A Reason To Reach
This Easter isn’t just a day. It’s a doorway. And someone you know needs to walk through it.
Luke 14:15-24
Date: March 23, 2025
BEYOND EASTER: More Than a Moment
Have you ever had someone invite you to something that changed your life?
It’s not easy. We think:
What if they say no?
What if they think I’m weird?
What if they come and don’t get anything out of it?
But what if they come… and their whole life changes?
What if your simple invitation becomes the start of someone’s story of transformation?
This Easter isn’t just a day. It’s a doorway. And someone you know needs to walk through it.
Why Bother Reaching?
We live in a world more connected than ever before—and yet, more people feel isolated, overwhelmed, and disconnected than at any time in recent memory.
• According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, one in four Americans now eats all their meals alone—a 53% increase since 2003.
• The U.S. Surgeon General has declared loneliness an epidemic, linking it to serious health risks like depression, heart disease, and even early death.
• Among Gen Z and Millennials, loneliness is now one of the most commonly reported daily stressors—even more than money.
People are hungry for
And the good news is—you might be the connection that leads them to Jesus.
TEXT: Luke 14:15–24
15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. —Luke 14:15-24
In this parable, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a great banquet.
A host prepares an incredible feast, but when the invitations go out, people make excuses.
Every empty
This Easter isn’t just a day. It’s a doorway.
And someone you know needs to walk through it.
God doesn’t just want a few people at His table—He wants it
And not just with the “religious” or “qualified.”
He wants the hurting, the overlooked, the broken.
Here’s the catch: They won’t come unless someone
Your Invitation Might Change Someone’s Life
This Easter, your invite could be more than a gesture—it could be a lifeline.
God is calling us to reach—not just because it fills chairs—but because it fills hearts with hope.
People are dying for connection. They’re longing for meaning. And we have both.
He called every servant to go out and compel them to come in.
That means you.
You don’t need a platform.
You don’t need perfect words.
This Easter isn’t just a day. It’s a doorway.
And someone you know needs to walk through it.
So here’s what I want you to do right now:
- Think of one person who might be struggling or searching
- Pray for them now and this week.
- Send them the invite text. (we’ll help you with the words)
- Follow up. Drive them. Sit with them. Love them, be the connection they’ve been waiting for.
Because this Easter isn’t just a day—it’s a doorway.
And someone in your life is ready to walk through it.
Sample Invite Text to Send
Hey! I’d love for you to join me at theCrossroads this Easter—April 20 at 10:00 AM.
It’s a really welcoming place, and I think you’d enjoy it. I’ll save you a seat!
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What do you think keeps most people from inviting others to church? How can we overcome that?
2. Can you think of a time when someone invited you to something that ended up changing your life? What happened?
3. After hearing the stats about loneliness, how do you see your role differently as a believer in this culture?
4. Who is one person you feel God is putting on your heart to reach out to this Easter? How can we pray for that opportunity together?