The Battle for a Soul – Part 3

Soul-Winning Training

Pastor Craig Ledbetter

Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland

29 Mar, 2009  PM

www.biblebc.com

 

I.       Introduction (Proverbs 11:30)

 

A.     We all know how to fight, but we rarely pick up our spiritual weaponry, given to us by God, and fight the GOOD fight – the fight for souls!

B.     THE WINNING of individuals by individuals in personal conversation is the main way to win souls.

C.     He that WINNETH souls is wise! (Prov 11:30) Reconciling sinful man to an all holy God (2Cor 5:18-20)

 

II.    Last week: We learned several steps to winning a soul:

 

A.     First, Pray and ask God to fill you with Himself

B.     Then, Go into All the World

 

1.      Go wherever a person is (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19)

2.      Three Ways to Go:

 

a.       Go naturally – this is a natural act for a Christian, like being in love, like talking about sports, or your job! Christianity spreads only by talking about Jesus!!!

b.      Go particularly – target people who the Lord directs you to

c.       Go regularly – the devil will fill up your schedule if you do not fill it up first!

 

3.      Right Approach:

 

C.     Teach on the Cross. Use the Cross (1Cor 1:17,18). These are all truths you must know inside and out!

 

1.      Teach Them Their Direction – we are all going our own way. We are sinners. Use the ten Commandments

2.      Teach Them That Jesus Christ is headed a different Way – cuts across our path. Doesn’t feel right, or make sense because He goes against our “grain”

3.      Teach Them the Only Remedy is to Change their Direction – not a Resolution, but Repentance!

4.      Now would be a good time to use your Testimony

 

D.     Prod Those Who Are Unconcerned (Jude 1:22,23) – care about their souls FOR them!

 

1.      Talk with authority – don’t let anyone think they have the upper hand; you have God’s word on eternity. In one whole area, everyone who was commanded to get saved, did! (Acts 14:38)

2.      Warn them (Col 1:28; Ezek 33:7-9; Acts 20:26,27)

3.      Plead with them – beg them to look at what the Bible says

4.      Tell them you will be praying for their conversion!

 

III. Part Three – So What Do We Do to Win Souls? Final Thoughts

 

A.     Be Ready to Deal with Sceptics (2Timothy 2:24-26):

 

1.      Sharing the Gospel with Roman Catholics.

 

a.       Do not ridicule or attack the Roman Catholic Church. That’s all they know!

b.      Highlight common beliefs. We believe in God, Jesus, Trinity, heaven, hell, Virgin birth

c.       The difference is, we hold to the authority of the Scriptures, saying: "The Bible says..."

d.      Emphasize the joy of a personal relationship with the author of that Book! Not a religious act.

e.       Study the Bible together with them using their Catholic Bible. It has the truth in it, and if read with believing eyes and heart, it can lead a person to faith in Jesus Christ!

f.       Make sure you understand the teaching of the Catholic Church.

g.       Give your personal testimony of how you were born again.

h.      Tell them religion cannot save, and that Mary is not a valid mediator, but that Jesus alone came to save us, and waits to give to anyone the gift of eternal life by repentance and faith in Him only.

 

2.      Some Tips On Witnessing to Muslims:

 

a.       Be courteous and loving.

b.      Be already acquainted with their basic beliefs, but reflect interest in their beliefs. Allow them time to articulate their views.

c.       Be willing to examine passages of the Qur'an concerning their beliefs.

d.      Stick to explaining the central doctrines of the Christian faith but also take time to respond to all sincere questions that they may have.

e.       Point out the centrality of the person and work of Jesus Christ for salvation. Just lift up Jesus

f.       Stress that because of Jesus, His cross, and resurrection, one may have the full assurance of salvation, both now and for eternity (see 1 John 5:13). Share the plan of salvation with the Muslim. Point out that it is a gift from God, and not to be earned by any good works.

g.       Pray for the fullness of the Holy Spirit in your witnessing. Trust Him to provide wisdom and grace.

h.      Be willing to become a friend to that Muslim and stay working on him/her until they get saved.

 

3.      In Witnessing to Secular Humanists, Agnostics, Atheists

 

a.       Remember 1 Corinthians 1:18-29. Don’t try to debate them on an intellectual basis, even though the Bible is both scientifically, and historically accurate, but rather on a SIN-basis.

b.      Everybody can admit to our sinful nature. The problem is getting them to admit they don’t have the answer for its destructive results. Get them LOST! use the Ten Commandments

c.       Use Prophecy as the proof people need that the Bible is true

d.      Give your testimony of how God got your attention, and convinced you of sin, and saved your soul – it cannot be refuted.

e.       Finally, Get their attention off of “religion’s” failures, and onto the perfection of the life of Jesus.

f.       Then, start talking to them like they are in trouble with God, and that there is a way to get forgiven

 

4.      When Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses

 

a.       Salvation for them is obtained by doing constant good works.

b.      Jesus is believed to be a created god, who came, lived the good Jehovah’s Witness life, and then died for his faith.

c.       To the JW, Jehovah is the only Saviour, not Jesus.

d.      They do not believe the Holy Ghost is a real Person of the godhead, but only a “force” emanating from God.

e.       They have made dozens and dozens of false prophecies since 1874, predicting specifically the visible return of Jesus, and the end of the world.

f.       The soul-winner will have a hard time working with a Jehovah’s Witness simply because they are usually very well trained to only think within a small box of doctrine.

g.       The key is to show them from even their own translation of the Bible (the New World translation), that it shows Jesus really IS God in the flesh (Isaiah 43:11; 45:21; Acts 4:12).

h.      From there, show them that God came and as a perfect Man died in their place as their only Saviour (John 14:6)!

i.        Ask them to join in a Bible Study – ask them to have the same openness that they are asking of you

 

B.     Bringing a Decision – don’t just leave them hanging

 

1.      Ask Those Who are Interested:

 

a.       “What would keep you from repenting from your sins, and asking Jesus Christ to save you right now?”

b.      “Will you take my hand, and pray, as best as you know how, asking God to forgive you of your sins, and make you His child?”

 

2.      If they don’t want to get saved

 

a.       Then tell them you will be praying for them, and urge them to come out to church anyway and hear the Gospel every week, and learn the Bible like it was written.

b.      Also ask them to pray and ask God to speak to them – to prove to them that He is there, and wants to save them!

c.       Then, leave them a Gospel leaflet

d.      Write down their name and pray for them to be humbled and brought low enough to want to be saved!

 

3.      But, If they DO want to get saved

 

a.       Ask them to pray first – as best as they know how. Don’t pray for them.  Believe that GOD can save them just fine!

 

1)      Ask them to tell you what they will ask God.

2)      If they are hesitant or unsure, then slow down, and ask them more questions – don’t rush.

 

b.      Then tell them it’s time (2Cor 6:2). Ask them to pray aloud.

c.       While they are praying, listen carefully, and check for a spiritual heartbeat (for a sign of a new life) – like a doctor checking for life-signs in a new baby!

d.      If they were desperate to get saved, and prayed like they really understood what they were doing, then rejoice in prayer to God after they pray

e.       When you say “In Jesus name, Amen!”, then ask them to pray again and THANK GOD for saving them! If they just got forgiven from all their sins, it would be important to be thankful!

f.       Then, for assurance show them:

 

1)      Romans 10:13 “What did you ask God to do?” “What does the Bible say He did?”

2)      Romans 10:11 “Are you ashamed of changing directions?” That’s conversion!

3)      Hebrews 13:5 “Jesus has come into your life and will never leave you!”

4)      Hebrews 10:25 “Please come together with other Christians on Sunday at my church and get started learning this Bible!”

 

4.      Remember, there is a whole load of rejoicing in heaven going on!

 

II.    Conclusion

 

A.     He that WINNETH souls is wise! (Prov 11:30) Reconciling sinful man to an all holy God (2Cor 5:18-20)

B.     So What Do We Do to Win Souls?

 

1.      Pray and ask God to fill you with Himself

2.      Then, Go into All the World

3.      Teach on the Cross

 

a.       Teach Them Their Direction

b.      Teach Them That Jesus Christ is headed a different Way

c.       Teach Them the Only Remedy is
to Change their Direction – not a Resolution, but Repentance!

d.      Now would be a good time to use your Testimony

 

4.      Prod Those Who Are Unconcerned (Jude 1:22,23)

5.      Be Ready to Deal with Sceptics

6.      Bring Them to a Decision

 

C.     This Week, try and win someone to Christ!


Handy Scriptures to Show Religious People
How to be Saved from the Wrath to Come!

 

Scriptures to answer the questions of Roman Catholicism.

 

1.      Final authority being only the Bible (Matt 4:4; Rom 3:4; John 17:17; John 8:32,36)

2.      Mary was a sinner - not sinless (Luke 2:21-24; Rom 3:10,23)

3.      Mary needed a Saviour (Luke 1:47)

4.      Jesus had brothers and sisters (Matt 12:46-50; 13:55,56; Mark 6:3; Gal 1:19)

5.      There is no need to pray through Mary, or any saint (1 Tim 2:5)!

6.      Religion ends up substituting the tradition of men in the place of the commandments of God (Mark 7:7,10)

7.      Salvation is not by works at all (Eph 2:8,9; Tit 2:5; Isa 64:5) no matter how good they are

8.      Watch out for anyone who forbids people to marry or to eat meats (1Tim 4:1-3)

9.      All pastors are to be married as a general rule (1Tim 3:2). Peter was married (Mt 8:14)

10.  Baptism is NOT important to our salvation (1Cor 1:17) - it is only for after salvation.

11.  Jesus hates the Rosary (Matt 6:7), and any other repetitious prayer!

12.  There is no purgatory (2 Cor 5:8; Heb 1:3; 9:27; Rom 8:1) - either heaven or hell!

13.  A person is justified only by faith alone in Christ Jesus (Rom 1:17; Gal 2:16)

14.  Jesus finished paying for ALL of my sins on the cross (John 19:30)

 

Scriptures relating to Protestantism (Many of the issues are the same as with Catholicism)

 

1.      Self righteousness is the worst sin (1 John 1:8,10; Rom 10:3)

2.      Thinking that “My church is better than others” is not what matters with God (John 3:3)

3.      I keep the 10 commandments” is impossible (James 2:10; Tit 3:5). Everyone must repent and be born again.

4.      Thinking “I am part of the elect” is only true if you are a Jew (Isa 55:6,7; 1 John 2:2)

 

Scriptures to Deal with a Jehovah’s Witness. These people have been really confused.

 

1.      There is only one Saviour, and both Jehovah AND Jesus are that same Saviour (Isa 43:11; 45:21; Acts 4:12)

2.      Jesus is God in the flesh (1Ti 3:16; Mt 1:23; Isa 7:14; Rom 9:5; 1John 5:20; Heb 1:8)

3.      Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament (Isa 40:3 & Matt 3:3; Dt 10:17 & Rev 19:16; Ps 68:18 & Eph 4:8-10; Ex 3:14 & John 8:56-58)

4.      Jesus is equal with God (Philp 2:6-9; Isa 43:10,11; 44:6,8)

5.      Jesus is eternal (Micah 5:2)

6.      The trinity concept is Scriptural (2 Cor 13:14; Gal 4:4-6; Gen 1:26)

7.      There is a heaven full of mansions (John 14:1-3) awaiting Christians

8.      The 144,000 witnesses of Revelation 12 are real Jewish male virgins (Rev 14:1-5)

9.      If a prophet ever makes a false prediction, that person is to be stoned with stones, and disregarded (Dt 18:20-22)

10.  When Jesus does come back, every eye shall see Him (Rev 1:7)

11.  The Holy Spirit really is a real person (John 16:13)

12.  Hell is literal and eternal (Matt 23:33; Rev 14:11; 20:10; Luke 16:23-31)

 

Scriptures to Deal with a Mormon about salvation.

 

1.   Exclusivity of Jesus Christ to salvation (John 14:6; Hos 13:4)

2.   You can know that you have eternal life right now based upon the sole authority of the written word of God (1 John 5:11-13)

3.   Baptism is not important (1 Cor 1:17)

4.   Decide the final authority issue (Rom 3:4; John 17:17; John 8:32,36; Matt 4:4)

5.   God has no body, but rather is a spirit (John 4:24)

6.   Jesus is God come in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16)

7.   God has always been, and always will be - never created (Ps 90:1,2)

8.   Only Satan teaches that man can become like God (Gen 3:5; Isa 14:13,14)

9.   The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses the sinner from SIN (1 John 1:7)

10. The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for our sins (1 Cor 15:1-4)

11. The true church of Jesus Christ never disappeared (Matt 16:18)

12. Disregard genealogies and fables (1 Tim 1:4)