WINNING LOST SOULS by George Crumbly
Romans 10
February 2, 2003 Sunday AM
Sheridan, Arkansas
My heart is very heavy for our church. Seems like so much going on, yet so much to do. As a New Start Church we are wanting & needing to step out on our own, yet we need a fellowship hall, more classrooms. We get so caught up being busy for the Lord if we aren’t careful we can "Lose Our Focus". We forget what Kingdom Business is. It’s not big buildings or fancy programs it is SOUL BUSINESS.
The church is in the people business.
(Proverbs 11:30) "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." Soul Winning. Whose business is it? The men? The ladies? The preacher? The deacons? Who?
(Matthew 4:19) "And He saith unto them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
If you follow Jesus, you must be a soul winner. I’ve always heard that when the church is winning souls it will take care of it’s problems. Another words what your church maybe going thru now is nothing a few new converts wouldn’t help.
We are to be making an effort. I don’t think we will be judged according to the number we lead to Christ but the effort we put forth.
Romans 10: verse 1
The divine obligation of witnessing rest, without exception, upon every child of God. Regeneration demands reproduction in kind & the fruit of a Christian is another Christian. (Shepherds don’t make sheep. Sheep make sheep.)
Every Christian is called in the hour of salvation to witness for Jesus Christ. Nothing in heaven or on earth can excuse the Christian from it.
Ignorance (unlearned) is no excuse
Poverty is no excuse
Enviroment is no excuse
Difficulity is no excuse
Yet first, in order to win souls for Christ you too must be saved yourself. Here Paul’s prayer for god’s own people was that they be saved. Today: IF YOU TELL FOLKS YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN? BE ONE!!! There are way too many out there today that are bad witnesses for the church. We can’t stress today that salvation is conversion. When you are converted you are CHANGED. You are a New creature in Christ.
(Acts 15:3) "And being brought on their way by the church, they passed thru phenice and samaria, declaring the conversion of the gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren."
(Matthew 18:3) "And said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
(Psalm 51:12-13) "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." "Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
God wants to use you & me, but first we must be converted. David had sinned against God now he is pouring out his heart for God to be able to use him. Can God use you today?
This is the task of the church. To Win Souls!! When the Lord saved me I was converted instaneously & I became a witness for Him. I quit drinking, cheating, lying, cussing & telling dirty jokes. I became a New Creature. (I tell folks if you haven’t changed then your not saved!!)
Folks think you have to be smart to win souls. You have to be a smooth talker. You have to be theological. All you have to do? Tell them what God has done for you.
I have a vision for our church here in Sheridan, I want to see folks come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I want to see them have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ. We do not push religion, we push a relationship.
Psalm 51: verses 1-13
David was a "Man after God’s own heart." Yet he fell. He got out of God’s will. He covered his sin with yet more sin. (Jesus Blood is the ONLY way to cover our sins) David knew before he could lead others to God he himself would have to be delivered and set free from sin. (If you aren’t going to live it--don’t profess it)
It is the churches responsibility to win the lost.
(Jude 23) "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the galment spotted by the flesh."
I think you would be surprised at the folks today in churches that do not know how to lead a lost person to Christ. As Christians we must know how. I believe that God will send folks our way & we have to know what to do.
In the medical field there are the A, B, C’s to remember: Airway; Breathing; Circulation. We need to remember the ABC’s to soul winning.
A - ADMIT you are a sinner. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." You are a sinner. You need Jesus christ in your life.
B - BELIEVE in Jesus Christ as your savior & you will be saved. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Jesus Christ, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Believe in Jesus in your heart.
C - CONFESS with your mouth. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth....."
Tell people what the Lord has done for you. Tell them how He changed your life. It is the responsibility of every true child of God. Are you doing your part? If not, you are cutting someone out there short.
