Today's and tomorrow's emails will cover 12 reasons why we don't invite friends to church.

Before you start reading, I'd like you to answer this question: What are you committed to where inviting friends to church is concerned?

Personally, I am committed to the spiritual health and well-being of my friends. Whether they show up or not is their business (not mine). My business is to act on my commitment and invite them.

So, what is your commitment where inviting friends to church is concerned?

I want you to read this email with your commitment in mind. When you see a reason matches why you don't invite people to church, be moved by your commitment instead of your reason(s), and get into action.

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Here are the first six reasons why we don't invite our friends to church:

1. We believe that church is primarily for Christians.

This wouldn't be a common objection, but there are certainly some people feel this way.

2. We have asked all of our friends already.

There's only so many times you can ask, and if you've asked all of your friends this number of times, where to next?

3. We don't know anyone who isn't a Christian.

Sadly, it is all too easy to only associate with other Christians. If you don't know people who aren't Christians it's difficult to invite them to church.

4. We don't know any unbelievers well enough.

We might know people who aren't yet Christian but feel that the relationship isn't at a deep enough level yet for us to invite them to church.

5. Our friends live too far away.

For many of us, work provides some of the best opportunities to develop deep relationships with unbelievers. But it's possible that our colleagues don't live near us nor the church. It's difficult to ask a colleague to travel a long distance to come to church - especially if we hope they will begin attending regularly.

6. We don't believe that church is the best next step for them.

We might think that coming to church is too big of a jump for our friends and that other 'next steps' might be more suitable - continuing to speak with them, giving them a book to read, etc.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for Part 2.