The Joy of Winning Souls
What is 750,000 miles long? It could wrap itself around the earth 30 times and it grows an additional 20 miles longer with each passing day?
It is the line of people on earth who do not know Jesus.
How do people then learn about or hear about Jesus?
Evangelisim-What images does it produce?
(TV preacher/Money/Big Crusades/Billy Graham)
Evangelist-tell people about God
44% of people say the reason they try a new product is because of word of mouth.
Evangelism has been defined as “one beggar telling another where he found bread.”
What is the purpose/mission of the Evangelist? Winning souls to God
Romans 10:13-14
13 For “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
"As long as there is one person in driving distance of our church who doesn’t know the Lord, we want to grow. Nothing is more important than reaching people for the Lord, yet it is easy to be distracted from our purpose. We need to stay focused on reaching one more for Jesus. " - Rick Warren
The world needs evangelists now for the future
2Timothy 4:3-5
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and follow strange myths.
5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you.
The teenagers of today are our leaders for tomorrow. They need to be reached just as much as adults.
21% of teens that do not attend a Sunday School class say they would like to become involved in one. (Foster Letter 6/15/99)
26% of U.S. teens not involved in a Church youth group says they would like to participate in one. (Foster Letter 6/15/99
Statistics show, lead a child to Christ: over 30% chance of whole family will come to salvation. Lead a mother/wife; over 17% chance. Lead a father/husband; 91% chance.
Winning souls helps to benefit the kingdom
Proverbs 11:30
30 The godly are like trees that bear life-giving fruit, and those who save lives are wise.
1=1,000, 2=10,000
(Illustration)
In fact, I want to take a look for a moment at an interesting chain of events in Christian history.
• Sunday School teacher Edward Kimball helped lead Dwight L. Moody to Christ;
• J. Wilbur Chapman attended a Dwight L. Moody evangelistic meeting in Chicago in the 1870’s and received personal counseling and an assurance of his salvation from Mr. Moody. He later became a friend and coworker of DL Moody, hiring a former baseball star named Billy Sunday as an advance man for him;
• Billy Sunday held an evangelistic campaign in Charlotte NC in 1924 and a men’s prayer and fellowship group, originally known as the Billy Sunday Layman’s Evangelistic Club and later renamed as Charlotte Businessmen’s Club (CBMC), grew out of those meetings It was this group that invited Mordecai Ham to Charlotte to hold evangelistic meetings in 1934;
• Mordecai Ham preached a sermon where a 16 year-old young man by the name of Billy Graham went forward and received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior;
• And, Billy Graham has preached to hundreds of millions of people all over the world and seen literally millions won to Christ.
See the lineage of salvation that continues to radiate today from the faithfulness of one humble, quiet man witnessing to a shoe salesman? See the impact that even a quiet life given over to Jesus Christ can have on the world around them?
The church should have Evangelisim perfected
(Vast resources-TV, Books, Conferences, Internet)
No people in history have had as many opportunities to hear the truth about God, to learn how salvation can be found by turning to Jesus Christ, than those who live in this country at the end of the 20th Century. Do you realize there are 450,000 churches in the United States. In fact, 24% of protestant congre-gations in the world are in this country. There are 600 religious radio stations, the vast majority run by evangelical Christians, who daily broadcast the message of Jesus Christ to people across the land. Christian TV, Christian publishing, Christian music recording, all communicate the Bible’s message. Can you imagine what the Apostle Paul could have done with those resources? God has given us so many chances. But, there are so many folks who continue to reject the truth and the church continues to fail in its mission of evangelism.
Why? What keeps us from evangelizing?
(Lack of training, initiative, fear)
One of England’s greatest preachers, W. E. Sangster, in Let Me Command, said, “The easiest way to embarrass a congregation of twentieth century Christians is to ask them two simple questions. ‘When is the last time you personally led another person to Jesus Christ?’ and ‘When is the last time you tried?’” This is not meant to insult church members who don’t witness, but show the need for more effort and training.
We can implement measures to increase training and initiative, but what about fear?
We fear rejection - 1 in 25 repent and believe. It takes 24 no’s to get a YES. But all 25 are important and we shouldn’t take it personally. Look at the rejection Jesus faced. He didn’t give up and neither should we. Proper training will reduce peoples fear and increase confidence and initiative.
Why should we bother to try and win souls? It demonstrates 3 things
1 winning souls shows humility
Phillipians 2:5-8
5 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.
2 winning souls demonstrates love
James 5:19,20
19 My dear brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back again, 20 you can be sure that the one who brings that person back will save that sinner from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
3 winning souls is necessary
Phillipians 2:10-11
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
People are increasingly exposed to other cultures and religions
Do you realize that between 1990 & 2001, Christianity in America declined by 8.5%? While Christianity in this country has declined, the number of people who follow Buddhism has increased by over 169%. The number of Muslims in this country has grown by over 109%, and Hindus by 237%. (Figures compiled by AMF, from The Present Future by Reggie McNeal, and the U.S. Census Bureau). This comes from an increase in immigration from countries where these religions are dominate and books about other religions are increasingly available at bookstores.
God desires all to be saved. Every soul is of value to God
1Timothy 2:3-6
3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time.
It is some peoples own chosen destiny to never be saved
(too comfortable in sin, don’t believe, don’t want to be righteous)
Let them know they have value to God even if they think they are unloved
The best witnessing tool you can have is your own testimony
St. Francis said, “preach the gospel to all the world and if necessary use words.” Someone else has said that our lives may be the only Bible some people ever read.
What if people are trapped by other false religions?
Jesus is the only way to Salvation
John 14:6
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
5 Things to Understanding For Presenting The Plan of Salvation
1 You Must Understand God Loves You
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Jeremiah 31:3
3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
2 You Must Understand We Are All Sinners and Separated From God
Romans 3:10-12
10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is good—not even one. 11No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God. 12All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one.”
Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
3 You Must Understand Jesus Is The Only Bridge Back To God.
1Corinthians 15:21-22
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ. 22 Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life.
John 14:6
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
4 You Must Understand The Need For Repentance
Acts 3:19
19 Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins.
Acts 2:38
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
5 You Must Understand The Need To Accept Jesus As Your Savior
Romans 10:9,10,13
9 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 13 For “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
A Sinners Prayer
Lord, I am a sinner. I realize my sin has separated me from you. I am lost without you. Please forgive me of my sins. I believe in your son Jesus Christ. I believe you sent him to pay the price for my sins. I believe you raised him from the dead. Today I accept you Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior-Amen
