secure life, it is a transfer of trust away from possessions, status, or self-reliance, and onto Christ alone. One response says, sorry, I have other plans. The other says, I am on my way.

This message asks hard but necessary questions. Have you accepted Christ’s invitation, and do you understand what you were invited into. Have you subtly shifted from trusting Christ to trusting your own goodness, stability, or effort. Or are you willing to follow wherever He leads, even when the path is unclear.

Jesus invites us into a new kingdom that is present and active now, not built on power, wealth, or comfort. He gives us a new identity rooted in belonging, security, and relationship with Him. He also invites us into a life that includes suffering, not as failure, but as part of faithful following.

The invitation does not end in hardship. It ends in glory, communion with God, and the promised future of His kingdom fully revealed. The question is not whether you are invited. The question is whether you will follow.

If this message challenged or encouraged you, take the next step. Like the video, subscribe for more teachings, and share it with someone you are inviting to meet Christ. Visit cedarspringsnw.com to learn more, or join us in person for church at 10AM on Sunday morning.