Tonight I had to do a lesson on soul winning at a function for the college students at my church. It was nerve racking because I'm shy and I didn't say half of what I wrote, but here it is for the world to see.
Soul winning
It is often said that the purpose of the church is soul winning. Most Christians will say that, but how many know what it truly means to win a soul?
Coming to Christ requires you to do more than say, “Lord, I believe.” Coming to Christ is about a life change. In order to win souls you yourself must first be changed so that you will effect change in others.
Think about when a person is out of work. We seek jobs. We visit businesses. We go to job fairs. We network and spend hours on online jobsites. We devote ourselves to our job search because we have been conditioned to believe that we can not live without a job.
We have to approach winning souls for the kingdom in the same way. We must seek out new people with the same fervor that we seek jobs. We must visit businesses in search of new souls. We must go to job fairs. We must network. We’re already spending half our lives online, but we must change our purpose for being there. We have been conditioned to believe that our lives depend on having or not having a job. Well, the life of the sinner depends on each of us.
Soul winning has at its core two main components: witnessing and teaching.
Witnessing is first and foremost because if we don’t tell them of God’s goodness, they won’t know. In order to be an effective witness you have to have a sincere desire to convey the goodness of God. You have to want what God has brought to your life for someone else.
If God took you out of the club, want that for them.
If God helped you walk away from alcohol and drugs, want that for them.
No matter what it is that God has delivered you from or blessed you with, you have to want that for someone else. The desire to see someone else’s life change as yours has is what fuels witnessing and witnessing is the 1st step in soul winning.
Romans 10:14 says
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Each of us has a duty to witness and be the bearer of good news.
The 2nd component is teaching. Now what happens when you’ve gone out and witnessed to someone? The tell you they are saved and you rejoice because now you’ve “won” a soul. So your responsibility is done right? You’ve told them the goodness of the Lord. They’ve heard and been saved and now you are off the hook. You must remember that soul winning is about winning a SOUL. A soul is not equal to the person’s attention during a 15 minute talk. A soul is not equal to giving them a ride to church on Sunday. A soul is not equal to telling them you can’t ride shotgun with them to the party, but they should have a good time. When a soul is actually won, a life is committed to God. That means you cannot rest because you talked them into reciting the Lord’s prayer. A soul requires nurturing. Witnessing to them was the seed. Ensuring that they are learning the word of God will serve as both soil and water in our example. They must grow in their knowledge of God to truly be won to the kingdom. They can not grow without teaching.
So, the next time you are wondering if you have what it takes to be a soul winner ask yourself. Do I desire others to experience what God has done for me? Am I willing to ensure that they are being taught of the Lord? If you can answer yes, you are ready to win a soul. If your answers are no or I don’t know, call the pastor immediately. Your soul has not been won.
Seriously, think about this Proverbs 11:30 says
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Be wise in your Christian walk. The souls are waiting.
Thank you.
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