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Knowing the BASICS – Knowing the Invitation: COME! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the October 19, 2025 sermon, “Knowing the Invitation: COME!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Revelation 22:17, Acts 2:36-47

 

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
Revelation 22:17 (NIV)

Today we continued a sermon series about Knowing the BASICS!  This will be a six-part series looking at the basics of what we believe as the Deer Run Church of Christ, which corresponds with what I believe as a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus.  Foundational to our beliefs about God is a belief that the Bible is the true and accurate Word of God filled with the content He desires for us to know and follow.  Because the Bible is God’s Word, we believe and know God to be the authority over all things.  With God as the authority, we find through Jesus the example of knowing the submission we ought to live with.  As we submit to God, we discover a great invitation from Him calling for us to . . .

  • Change:  Acts 2:36-40

    • The invitation of Jesus for us to come to Him is a call for us to change.  The very heart of repentance is to stop what we’re doing and begin doing something different.  With the help of God’s Spirit, we must turn from sin and pursue righteousness.  As the crowd heard the message of God through Peter and the apostles, they asked what they needed to do.  It was the invitation of God that they repent and be immersed as God wanted to change them from being dead in sin to being alive in Christ. 

  • Obey:  Acts 2:41

    • When Jesus invites us to change, the proper response is always to obey.  We see that from the crowd on the day of Pentecost as about 3000 people are obedient to the command to repent and be immersed.  When we come to Jesus, it is always important to remember we do so on His terms, not ours.  Jesus makes it clear in His teaching that it makes no sense for us to call Him Lord and yet choose to not obey Him.

  • Model: Acts 2:42-44

    • Our response to the invitation of Jesus to come is made evident in how we model this new life on a daily basis.  The early Christians were indeed known for their love for one another just as Jesus expected.  The didn’t just talk the Jesus talk, the lived the Jesus life.  It is in our change and obedience that God works in us to equip us to model a life which represents Jesus.

  • Enjoy:  Acts 2:45-47

    • Contrary to what some may believe and teach, our response to the invitation of Jesus isn’t just about us changing and obediently following God’s Word so we model the life of Christ.  No, it is designed so we would do all of that in a way that brings enjoyment!  When Jesus calls for all who are thirsty to come, He does so in order for us to enjoy the life which is made full in Christ.

Today, how will you COME?