CTS Evangelistic Preaching · Unit 8

Crafting the Invitation and Appeal · Dr. Wayne Cook

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The Certificate track answers the multiple choice. The Associate adds the fill-in-the-blank questions; M.Div. and Th.M. add those and the short-answer questions. 90% of each part is required to pass.

Learning Goal

After studying this unit you will be able to craft a clear, biblical invitation and appeal that calls listeners to immediate decision for Christ.

The Importance of the Invitation and Appeal

Every evangelistic sermon must end with a clear invitation and appeal. The invitation is the moment the preacher asks the listener to respond to the gospel. The appeal is the urgent call that presses the heart to decide today. WiseSpeak teaches that without a strong invitation the sermon remains incomplete. The listener may understand the truth but never take the step of faith. A well-crafted invitation turns knowledge into action.

The Keyword Method Carries Through

The invitation and appeal must be biblical, personal, and urgent. They flow naturally from the keyword approach used in the first seven units of WiseSpeak: the invitation uses the sermon's own keyword to call for a definite response. The invitation and appeal keep the same keyword so the entire sermon feels unified from beginning to end.

How to Craft the Invitation and Appeal

  1. Finish the main points of the sermon.
  2. Restate the probing question the text answers.
  3. Review the plural noun keyword that holds the sermon together.
  4. Form the subject around the keyword.
  5. Write three short parallel points (each five words or less) that are singulars of the keyword.
  6. Craft a one-sentence evangelistic objective that calls for immediate decision.
  7. Prepare the actual invitation words and the appeal that follows.

Worked Example — John 3:16

The subject is "Three Reasons God Sent His Son."

Question: Why did God send His Son? · Keyword: reasons
  1. Show His love.
  2. Offer eternal life.
  3. Save the world.

Objective: "To lead every listener to accept God's reasons by believing in Jesus Christ today."

"Today you have heard three reasons God sent His Son. He sent His Son to show His love. He sent His Son to offer eternal life. He sent His Son to save the world. Right now, in this moment, will you believe in Jesus Christ and receive the eternal life He offers? If you will, simply stand where you are or come forward as we sing. The decision is yours. The time is now."

The invitation is short, direct, and calls for immediate response.

Worked Example — Acts 16:30–31

The subject is "Three Steps to Salvation."

Question: What must I do to be saved? · Keyword: steps
  1. Hear the gospel.
  2. Believe in Jesus.
  3. Be baptized.

Objective: "To lead every listener to take God's steps by believing in Jesus Christ today."

"You have heard three steps to salvation. The first step is to hear the gospel. The second step is to believe in Jesus. The third step is to be baptized. Which step will you take right now? If you are ready to believe in Jesus, stand with me as we pray together. The decision is yours. The time is now."

Worked Example — Romans 10:9

The subject is "God's Conditions for Salvation."

Question: How can I be saved? · Keyword: conditions
  1. Confess with your mouth.
  2. Believe in your heart.
  3. Receive God's salvation.

Objective: "To lead every listener to meet God's conditions by believing in Jesus Christ today."

"God has given three conditions for salvation. You must confess with your mouth. You must believe in your heart. You must receive God's salvation. Will you meet these conditions right now? If your answer is yes, come forward as we sing. The decision is yours. The time is now."

Why a Strong Invitation and Appeal Matter

A strong invitation and appeal turn the sermon into a personal conversation with the listener. They move the message from the head to the heart. They give the Holy Spirit a clear moment to work. The plural noun keyword keeps the invitation connected to the entire sermon. Together they create urgency without pressure and clarity without confusion.

Practical Steps to Craft Your Own Invitation and Appeal

Work through the seven steps above for your own sermon. Then practice the invitation and appeal out loud until they feel natural. These steps, taken from the planning methods taught in WiseSpeak, give every evangelistic sermon a powerful conclusion.

Self-Check — Unit 8

Certificate track: the 20 multiple-choice questions. Associate: multiple choice and the 10 fill-in-the-blank questions. M.Div. and Th.M.: multiple choice, fill-ins and the 10 short-answer questions. 90% of each part is required to pass. If you do not pass, the exam waits a short time before you can try again.

Short Answer (M.Div. / Th.M. tracks only)

📖 Course Readings — Required and Honors
Certificate and Associate: honors is optional. Read any three of the five selections for honors; no separate required-reading exam is needed.

M.Div. and Th.M.: all five assigned readings are part of the course. Their separate exam is required after activation; see its page for the current rule. Honors remains optional and does not replace the exam.

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